Monday, March 19, 2012

Easy Peasy


Easy Peasy

You could probably make this Irish Soda Bread recipe with one hand tied behind your back, while merrily whistling “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling.”  All it takes is four simple ingredients, flour, soda, salt, buttermilk, and a handful of raisins or currents if you are so inclined.  I had Craisins on hand so I threw in about ¾ of a cup. 

So, bake this bread.
Bake it for a friend.
Bake it for a potluck.
Bake it with your kids.
Bake it on soup night.
Bake it for your neighbor.
Bake it for your co-workers.
Bake it for your in-laws.
You get the picture. 
Bake it.
Slather it with butter, jam or both and enjoy.


Here’s a few close ups.






Go to Tuesdays With Dorie/ baking with Julia for the recipe.  Better yet, buy Baking With Julia.








Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Spring Bake


SPRING BAKE

While many of my students are on spring break in Aruba, I’m at home grading papers and, as a much needed distraction, baking. It took me three days, like many bakers in the group, to make this weeks TWD recipe Rugelach.    On day one, I made the dough.  On day two formed the logs.
On day three cut and baked the rugelach. 






The recipe is pretty simple, although, labor intensive.  The full recipe makes a ton of cookies and way too much filling.  My first two cookie sheets came out better than the second two sheets.  







The second two sheets ran more; even though, I carefully watched them. Although, I kept the second batch in the fridge, I think, everything was just warmer.  The kitchen was warmer, the oven was warmer, and the cookie sheets were warmer.  I think this impacts the baking process.  Perhaps next time, and there will be a next time, I’ll make this a four day event and bake half the batch one day and the second batch in a cool kitchen on cool cookie sheets.  That said, these were delish!  I’ll definitely add them to my Christmas cookie list.  Go to Tuesdays With Dorie Baking With Julia to find the recipe.  Better yet, buy the book Baking With Julia.