Got my Patty's Day tee

March 17th tee arrived today and delighted with it - glad I got the fridge magnets too.  To celebrate I baked some brown bread last night using my new fangled foolproof recipe.  This is a good news day.

Best ever - Irish Brown Soda Bread

Just in time for St. Patrick's Day; Sure where you be without it?

After much trial and tribulation here it is, tried and tested.


Ingredients:

• 1lb / 450g coarse wholemeal flour
• 6 oz / 175g self raising white flour (or use plain flour and add a teaspoon of baking powder)
• 2 oz  / 60g wheat germ
• 1 rounded teaspoon bread soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
  
• ¾ pint / 450ml buttermilk (approx.)
• 1 tablespoon of Olive oil

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 360 °F / 180 °C.
• Mix the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl taking care to sift in the bread soda - lumpy bread soda causes burnt yellow spots in your bread.
• In a well in the centre add the oil and stir in enough buttermilk to make a fairly soft dough.
• Turn on to a work surface dusted with wholemeal flour and lightly pull together; no heavy kneading required.
• Form into a circular shape, about 3" thick, and place onto a baking sheet. Mark a deep cross in the top with a knife.  No need to be precise with this as any shape/design will do.
• Bake for about 15 minutes and then turn the heat down by 10 degrees and bake for a further 30-40 minutes until bread is nicely browned and sounds hollow when tapped on the base. 
• Cool on a wire rack and optionally wrap in a clean towel if you want to keep the crust on the soft side.

This recipe scales well so adjust as needed to make smaller or larger cakes [yes, Irish Brown bread is often referred to as a cake].

Getting ready for St. Patrick's Day

Got myself a new tee and a couple of fridge magnets at http://www.cafepress.com/fightinirish - now to start thinking about what to cook for the day, hmmm.