Happy St. Patty's Day from a Doyle

Sláinte!

Happy St. Patrick's Day- A drinking holiday that is not religious, but commercial, where any red-blooded American can claim Irish heritage, and where inexplicably strangers can pinch you.

I was in the play Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel my senior year of high school.  In the climax scene, the sisters dance in the kitchen, one of them putting flour on her face as a mask.  I always romantically imagined if I were to ever live in Ireland, I would spend my afternoons gathering Peat Moss and singing, that hopefully making a loaf of Irish Soda Bread could be that exciting.

My mom has the habit of making Irish Soda Bread, and it is something quite simple and delicious.  Here's a nice recipe (and pic) from Closet Cooking, a great blog.

Irish Soda Bread
Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole-wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup rolled oats
1 cup buttermilk

Directions:
1. Mix the flour, baking soda, salt and rolled oats in a bowl.
2. Mix in the buttermilk and form a dough.
3. Shape the dough and place it on a baking sheet or in a loaf pan.
4. Bake in a preheated 375F oven for 40 minutes (the top should be golden brown).

Goes well with Lamb Stew, and Guinness Chocolate Pudding, and whiskey, and Moylan's Dragoons Dry Irish Stout.  It goes on. 

And now the Pogues...

felicious