Easy Irish Soda Bread?

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!! I hope everyone had a fun day whether they remembered the holiday or not, (I sort of forgot about it.) Okay, now back to baking.  My mom really wanted me to make this recipe because yesterday she had made corned beef and cabbage in the crockpot and wanted this bread to go along with all the leftovers. At first being the apprentice baker that I am, I thought there was real soda in the recipe, so I declined because I'm not drinking soda, or carbonated water for a year. (My brother's dare/ idea - we're both doing it!) But then she said it was called "soda bread" because there was baking soda in it. So today we picked up some buttermilk and I made it...I think...read below and you'll find out why...

The Ingredients, I forgot the egg.

Mixing the ingredients together. This just might work...maybe.



I figured I'd try another way to "soften" the butter in the toaster oven, until my Mom saw what I was doing and told me that this wasn't a good idea.  She doesn't like messes. :-)

My...eh...dough?

Buttermilk, I remember one time Luke thought this was milk, poured some of it, then drank it.  He knows the difference now though. =)

The directions didn't say how to shape it so I just plopped it on the pan. It sort of looks like a big fish stick. =/

I know, normally my pictures will have helpful hints and tips, but not this one. DO NOT DO WHAT I DID!  While you are doing this step at home do not think to yourself WWGD (What would Grace Do?) because then your recipe and your oven will be doomed...

 like this.  (See, I poured all of the buttermilk and melted butter on top, but instead you're supposed to just brush a bit on and then slowly brush more on as you're baking.)  So apparently if you have extra liquid just lying on the pan it runs off, lands in the oven, and starts to sizzle and smoke. The whole kitchen was filled with smoke so I had to go somewhere else.  (It was getting hard to breathe.) Did I mention I also had the fire alarm screeching in my ear, refusing to go off?  Those are my Dad's hands above because he always comes to my rescue!  My Mom said the next thing I'm going to learn how to do is clean the oven! =)



It came out... edible!!!! Yea! 

Ingredients:
4 cups all-purpose flour

4 tablespoons white sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup margarine, softened

1 cup buttermilk

1 egg

1/4 cup butter, melted

1/4 cup buttermilk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a large baking sheet.
2. In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and margarine. Stir in 1 cup of buttermilk and egg. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead slightly. Form dough into a round and place on prepared baking sheet. In a small bowl, combine melted butter with 1/4 cup buttermilk; brush loaf with this mixture. Use a sharp knife to cut an 'X' into the top of the loaf.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, about 30 to 50 minutes. You may continue to brush the loaf with the butter mixture while it bakes.

Alright, so although it was a disaster, at least it tasted good in the end. I do highly recommend this recipe, as long as you make it right and follow the directions. Anyway, I noticed a lot of people like cheesecake recipes so I'm thinking of making a really good recipe that's half cheesecake, half cake! Happy St. Patrick's Day!

               

GB2- God Bless, Go BAKE!!!

Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!!!!! So I realize it's not St. Patrick's Day yet but I wanted to post a recipe on the blog, so that you have plenty of time to make it. This recipe has nothing to do with Ireland or St. Patrick's Day, it's just a really yummy cookie that I wanted to make, so I had to come up with an excuse to make it. =)

You can make these cookies on really any holiday, all you have to do is be creative, and turn your thinking cap ON!! 

The Ingredients

Try not to get side tracked and start making sand castles. =)

I feel sorry for the people who are allergic to peanut butter...they're missing out. =(

Make sure to take the wrapper off the kisses. This may sound obvious to real bakers but this is the Baking Apprentice blog. =) 

 Cover the whole cookie dough ball with sprinkles. This is the messy part, but it's fun!

Hungry? If you are, the recipe is posted below so you can make your own. So stop staring at the picture and
BAKE!!!

Ingredients:
1-3/4 cups of flour
1 tsp. of baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 stick of butter
1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter
1 egg
2 Tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
48-60 Hershey Kisses
Colored Sugar Sprinkles (optional)

Instructions:
1. Combine all the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl, and mix till combined (flour, baking soda, salt, sugar, brown sugar).
2. Pour all other ingredients in the large mixing bowl except for kisses, and sprinkles. Mix until dough forms.  Roll the dough into 1 inch balls.
3. Roll the 1 inch balls in the sprinkles and place on ungreased cookie sheet.
4. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Immediately top the cookies with 1 Hershey Kiss. (Press down firmly so cookie cracks around the edge.)

You can cover the cookie with any color sprinkle to match the holiday that you're baking for.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!
GB2- God Bless, Go BAKE!
Thank you for taking the time out of your day to take a look at the blog!