Lemon-Poppy Seed Dressing

In time for Easter.

 This is a nice, lemony, slightly sweet dressing
 that is perfect for a Spring salad.

 Make a simple salad with chopped romaine lettuce.

 It's nice topped with croutons 

(homemade would be best)

and thinly sliced red onions if you wish.

 Assembled ingredients.

 Juice from 1/2 lemon for 2T and 1t grated zest. 

 Add mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, sugar, salt, and pepper.

 Whisk it until creamy and add the poppy seeds.

I used 1 romaine heart, chopped to make about 4C.

Wash and spin chopped romaine to make

sure it's dry so the dressing will cling.

Toss the romaine with the dressing

until well coated. Taste to see if it needs

more salt and pepper.

Add croutons and thinly sliced red onion.

Lemon-Poppy Seed Dressing

 – serves 2

Whisk:

1 T sugar

2 T  fresh lemon juice

2 T  mayonnaise

1 t    minced lemon zest

 1 t   Dijon mustard

½ t  poppy seeds

Salt and pepper to taste

Toss:

I heart chopped romaine lettuce

Croutons

Thinly sliced red onion – not much

Enjoy!

Links: Stone Gable,
Between Naps On The Porch
Designs By Gollum

Sweet Soda Bread

This is my other recipe for quick Irish Soda Bread.

It's a slightly sweet version that's especially

nice with coffee or tea.

 Butter, an egg, baking powder and sugar are
added to my classic Irish Soda Bread.
You can also add 1C of raisins. 

Then it's called Spotted Dog.

If you don't have buttermilk combine 1C milk

with 1t apple cider vinegar and let sit for 5 mins.

Whisk in the egg and the melted butter.

 Combine with the dry ingredients and lightly mix.
Dough will be sticky
(see my classic recipe.)

Put into a greased pan and cut a cross on top.

Spread with 1T reserved liquid ingredients.

Bake @375 for about 45 minutes, or

until golden.

 Eat warm with lots of butter.

Good with soups, chili, or just with butter and jam.

It's nice toasted too.

A very easy quick bread for any
time of the year!

Sweet Soda Bread

4C flour
4T sugar
1T baking powder
1t soda
1/2t salt
1-1/2C buttermilk
1 stick butter, melted
1 egg

Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl
In a measuring cup whisk the
buttermilk or soured milk
with the egg and melted butter.
Add all but about 1T to the dry ingredients,
(reserving  1T in the cup)
Mix gently until the dough comes together.
Turn onto floured board and knead a few
times and form into a disk. Put into
a greased pan and cut a cross on top.
Spread the reserved buttermilk
mixture on top with your fingers.
Bake @375º until golden, about
45 minutes.
Serve warm with butter.
tip: add the  buttermilk gradually
stirring just until the dough comes
 together. Work quickly and
gently. Don't overwork.

Enjoy!

Real Irish Soda Bread

It takes mere minutes to mix this

quick soda bread and get it in the oven.

You can have warm, fresh baked bread 

 anytime you want in under 45 minutes. 

Authentic Irish Soda Bread has only

4  simple ingredients.

Flour-Soda-Salt-Buttermilk

Things you probably have on hand.
There is another version of Soda Bread
(officially called soda cake) that
is sweeter and I posted it HERE.

 If you don't have buttermilk you can mix 

1C milk with 1t cider vinegar and let it 

sit for 10 minutes. It should be room temp. 

 Combine the flour, salt, and baking soda. 

Make sure the soda is fresh and hasn't expired

(use expired soda HERE).
Make a well in the center of the flour and

add just enough buttermilk so that the dough

 holds together. Mix lightly. It will be sticky. 

Don't overwork it.

 Turn it onto a floured board and use your

 floured hands to gently knead it a few times

 and shape it into a disk.

 Put it into a greased pan: pie pan or cake pan.
Cut a cross on top about 1/4" deep from one
side to the other. That's traditional and helps
it to bake and split evenly.
It also lets the fairies out....so they say.

A cast iron skillet is my favorite.

Bake in a hot 375 oven for about 35 minutes,

 until it sounds hollow and is golden.

Let cool a bit before slicing.

Eat it warm slathered with butter. YUM!

 This is not just for St. Patrick's Day.

It's so easy, you'll want it when you serve soups or

chili. It's nice for afternoon tea with butter
 and jam, or toasted in the morning.

Or, how about a grilled cheese sandwich
for lunch? Made with white cheddar cheese
and fresh pesto.

Real Irish Soda Bread
3 C flour
1 t baking soda
1 t salt
1C to 1-1/2 C buttermilk

Combine the flour, salt, and soda.
Add enough buttermilk to hold it all
together. Start with 1C. Stir gently.
Turn onto a floured surface and knead
gently a few times. Shape into a disk
and put it into a greased pan.
Cut a cross into the top.
Bake in preheated 375º oven for about
35 minutes, until golden.
Serve warm with lots of soft butter.
Toast the next day for breakfast.

Enjoy! 

Links: Facebook,