Sorry I haven't been around this past week, I've been a little under the weather and spent a lot of time on the sofa asking the kids to please be quiet while mommy wasn't feeling well. Nothing serious, thank goodness, but whatever it was it left me completely wiped out. Finally I'm feeling a touch better, just in time to do our My Kitchen My World assignment of the week, how could I possibly miss the fun? So glad I didn't have to -- this week Michelle from My Year to Get Skinny picked Ireland for our culinary trip. I decided to make some Irish Soda Bread and Irish Barley Vegetable Soup. Both dishes were wonderful and I will be making them again. I can't believe I've never tried Irish Soda Bread before, it was so easy to make, I even used the food processor (a la Dorie) to do the mixing. And any bread with buttermilk is a winner for me.
The soup has carrots, potatoes, parsnips, celery, and barley in a simple broth. It was delicious and even the kids liked it.
Easy Irish Soda Bread
3 1/2 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 cup white sugar
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup milk
2 teaspoons oil (I used canola)
Put dry ingredients into food processor and pulse until combined. You could also do this by hand but the food processor just makes it so much easier. Open the processor and add in the buttermilk, milk, and oil. Close again and pulse until dough pulls together.
Turn out onto lightly floured surface and gently knead together into a round loaf. Score the top and place on baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to cool on wire rack and let cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing.
There is also the sweeter and apparently untraditional version with raisins and/or currants and caraway seeds. I will be trying this version in the future, but this more savory version was perfect to go with the soup.
Thanks Michelle, Ireland was a fun country to find recipes from and I have book marked a ton more to try later on. St. Patrick's Day doesn't have to be the only day to cook an Irish meal :)
