Luck 'O The Irish

Or the wanna be Irish, at any rate. I've got some Irish in me, so my mom says, but my husband has a LOT of Irish and so I'm mostly Irish by marriage. Whatever. I love love love everything about Ireland and her people. My son is going on a graduation trip to Ireland - thanks to my mom (1, 2, 3- My mom rocks!) and I'd love to be able to go. I love Irish music, Irish food - except cabbage - Irish dance, and definitely Irish men.

Heh.

When Nikolas was in kindergarten I met a woman who became one of my best friends for years and years. We did everything together, talked on the phone all the time and traded recipes. We went out to dinner, had our kids play together, carpooled and in one memorable day, my son convinced her daughter to buy some of his "art" (aka scribbled crayon work) for a couple of dollars.

My son, always scheming.

Some of my favorite recipes came from Gerrie, and the first time I tasted her Irish Soda Bread I knew it wouldn't be the last time. I make it every single year. I send it to my husband's work and with my mom - and then I eat a bunch myself. I was definitely lucky when I met Gerrie.

Enjoy!

Irish Soda Bread

• 4.5 cups flour
• 5 t baking powder
• 1.5 t salt
• 1 t baking soda
• 1 cup butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 cups milk
• 1 T carraway seeds
• 1.5 cups golden raisins

Mix dry ingredients. Cream butter and sugar, add eggs. Fold into dry ingredients. Mix in mix alternatively. Stir in seeds and raisins. Place into a round pan - I usually split it into two pans - and bake at 325 for 1 hour or until done.

*Note: recipe says to bake for one hour but it never takes this long for me, so be aware of the time and keep an eye on the bread*

Comments

[Elizabeth]

My Hubby's 1st generation Irish so St. Patrick's Day is a HUGE deal for us. I'll have to try the soda bread recipe. His mom always made Triffle for the holiday using Jello instead of jam. Off to get ready to listen to bagpipe music for the next 8-12 hours! Happy St. Patrick's Day!

[Pat]

If the original recipe was for a single pan and you have separated it into two pans, that would explain why you need less time to bake your bread.

I have been using a single 9" round pan for years and it always takes an hour to get it to the preferred state of "doneness." Personally, I leave out the carroway because I don't like carroway.

[J from Ireland]

Happy St Patricks Day. Bread sounds lovely but without the raisins.
ps Thats great your son will be visiting Ireland, make sure he has buckets of euro as its got very expensive over here!!

[amie]

Such a nice tribute to a friend.

[Patty M.]

Yum, yum, yum...I love me some Irish Soda bread, especially when my mother makes it...very similar to your recipe...and then you go to Wegmans and buy some Kerrygold Irish butter...yum, yum, yum! It tastes like Ireland...I spent a month there several years ago and it was awesome!

By the way, today is my saint's name day and my last name is very Irish!

[Jodie]

I've always wanted to try Irish Soda bread...