A Sharing of Irish Bread Recipes From My Wife's Irish Farm Days
Recipes for Irish Breads
Irish Breads
My wife Maura grew up on a farm in County Monaghan, Ireland during World War II and she and her sister helped their Mom bake breads in an old Dutch oven that hung from a crook in an open hearth fire. She shares these recipes with you.
Irish Soda Bread
3 cups of white flour
3 teaspoons of baking powder (2 if you live one mile above sea level or up to 7000 feet)
1 teaspoon of salt
2 teaspoons of shortening
2 cups of fresh buttermilk
One handful of black currants
Mix together and knead the dough till ready for baking tray
Place in oven for 45 minutes at 450 degree F.
Let cool with covered tea towel
Slice and serve with fresh butter like Kerry Gold
Brack Bread
3 cups of white flour
3 teaspoons of baking pwder (see above for higher elevations)
1 teaspoon of salt
A strong pot of very dark tea
A half cup of raisins
A half cup of black currants
A thimble of Irish whiskey
Soak dough in strong tea overnight
Add dried fruit and whiskey next day
Mix together into a ball of dough
Bake 45 minutes at 450 degrees F.
Serve cut slices with butter
Closer to Christmas we"ll share recipe for Irish Christmas pudding.. These recipes were handed down orally from Maura's mother and likewise from her mother and so on. You might be able to buy Irish soda bread in the super market, but it "ain't" the same.
Have you ever eaten home made Irish soda bread?
© 2009 Richard Francis Fleck
