Anyone cook or bake?

[Maeve]

She asked, having just slid the soda bread into the oven for dinner...

I know Irish cooking has about the same cache as English cooking (plain fare, hearty but overcooked), but my family is addicted to the bread and there are some whiskey cake recipes out there to die for.

[DaveinMD]

1. my wife makes the best Brown Bread

its out of the Avoca Cookbook. Sheppard's Pie as well.

[CBHagman]

2. I made boxty once.

Back when I was young and naive. :-)

Seriously, the only truly Irish thing I've made in the recent past is Mrs. McCluskey's soda bread, which is very easy and painless to make. I'd like to try colcannon, though, getting back to the potato theme here...

On edit: I also understand that the Irish have their own version of latkes. :-)

[Donkeyboy75]

3. Darina Allen has a couple of good

books out there. She runs Ballymaloe in County Cork.

I LOVE cabbage. Slow cook it with butter, onions and a couple of rashers...mmmmmmmmm. I also cook a lot of stews with lamb or beef and a Murphy's based stock.

[Reverend_Smitty]

4. Send some Soda Bread my way...

I haven't had any in a long time, so it's always a treat. My friend "claims" she makes great soda bread...but last year around St. Patrick's day when she was going to make me some, she got really busy and never made any. I better get some this year!

[dbt]

5. My friend Gordon from Loughrea swears

That all food in Ireland "is stopped at the border and has all the flavor sucked out of it." 'Course, he's a little strange. For me, there's nothing compares to breakfast in Clare!!!

:evilgrin:
dbt

Edited to add: :hi: Maeve! Looks like you're in your element(s) here! How ya keepin'?

[Maeve]

6. Hey back at ya!

I've almost got my book ready for the printer--it's been keeping me pretty busy lately as I'm doing some of the illustrations myself and that's not one of my best talents. :eyes:
(Self-publishing, mostly to sell when I'm working as a storyteller--PM me if you want details)

[dbt]

7. PM, hell! I want to buy a copy!

And I don't care who knows it.

[Maeve]

8. Here's a Brown Soda Bread recipe to try

It's the one I got from a friend of a friend who's mother lives in Ireland...

2 cups white flour
2cups wheat flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup of sugar
1/2 cup butter (one stick), soft
1 egg
1 3/4 cup buttermilk

Combine flour, salt, powder, soda and sugar. Cut in butter (use your fingers--it's easier and get the butter in faster and more completely). Add the egg to the buttermilk and beat lightly. Gradually add buttermilk mixture to dry ingredients. Dough is very sticky. Blend about 5 minutes, then turn onto a greased cookie sheet. Form into 2 round loaves (use your hands, dusted in flour) and cut an X on top of each loaf. Bake at 375 for 40 minutes.

I've had great success with this one, btw. Moister than most recipes I've tried.

[Radical Activist]

9. and if you do cook or bake Irish food

are you single?
haha I'm only kidding...on the square.