Irish dinner

Every year around this time, I search for my friend Ellen’s recipes for St Patrick’s Day.  Her great-great-great-grandmother Houlihan’s Irish soda bread is delicious!! She was from Ireland so I think the recipe is pretty authentic.  My children love to help me make it and there’s ‘ne’er a crumb left over. Their favorite part is putting a cross on top of the loaf. Here’s a picture of my favorite leprechaun from a few years ago.

I hope you and your family enjoy these recipes as much as we do.  Happy St Patrick’s Day.

Irish Soda Bread

4c flour
1tsp baking soda
1tsp salt
1tsp baking powder

3/4c sugar
4Tbs stick butter
2 eggs

1 1/3 c buttermilk
1c raisins (optional)

Cream butter and sugar, add eggs, beat until smooth. Alternately add butter milk and combined dry ingredients. Add raisins last. Batter will be sticky. Turn out onto heavily floured surface and knead until smooth (no longer sticky). Split into two loaves and place onto greased pan. Pat down til 2” thick, cut a cross on top. Bake at 350 for 45 mins.

She also sends me her recipe (nearly every March 17) for a delicious corned beef dinner.

Traditional Corned Beef Dinner

1 medium onion, cut into wedges

4 lg red potatoes- quartered

1lb carrots

3 cups water

3 cloves garlic- minced

1 bay leaf,

2 T sugar

2T  apple cider vinegar

½ tsp pepper

1 corned beef brisket with spice pack (2 1/2- 3 lbs, cut in half)

1 small head of cabbage cut into wedges

Place onion, potatoes and carrots in crock pot. Combine water, garlic, bay leaf, sugar, vinegar, spice pack, pour over veggies, top with brisket, then cabbage. By this time, I can barely fit any cabbage, but that’s okay. Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours and you’ll have a delicious feast.