The Provident Woman is having a give-a-way!!!

That's right you heard it here ... The Provident Woman is having a give-a-way. 

Click on the link and head on over to her blog if you are a fan and want to enter to win.

Irish Soda Bread ~ According to Kittie

Here is the recipe for the bread. I altered it because I never have buttermilk and it's hard to find out here in the woods. I also doubled this recipe so we could have two loaves.  It will be nice for breakfast in the morning.

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup raisins

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 1/4 cup buttermilk ***

(***My substitution - 1 cup plain yogurt mixed with 1/4 cup milk with 1 tsp vinegar)

Preheat oven to 350

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper

In a large bowl combine dry ingredients and mix together

Make a well in the bowl and add yogurt mixture ... at this point you can use a large spoon but I just used my hand in a "claw" formation slowly pulling the dry ingredients to the middle. Do this until the dough just comes together.

You might need another tablespoon or so of milk depending on the weather .. it might not be moist enough. It needs to be sticky ... but not so sticky its really hard to handle

Shape into a round and place on the baking sheet and cut an X on the top with a sharp knife. 

Bake for 45 minutes until dark golden. A skewer or sharp knife will come out clean - let cool before slicing ... and best served shortly after baking. I put mine in about an hour before dinner was done. 

It's really easy and tastes great :o)

Bon Appetite!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Another St. Patty's Day has come and gone and a lovely meal was had.  I'm a pretty good cook if I do say so myself.

A close up on the main attraction.

... and here is my Irish Soda Bread. It turned out so good.

Even though I am Irish every day ... today just makes me really Irish.

Bean & Barley Salad

This is my sister Jessica's favorite salad so I decided to make it today so it would be ready for her when she gets home from work.  

It's a refreshing light salad with a nice little punch of flavor. 

Ingredients:

1 can Chick Peas/Garbanzo beans
1 can Cannellini beans or White Beans
1 cup flat leaf Parsley
2 Tbs Rosemary
1 med Onion 
2 stalks Celery
1 small or 1/2 large Cucumber
4 Tbs Lemon juice
1/3 cup Olive Oil
1 cup cooked Barley
1 tsp Salt

Directions:

Drain and rinse beans
Chop Parsley and Rosemary
Dice Onion and Celery
Peel, seed and dice Cucumber
Mix in large bowl and add Lemon juice, Olive Oil, Barley and Salt

Best if left to sit in the fridge for a couple hours before serving. 

 

Enjoy!!

New Year 2011

It's a New Year and a new me ... with new hair..... Finally

It's starting to show really well now.  I might actually have to get a trim shortly to keep it growing even.

I have to say I am getting used to it though.  It's very easy to take care of ... wash, brush and go.  Can't get easier than that.