Guinness Molasses Bread with Cinnamon Honey Butter

I'm so excited for this St. Patrick's Day recipe!  Last year's Irish Soda Bread was yummy, but this recipe for Guinness Molasses Bread knocks its socks off with simplicity and speed.  I mean, look down there - only six ingredients!  No eggs, no fat, and all you do is stir, pour, and bake.

Irish Soda Bread

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  I decided to venture out and make something Irish and festive for you.  The funny thing is  - and I realized this as I pulled the bread out of the oven - I've never actually had soda bread.  I have no idea what it even tastes like.  Hmmmmm... I'm not sure what the thought process behind my choice was other than, "Ooh!  Something to bake!  I have all the ingredients!"  Lucky for me (get it? lucky?), Bo is actually half Irish, so he's had soda bread made by his Irish mom.  Phew!  A resident expert at my beck and call!  Ok, so Bo claims that this bread is good, and I agree.  It does have great flavor.  It's kind of like a biscuit in texture, and definitely crumbly.  I don't know that I'll be making it again, but it was fun and now I have something yummy to toast for breakfast tomorrow.

Enjoy!

Easy Irish Soda Bread

adapted from Allrecipes

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4 c. all-purpose flour

4 Tbsp. sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

1 Tbsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 c. butter, softened

1 c. buttermilk

1 egg

1/2 c. raisins
2 Tbsp. butter, melted

2 Tbsp. buttermilk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a large baking sheet.  In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.  Cut in the butter with a knife or a pastry blender. Stir in 1 cup of buttermilk, the egg, and the raisins. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead slightly. Form dough into a round  and flatten a little, and then place on prepared baking sheet. In a small bowl, combine melted butter with 1/4 cup buttermilk; brush loaf with this mixture. Use a sharp knife to cut an 'X' into the top of the loaf.  Brush the loaf with the butter mixture while it bakes.  Bake 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.

Let's talk about this butter for a moment.  It's Honey Browned Butter.  Have you ever made browned butter?  It's one of the most amazing smells on the planet, trust me.  And then you add in honey - yum.  And then a sprinkle of sea salt - yum.  I'm pretty sure that you could slather this stuff on brussel sprouts and they'd be better than dessert.  Ok, almost.  Dessert is pretty sacred with me.  The recipe for the butter is here on Smitten Kitchen.

Also?  Please tell me that I'm not the only one who's made a recipe for something she's never even tasted?  What have you done that was completely unknown?  Was it amazing or did it bomb on ya?

Homemade Croutons

I like to make my own croutons.  It's very inexpensive.  Takes only 5 minutes to put together and 30 minutes to bake.  Because I know how to make my own, I never run out.

 Here's my basic recipe:

• 4 slices dense bread - (This time I used Rye Marble) sliced into 3/4 inch cubes
• 2 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 tsp dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder or salt
• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

Place the bread cubes in a bowl.  Add seasonings and oil.  Toss well to coat.

 Place on parchment lined cookie sheet in a single layer.  Bake for 30 minutes(or until crisp) in an 300 degree preheated oven.  Cool completely.

Store in a glass jar.  Don't be afraid to play around with different types of bread and seasonings!  I've given a jar of freshly baked croutons with fresh salad greens and veggies from our garden as a gift and it was well received.



   

Pumpkin Bread

Thanksgiving holds a lot of memories for me.  Unfortunately not all of them are happy.  I've tried boycotting it for the past few years but my family has bullied me into participating.  I've decided I need to go back to work so I can volunteer to work Thanksgiving.  (nurses work holidays!)

Despite my feelings associated with the day, nothing can replace the food.  Oh, the food.  My 10 year old son starts talking about Thanksgiving in September,  he can't wait for the day that is all about eating.  And my family can eat!  We could easily serve an entire football team and have plenty of leftovers.  We start with appetizers, followed by salad, move on to bread and lasagna, and then to the turkey and a million types of veggies.  We catch our breath, watch a bit of football, do some dishes and then sit back down for a million desserts.  Then we do it all again on Friday! 

My favorite that is always on my "to bring" list?  Pumpkin Bread.  I'm not even real big on pumpkin (I won't even touch pumpkin pie) but this bread is wonderful.  The best pumpkin bread I've ever tasted.  The recipe came from my children's nursery school and I've made it every year since I received a copy when my eldest was 3.  I've made it for friends, I've made it for gifts, I've made it as a thank you, I've made it just for the heck of it.  Yes, I find it that good. 

So, unless I find a way to weasle my way out of participating this year, you will be able to find me around my mother's dining room table.  I'll be the one bringing the pumpkin bread. 

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/3 cup shortening

2 eggs

1 2/3 cups flour

1/4 tsp. baking soda

3/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. cloves-optional (I don't use them)

3/4 tsp. salt

1/3 cup water

1 cup canned pumpkin puree

1/2 c chopped walnuts-optional

Directions:

Cream sugar and shortening. Add eggs one at a time. Stir in dry ingredient. Add water and pumkin. Bake 1 hour at 350 in 2 greased loaf pans (7 3/4" size).