Erin Go Bra-Less!

Made you look! To the Smut Police: there is no Erin in this blog, with or without her underwear.
I wanted to get your attention for St. Patrick's Day.

Corned beef and cabbage are always served (and only one of them is any good in my opinion.) How about trying something new? Bon Appetit suggests Irish Soda Bread and gives us the Ballinalacken Castle Country House & Restaurant recipe for Mrs. O'Callaghan's Soda Bread.

Nonstick vegetable spray for the baking sheet
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 teas. baking soda
1/2 stick of butter, cut in cubes
2 cups buttermilk

Set the oven at 425. Spray the backing sheet.
Whisk the flours, sugar and baking soda together then cut the butter into the dry.
Add the buttermilk and stir it in.
Turn the dough (lumpy) out on a floured surface and knead it 10 times. Shape it into a 7 in. round on the baking sheet and then take your knife and cut a big "X" across the top.
Bake for 40 minutes, peeking to see the color (deep brown is desirable.)

This is easier - thank you, epicurious.com

4 cups cake flour
1 T baking soda
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup raisins (optional - some people add caroway seeds)
1 cup cold milk

Sift the dry ingredients together, cut in the oil and then the raisins and milk. Knead it, shape it and bake it. I forgot to jot down the oven heat so put it in at 425 but keep an eye on it. It should be a smaller loaf than Mrs. O'Callaghan's because it has less flour.