Irish Soda Bread

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Irish Soda BreadI promised you more St. Patrick’s Day favorites this week, and here I am keeping good on my word. The first time I made (or tried to make is probably more appropriate) Irish Soda Bread, it was an utter disaster. This was years ago, when I was just getting my footing in the kitchen. I remember it being very disheartening – everything I read said it was such an easy quick bread! I can’t remember what recipe I used – but it came out of the oven looking completely stunning. Then, when I cut into it, it just completely crumbled to a heap or soda bread ashes.

It kind of reminded me of when Clark goes to cut Catherine’s turkey in National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. That whole episode scared me away from breads for a few years – but I’m happy to report that I’m back in the saddle, lived to tell the tale, with an awesome (and different!) soda bread recipe for you guys!

I’ve been using Ina’s recipe for the past couple of years, and it always turns out fabulous. I didn’t have currants, so I substituted with raisins. Ina also doesn’t add caraway seeds – which to me, is essential in an Irish soda bread. So I brought those to the party as well. The flavors of the caraway and the orange zest, and then the chewy raisins – it’s just so wonderful. The loaf is quite large, and lasts us a couple of meals. I like to slice it thin, toast it, then add a bit of butter before enjoying. Sure to please any Leprechaun you’ll find in your neck of the woods!

Irish Soda Bread

4 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for raisins
4 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch slices
1 3/4 cups cold buttermilk, shaken
1 extra-large egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
1 Tbsp caraway seeds
1 cup raisins or dried currants

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or silicone mat.

Combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the butter and mix on low speed until the butter is mixed into the flour.

With a fork, lightly beat the buttermilk, egg, orange zest, and caraway seeds together in a measuring cup. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture. Combine the currants with 1 tablespoon of flour and mix into the dough. It will be very wet.

Dump the dough onto a well-floured board and knead it a few times into a round loaf. Place the loaf on the prepared sheet pan and lightly cut an X into the top of the bread with a serrated knife. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. When you tap the loaf, it will have a hollow sound.

Cool on a baking rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Source: adapted from Barefoot Contessa at Home by Ina Garten

Pub-Style Shepherd’s Pie

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Pub-Style Shepherd's PieSt. Patrick’s Day is always a much anticipated holiday in our house. We’ll take any excuse to drink a good beer of course, but I also happen to look fabulous in green! I’ve never been a corned beef & cabbage gal – I usually opt for this Pot Roast with Stout Gravy for our St. Patrick’s Day Feast. But, this Shepherd’s Pie is definitely giving it a run for it’s money…

Unlike the pot roast, this recipe is completely doable after a day at work. Sweating some veggies, browning some beef, then making a quick pan gravy with plenty of dark Irish stout. And while that’s going on, you can be boiling your potatoes to mash for the topping. I baked and served right in my cast iron skillet – I always love the rustic presentation at the table, especially for something like this dish. And one less pan to wash is always a good thing.

Not terribly long in the oven either, just enough time to get the gravy bubbling and the taters nice and browned on top. Which, is actually about the time it takes to sit down an enjoy a nip of Irish spirits, or taking a few moments to read your wee little leprechauns a tall tale. Stay tuned, because I have a few other St. Patty’s Day favorites I’m looking forward to sharing with you guys this week!

Pub-Style Shepherd’s Pie

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large onion, chopped fine
2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped fine
4 oz white mushrooms, chopped fine
1 1/2 pounds ground sirloin (90/10)
Table salt and ground black pepper
1 tablespoon tomato paste
5 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 1/2 cut low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup dry, dark stout (like Guinness)
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme leaves
1 cup frozen peas

For the topping:
2 1/2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
Table salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/3 cup heavy cream, warmed
Ground black pepper
1 large egg, beaten

Preheat oven to 375.

Place potatoes in a large pan full of cold water. Place over medium-high heat, cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cook potatoes until fork-tender – about 20 minutes. Drain, return to warm pan, and cover.

Melt butter in large cast iron skillet over medium-high head. Add onion, carrots, mushrooms, and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until the veggies are starting to brown on the edges – about 7 minutes. Remove to small bowl and set aside.

Add the ground beef to to pan along with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper, breaking up with a wooden spoon as you cook. Cook until completely browned on all sides. Drain as much grease from the beef as you can. Return veggies to the pan along with the beef.

Add the tomato paste, as well as the flour to the pan – tossing with the beef and veggies to coat completely. Cook over medium-heat for about 2 minutes to brown the tomato paste and flour – this really helps develop flavor for the sauce.

Slowly pour in the beer, as well as the chicken broth. Reduce heat to low and cook until liquids thicken and start to bubble. Carefully stir in the heavy cream, soy sauce, thyme, and peas – stir to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

To make the potato topping, warm 1/3 cup heavy cream and 2 Tbsp butter in a microwavable safe bowl for about 1 minute. Add warm mixture to the cooked potatoes, and use a potato masher to mash the potatoes until smooth. You can also use your stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Spread the mashed potatoes evenly over the gravy in the cast-iron skillet. Using the tines of a fork, rough up the surface of the mashed potatoes (this helps with browning). Brush the top of the pie with a beaten egg.

Carefully place the skillet in the oven, and bake at 375 for about 40 minutes, until potatoes are browned and gravy is bubbly.

Source: adapted from Cook’s Illustrated Fall Entertaining, Fall 2010

Blackberry Margaritas

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Blackberry Margaritas

Happy Friday! I don’t know if it’s just me – or, has it been an especially long week for everyone? I thought nothing would be better to close out the week than a good cocktail! And, what better way to round out this week of blackberry posts than blackberry margarita? You guys know me, I always reach for the tequila first.

Thankfully, so does Shawnda – I don’t know there there is a fruit left under the sun that she hasn’t turned into a delicious margarita. Nothing but goodness in this glass – homemade margarita mix, tequila, triple sec, and blackberry  puree. I went ahead and put it through a fine mesh strainer, but I think they’d be fun to muddle right in the glass too. A blackberry mojito may or may not be in the works already…

Blackberry Margaritas

For the blackberry puree:
6 oz blackberries
1 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp water

For the cocktails:
blackberry puree
9 oz lime juice
9 oz water
1/2 cup sugar
3 oz orange liqueur
6 oz tequila
lime wedges, for garnish

To make the puree, add berries, sugar, and water to a blender or food processor and puree for 1 minute.

Combine 1/2 cup sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan and heat until sugar is dissolved completely.

Add puree, simple syrup, lime juice, orange liquer, and tequila in a small pitcher or carafe.

Stir well to combine, and serve over ice with a wedge of lime. I usually don’t rim my glass, if I do I usually go with sugar instead of salt.

Source: adapted from Confections of a Foodie Bride

White Chocolate Pudding with Blackberry Curd

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White Chocolate Pudding w/ Blackberry CurdOne of my favorite Christmas gifts this year was Deb’s book, The Smitten Kitchen. As with her blog, I want to make pretty much everything the woman puts in print. But, decided on this white chocolate pudding with blackberry curd as a great place to start. I’m not really a fan of white chocolate, or at least I’ve thought I haven’t been. But over the past year it’s really grown on me – and how could any form of pudding be, really?

We enjoyed these the night before we left for Charleston, they were that easy to bring together. Even with an insanely hectic day I still managed to carve out 10 minutes to cook the pudding, and the curd. Speaking of curd, I’d never had any flavor other than lemon – and let me just tell you, I’m sold. They were just so darn pretty, and delicious. The pudding was creamy and rich. And the blackberry curd on top was such a nice punch in contrast with the sweetness from the pudding. I’m looking forward to trying it with raspberry as well!

White Chocolate Pudding with Blackberry Curd

For the pudding:
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon table salt
2 1/4 cups whole milk
6 ounces white chocolate, chopped
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

For the blackberry curd:
1/2 cup fresh blackberries
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 cup sugar
Pinch of salt
1 large egg
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

To make the pudding, combine the cornstarch, sugar, and salt in a heavy bottom saucepan. Whisk in the milk, scraping the bottom and sides of the pan with a heatproof spatula to incorporate the dry ingredients. Place over low heat and stir constantly, scraping the bottom and sides. Use a whisk as necessary, should lumps begin to form. After about 15 minutes, when the mixture begins to thicken and coats the back of the spoon, add the chocolate. Continue stirring for about 2 to 4 minutes, or until the pudding is smooth and thickened.

Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Strain the pudding through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl with a spout, and pour into individual serving dishes. Chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours.

Meanwhile, purée berries in a food processor or blender until as smooth as possible. Press through a fine-mesh strainer to remove seeds. You should have between 3 and 4 tablespoons of purée.

Whisk together the blackberry purée, lemon juice, sugar, salt, and egg in a heavy 1-quart saucepan. Stir in the butter, and cook over moderately low heat, whisking frequently, until the curd is thick enough to hold the marks of the whisk, and until the first bubble appears on the surface, about 4 to 5 minutes. Divide the curd among prepared cups, gently spreading it on pudding surfaces.

Let chill for 1 hour before serving.

Source: slightly adapted from The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook by Deb Perelman