Traditional sayings and Irish slang can add flavour to any holiday, as can enjoying traditional Irish culinary favourites! This is especially true on St. Patrick’s Day when there’s more to the holiday than just green beer. Irish soda bread is a crusty classic that will have everyone asking for more. And, although the idea of making bread may be daunting to some, Irish soda bread is anything but scary. The active ingredients in this bread are baking soda and buttermilk, not yeast, hence the name “soda” bread. The acid in the buttermilk reacts with the base of the baking soda to provide the bread’s leavening.
Irish soda bread can be served with butter and marmalade for a delicious breakfast treat, or with a thick hearty stew. Delight family and friends this March 17th with Canadian Living’s Ultimate Irish Soda Bread recipe that is sure to please. https://www.canadianliving.com/food/baking-and-desserts/recipe/ultimate-irish-soda-bread#cxrecs_s
For the chef who prefers a ceramic dish for baking bread, it might help to turn the temperature down by 25 degrees F and extend the baking time as necessary, until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean to avoid browning.
PRO TIP: Allow ceramic nonstick cookware to cool completely before washing. Drastic changes in temperature can damage the nonstick coating, so its cooking abilities will be reduced. For stubborn stuck-on guck, reach for baking soda. Sprinkle a good amount on the desired areas and let stand for 15-20 minutes. Lightly scrub the pan in circles using a microfibre cloth until the stains lift away. Rinse the pan under warm water and dry it with a clean dry towel.
Hosting Cleaning Tips
If you are hosting a St. Paddy’s Celebration in your home this year, you will more than likely have quite a bit to clean up. The simplest tip for party clean-up is: set yourself up for success. Dedicate certain areas of the house and put away any delicate or bulky items so that they don’t get damaged. Clear out your space so you limit damage and the number of items you might need to clean afterward. Try to limit serving messy foods and set up designated areas for eating and drinking. Set out recyclable cups or dishes to limit the number of dishes and clean up time. For more detailed tips on easy party cleanup, click here for more.
Keep It Green
Here at MOLLY MAID, we offer a Green Housekeeping program, this cleaning service is designed for the health and safety of all of our clients for the betterment of the environment. This St. Paddy’s Day help celebrate by trying our green, eco-friendly products. Click here to read more about our Green Housekeeping programs. Contact your local MOLLY MAID for more of our services.
Whether you end up hosting a St. Paddy’s party or going out for a few pints with friends: As the Irish say: whether On Me Tod (on your own), Acting the Maggot (behaving foolishly), or Sucking Diesel (having an exceptionally good time) this St. Patrick’s Day, Two People Shorten the Road (friends always make it better)!
Photo by Autumn Martin on Unsplash
