Tuesday, 16 March 2010

More Soda Bread




Well it is Saint Patrick's day and Soda bread is an Irish tradition so this is my contribution. It is a slightly different version from my usual recipe. Well I need to be adventurous now and again. This was not a huge change but the results blew me away as I was expecting the usual disaster to happen. The change was.............I used Bread flour instead of the usual plain. Tah Dah! Risque no? It made a great difference to the texture and it had a lovely crispy crust. I wanted a savoury loaf so I added cheese and spring onions. Totally delicious. Perfect toasted with some cheese. The spring onions added a little traditional green to the occasion. I made it in a long cob shape instead of the tradional round. I slashed the top diagonally three times to replace the usual cross too let the fairies out. I don't think Saint Patrick will worry about this slight deviation do you?

Ingredients

250gms/ strong white (bread) flour
250gms/strong wholemeal ( bread) flour
50 gms butter
400mls approx buttermilk or milk soured with the juice of a lemon
1 egg beaten
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon salt
Good pich of cayenne pepper
100gms grated cheddar
5-6 spring onions chopped

Method

Pre heat oven to 180.C/160.C fan/gas 4/355.F

Grease a baking sheet

Mix the flours, salt, cayenne pepper, soda bic and cream of tartar together.
Rub in the butter until well dispersed.
Stir in the cheese and onions.
make a well in the centre and add the egg then the buttermilk.
Mix until well combined. Don't add all of the liquid at first. The mix should combine easily but not be too sticky. It's easier to add a little more liquid at a time should it be too dry than take it away if too wet.
Place the dough on a floured work top and shape gently into what ever shape you want.
Place on the baking sheet
Slash the top deeply and bake for approximately 45 minutes. Test with a skewer to see if it is ready.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day





18 comments:

  1. It's not Paddy's Day yet...!! But the wheaten looks great. I'm having friends over tomorrow for Beef in Guiness and champ :) :) :) I've even bought Paddy's Day napkins and a shamrock centrepiece for the occasion ;)

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  2. I wish I was coming to dinner with you. Yes I am a little bit early but I hit the publish button by mistake. LOL x

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  3. That savory soda bread looks really good! Yummy!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  4. I hadn't thought of adding onion and cheese to my soda bread ... great idea.

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  5. Rosa thank you.

    BVG - It does taste good. I have added all sorts to soda bread. You should try stewed apples and cinnamon.

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  6. My grandfather was Irish and made soda bread for St. Patrick's Day as well! He was raised here in the states but I always found it comforting when he did his family traditions (mostly foods!). Your soda bread looks wonderful and brings back memories. Love the cheese in there...yum!

    p.s. The hubby's finger survived...by a hair! Can't mess with a girl's addictions, right? lol

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  7. Not having had breakfast yet I'm craving this right now. Great changes and lovely outcome.

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  8. I love the sound of the savoury additions to the soda bread. The green bits in my bread are pumpkin seeds.

    Enjoy St Patrick's Day.

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  9. Happy St Patrick's Day to you Brenda....This looks divine! I hear the sun has been shining there in NI. Granny told me she had a 'wee poke' when she went out with her friend to Bangor! Noone here would understand that comment :) It makes me laugh so much. x

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  10. Ooooh! I like the addition of cheese and onions! I've always made mine sweet with currents, but the idea of making it savory is fabulous!

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  11. Happy St Patrick's Day!

    That soda bread looks wonderful! I've yet to make soda bread, terrible isn't it? It's in my list of things to try out soon.

    Maria
    x

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  13. Hey there! It is so good to see you again! :)

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  14. Yum! My idea of delicious, and my idea of varying a recipe too Granny;)

    Thanks for your good wishes to me:) Happy St Patrick's Day!

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  15. Bridgett - So that is why you have an Irish name. Glad hubby's finger survived ;)

    Giz - Thank you Giz. Nice to see you

    Grannymar - I like pumpkin seeds in it too. I love messing with wheaten/soda bread.

    Lucie - LOL yes I know that term very well. There is a joke here.
    'Once round the dance floor and outside for a poke' ;)

    JdV Do try some savoury you will love it. So easy to change around is soda bread.

    Tina Thank you. Nice to see you :)

    Maria you must try it. It's so quick and easy.

    Coby - You take care of yourself

    Cynthia- Hello. It has been my intention to blog about our meet up. I haven't been near it for a while. I so enjoyed it xx

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  16. Thank you, as always, for visiting Granny!

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  17. Yum! Soda bread is still on my (v long) list of things I want to make. It looks delicious!

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I thank you for your visit and hope you enjoyed your time here.

Granny xxx

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