Friday, March 18, 2011

Irish Soda Bread

How EASY was this? Coming up to St. Patrick's Day, the internet was buzzing with talk about Irish Soda Bread. I did a search and came up with what was touted as a "traditional" Irish Soda Bread recipe.

Traditional Irish Soda Bread
4 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 3/4 cup buttermilk

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Sift the dry ingredients together. Stir in the buttermilk. Blend well. The dough should be sticky. If not, add more buttermilk. Turn out on a lightly floured surface. Knead just a little bit...not much or you will break the gas bubbles forming as a result of the combination of buttermilk and baking soda. Pat into a circle. With a serrated knife, cut a deep cross on top of the loaf. Place in a lightly greased and floured pan. Cover with another pan or lid. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove cover and bake another 15 minutes.
I baked my bread in a covered cast iron chicken fryer. And this is what it looked like. And taste? Slathered with butter...it was delicious!! Especially when served with corned beef brisket, carrots, potatoes, onions, and cabbage.

I don't think I've ever baked a simpler bread.

Wearing of the Green

Colt is definitely LUCKY!

Isabel and Mom going on a new adventure!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Spring Time in East Texas

Another trip to the car wash! When I got back home, there was a haze on the rear of the Tahoe. I ran my finger across the rear window. Yellow pine pollen. When it's run its course I need to do a really heavy spring cleaning in the house.

Remember the story about my "synthetic" Japanese red maple? LOL It's budding and the buds are starting to open.
Azaleas have a few blooms on them. More and more camellias are opening. Both pear trees are in full bloom. Almost as many petals on the ground already as are on the trees. A few buds on my redbud have popped open.