Dreaming of Ireland.....Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Delicious Brown Bread ~ Quick & Easy!

We hosted a Gaelic Gathering with Anne Kaukonen of

Appetizers and More this past Tuesday at The Village

Grocer in celebration of St. Patrick's Day.  

Anne tantalized everyone's tastebuds with her Irish

inspired menu.  

Of course, this event gave Karen an opportunity to bake up

mounds of brown bread and Irish Soda Bread from recipes

given to her by our good friend, Emma who lives in Newcountywicklow,

just outside of Dublin, Ireland.   

 

Emma's Soda Bread

Its craggy crust breaks open into soft sweetness

dappled with raisins (our preferred version).

 We could not stop eating these delicious breads

fresh from the oven slathered with sweet butter

and marmalade. Simply irresistible when served

with copious cups of Brewley's Irish Breakfast tea.

A slice of heaven, Irish style!

Irish Soda Bread is made without yeast.  Soda and Buttermilk

are used as the rising agents. It really is a one bowl wonder.

All the ingredients are mixed together in one bowl and then

rolled out into round loaves.  No kneading or waiting for the

bread to rise.....quick and easy. 

Emma's Brown Bread recipe is yeast-free too, using the soda

and buttermilk method.  We are delighted to share these 2 recipes

with you just in time for St. Patrick's Day.

Meatless Mondays: Kale Pesto

The Month of March is making us think green.  St. Patrick's

Day is less than a week away, with the first day of Spring on

its heels.  What better time to celebrate Green Vegetables.

The health benefits of eating green is well known.

Leafy greens are brimming with fiber, vitamins and minerals

that are believed to protect against heart disease, diabetes, and

cancer.

 Kale is being hailed as the new superfood.  Rich in vitamins

A, C and K,  this leafy green also contains calcium, folate 

and potassium making it an antioxidant wonder veg.

I buy a fresh bunch every week.  It is delicious 

stir-fried in olive oil with some garlic and topped with

freshly grated Parmesan cheese; or simply coarsely chopped

and added to soups or stews.  Make kale chips by 

tearing the leaves into bite size pieces (stems

removed).  Lay out in a single layer on a cookie sheet, 

toss in olive oil, season with salt and pepper, sprinkle with some

freshly grated Parmesan and bake in 300F oven for 20 minutes,

until crispy. Healthy snack and/or amazing side dish to any meal!   

*(Before cooking with kale, be sure to rinse it to remove any 

dirt and dry it thoroughly before you toss it with olive oil)

Try the Kale Pesto Pasta recipe below for something

a little out of the ordinary.  We love its creamy richness and it

is so good for you, too!!

INGREDIENTS

Makes 1 1/2 cups, enough for 6-8 servings of pasta

1/2 cup chopped pine nuts or walnuts
8 ounces kale, trimmed, rinsed, and chopped
1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1-2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

DIRECTIONS

- Toast nuts in the oven or a frying pan until they’re golden and fragrant. This only takes a couple minutes, so keep an eye on them. Let cool.

- Wash and dry kale. Trim all of the stems off. You should just have the leaves left.

- Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Have a large bowl of cold water ready. Drop the chopped kale into the boiling water. When the water returns to a boil, swirl the kale around a few times until it becomes limp.

- Drain the kale and plunge it into the cold water. Drain again, then place on a clean dishtowel and blot away the moisture.

- Place the nuts, kale, Parmesan, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a blender. Purée until smooth. You may need to add more olive oil to reach desired consistency.

- To refrigerate, cover with plastic wrap directly on the surface of the pesto. Will stay fresh for up to 3 days. To freeze, place desired portions in small containers with plastic directly on the surface of the pesto, or place in plastic freezer bags. Freeze for up to two months.

Enjoy on pasta or pizza with a glass of white wine.

Recipe and Photos courtesy of Glitter Guide

Remember to eat your greens.  They are so good for you!!!

Linda