Diane Stopford has graciously shared her Irish Soda Bread recipe for our readers. Nothing seems more Irish than a cup of tea with a thick slice of Irish soda bread slathered with fresh cream butter. Try this recipe and be transported to a place where people connect over simple but wonderful flavors.
Irish Soda Bread
If there is one taste and aroma that immediately reminds me of home, it is soda bread. There was always a loaf of brown soda bread or simply "brown bread" on the breakfast table. White fruit soda bread was more of an afternoon snack, spread with lots of butter. Soda bread is one of the simplest breads to make as it requires no yeast, proving or kneading. It is cheap to make and can be prepared in a matter of minutes. Day-old bread is great toasted with lots of melting butter and jam. The coarse Irish whole-meal flour used in brown bread can be difficult to source but the everyday ingredients in this white fruit soda bread recipe are easy to find.
Fruit Soda Bread:
3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
Pinch of salt
2 Tbsp sugar
1 3/4 cups buttermilk
1/4 cup raisins
Preheat oven to 450ºF. Mix all the dry ingredients together in a bowl. Slowly add the buttermilk and mix together to form a ball. Turn out onto a floured board and form into a smooth round. Make a cross in the dough by lightly cutting across the dough in both directions. This is said to "let the fairies out" but really just aids in an even baking of the bread and makes it easier to cook. Place dough in the oven at 450*F for 15 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 400ºF for 30 minutes. Remove the bread from the oven, turn it over and tap the bread on the bottom. It will sound hollow when cooked. Place on a rack to cool. Cut into slices and serve with butter and jam.
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TAKE AWAY:
Reach out to someone in the next few days. Do something that makes a difference to them. Even better, do it so they don't know you are helping.
Believe in your dreams simply because they matter to you. Marcia Wieder, Dream University
Live the dream, your way. Everyone has a dream that they cherish. Often it is kept hidden deep inside because it seems to impractical, complicated or even silly. Take minute, close your eyes and imagine your dream. When doubts and limitations sneak into your vision gently let them pass on. Spend time visualizing achieving your dream. Then each day take one step in action on your dream. Make a phone call, send an email, research a concept. You will be one step closer to acheiving your dream by staying in action.
When struggling with betrayal by a friend or loved one, stop and redirect your energy. Sometimes when we are betrayed, we become so obsessed with the betrayer that the negative feelings start to take over our lives. We can think of nothing else and happiness seems impossible. Instead of focusing on the betrayer and what he or she did, stop and step back a bit. Look around at the many people who are loving and supportive and focus on loving them. Accept the gift of their support and commitment to you. Let the betrayer go and redirect your energy towards the people who love you.
Make the world a better place today for each person you encounter. Give the gift of a kind word or a simple deed.
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