Irish Soda Bread

It's March!!!

And that means Saint Paddy's Day!  

This year it also means Easter! 

My very favorite thing to make in the month of March is Irish Soda Bread.  A few years ago, I set out to make a really great version of this bread...and I came up with an awesome recipe!  

This recipe is honestly the BEST Irish Soda Bread I've ever had! 

Irish Soda Bread tends to be dry...this recipe is NOT! 

I tend to want to eat Irish Soda Bread with a ton of butter...you do not need any butter for this bread!  I promise!

 

Your Shopping List for the Irish Soda Bread:

• 4 cups of all purpose flour 
• 1 cup sugar 
• 1 tbsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt 
• 1 stick butter, cut into small cubes
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 3/4 cups buttermilk 
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 tbsp water

Now Let's Make the Irish Soda Bread:

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and line a large baking sheet pan with parchment paper
2. In a large mixing bowl place 4 cups of flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 tbsp baking soda, and 1 tsp salt.  Whisk these ingredients together
3. Add the cubed butter (very cold  - it should be right out of the fridge) and use your *clean* hands to incorporate the butter into the dry mixture until crumbly
   
4. Use a wooden spoon to stir in the raisins
5. Pour the buttermilk in and mix with spoon until dough forms
6. Turn out dough onto floured surface and shape into a ball
   
7. Divide ball into two even halves and shape each half into a round loaf - place onto prepared baking sheet
8. Use a knife to score a cross into the top of each loaf
   
9. Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes until tops of loaves are golden brown
10. Place 1/3 cup sugar and 2 tbsp water into a bowl
11. Heat in microwave for 30 seconds
12. Use a pastry brush to brush tops of loaves with the sugar water while bread is still warm from the oven (I did two coats of the sugar water on each loaf - I still had a little bit left)
    
    
    
    Store in an airtight container and eat in 1-2 days! 

Friday Favorites: St. Paddy's Day

Happy Happy Friday!  It's been awhile since I did a Friday Favorites Post, and I need to get back to it because this has become one of my very favorite posts (and I love all the feedback I get from my readers!).

Next week is St. Paddy's Day!  I love this holiday because it is fun and because it really signals the start of Spring!

1. My Irish Soda Bread
I don't think that I am the world's best cook or recipe creator by any stretch - but my Irish Soda Bread is hands down the best I have every tried!  It's sweet, has a great crust, and is not dry at all.  In fact you can eat it without butter.  If you think you don't like Irish Soda Bread, you need to try this recipe!  And if you love Irish Soda Bread, you should make this version ASAP!  Bonus - it makes two loaves!   I made it yesterday...we're down to only a half of a loaf!

Can you tell that she likes it?!?

2. St. Paddy's Day Outfits

Every year, I get a cute little St. Paddy's Day shirt for my girls to wear!  Something festive and fun, that they can wear after the holiday too! This year I got sweet little t-shirts that say "Irish Sweetie" on them.  They have already sold out, but here are some other fun options:

Even though we love PINK in our house, it's fun to dress in green for St. Paddy's! 

3. St. Paddy's Day Lucky Charm Treats
Last year I made these perfect no bake Lucky Charms Treats.  They are basically Rice Krispy Treats but you use Lucky Charms cereal instead.  They are so simple - even the kids can help!

On my Not Friday Favorite List is the fact that I am headed to the pediatrician with Sweet Little Paisley Jean for two shots!  UGH!

Linking up with Momfessionals for my Friday Favorites today!

Lucky

Happy Saint Paddy's Day!  We aren't doing anything super special to celebrate this holiday since it falls on a Monday this year!  Instead, I have been reflecting about how I am so LUCKY to be blessed with this life that I am living!

Lacie Jane and Blakely Hope are my two greatest blessings.  I feel incredibly lucky that I get to be their mama every single day!  They are getting so big so fast and I am just trying to cherish every second that I get to spend at home with them!  The best feeling in the whole wide world is walking into their room in the morning, picking them up out of their cribs, and getting snuggles and kisses!  

I am truly lucky that I get to call this little foursome my family!  I am blessed with so much love and laughter! And yes this picture is from Christmas.  No we have not taken a picture of all four of us together since!  We should be much better about that! 

Finally, I am so lucky that I get to call John my husband!  He is, without a doubt, the best husband I could ever ask for, and I am so lucky that fate brought us together!  I love watching him be a Daddy to our two girls every single day! 

St. Paddy's 2014

Just for fun - A look back at St. Paddy's Day from 2013!  

 I can't believe how little they were - especially Blakely!  What a difference a year makes! 

If you are looking for a last minute St. Paddy's Day treat, you could try whipping up a batch of my Irish Soda Bread!  It is super simple and super delicious!  I also makes 2 loaves!!!  Click here to find the recipe.

If you want to make a fun desserts that both kids and grown ups will enjoy, try making a batch of my Lucky Charms Treats!  They are just like rice krispies treats but with a fun St. Paddy's Day twist!  Click here for that recipe!

I hope you are feeling LUCKY today! 

Irish Soda Bread

With St. Paddy's Day only 8 days away, I am sharing my recipe for Irish Soda Bread.  Growing up, I was never a huge fan of this bread because I always thought it was so dry.  I had to put tons of butter on each piece to eat it - and John agreed with this sentiment.  But I put together a recipe and a method that ensures a delicious and moist piece of Irish Soda Bread!  Another great thing about this recipe is that it makes two loaves!  One for your family to enjoy and one to share with a relative/neighbor/friend!  

Everyone who has tried my recipe so far has LOVED it, and I hope you enjoy it too! 

Here's What You Need to Make the Irish Soda Bread:

• 4 cups of all purpose flour 
• 1 cup sugar 
• 1 tbsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt 
• 1 stick butter, cut into small cubes
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 3/4 cups buttermilk 
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 tbsp water

Now Let's Make the Irish Soda Bread:

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and line a large baking sheet pan with foil
2. In a large mixing bowl place 4 cups of flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 tbsp baking soda, and 1 tsp salt.  Whisk these ingredients together
3. Add the cubed butter (cold right out of the fridge) and use your *clean* hands to incorporate the butter into the dry mixture until crumbly 
   
4. Use a wooden spoon to stir in the raisins
5. Pour the buttermilk in and mix with spoon until dough forms
6. Turn out dough onto floured surface and shape into a ball
   
7. Divide ball into two even halves and shape each half into a round loaf - place onto prepared baking sheet
8. Use a knife to score a cross into the top of each loaf
   
9. Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes until tops of loaves are golden brown
10. Place 1/3 cup sugar and 2 tbsp water into a bowl
11. Heat in microwave for 30 seconds
12. Use a pastry brush to brush tops of loaves with the sugar water while bread is still warm from the oven (I did two coats of the sugar water on each loaf - I still had a little bit left)
    

*This bread is best if eaten in 1-2 days*

Happy Irish Soda Bread Baking! 

Lucky Charms Treats

St. Paddy's Day is almost here!  Even though it's not a PINK holiday like Valentine's Day, I promise to provide a few fun and colorful treats! And since there is only about a week and a half until this festive day, I thought I would share a super quick and easy recipe with you today!

LUCKY CHARMS TREATS

You essentially make rice krispies treats with Lucky Charms cereal instead!  In fact you can really do this with any fun cereal all year round (I did it with Trix cereal for Lacie's 2nd Birthday).

Here's What You Need to Make the Lucky Charms Treats:

• 6 cups of Lucky Charms cereal
• 1 bag of marshmallows (I used the miniature ones)
• 3 tbsp butter

Now Let's Make the Lucky Charms Treats:

1. Grease a 9x13 baking dish and the back of a spatula - set both aside
2. In a large microwave safe bowl, add the bag on marshmallows and the butter
3. Heat in the microwave until the butter melts and the marshmallows become puffy and begin to melt together
   
4. Stir together the melted marshmallows and the butter until thoroughly combined 
5. Carefully stir in the dry cereal, making sure it is evenly coated with the marshmallow
   
6. Press into greased pan, using the back of the greased spatula to press it down firmly into the pan
   
7. Allow to set for at least one hour before cutting into squares
8. Store in an air tight container 

So Pretty and Festive!