Irish "Crowd Pleaser" Soda Bread

from Melodie Perry

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Grease and flour a cast iron fry pan

4 C flour

1 C sugar

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

3 tsp baking powder

1 egg

2 C buttermilk (nonfat or 1%)

3/4 C raisins

Mix all in big bowl using a spoon.  Bake 50 minutes until golden brown.  Lightly butter the top.



Hearty Irish Lager Stew

Serves 8 (1 cup servings)


1Tbs veg oil

8 oz button or shiitake mushrooms, halved

2 cloves garlic - minced

1 med leak (white only) - diced

3 small red potatoes, 1 inch cubes

2 med carrots, peeled and sliced

2 small parsnips, peeled and sliced

1 1/2 tsp tomato paste

1 - 15oz can crushed tomatoes

1 1/2 C vegetable broth (low sodium)

2 sprigs fresh thyme - tied in a bundle

     plus 1 tsp chopped thyme, divided

1/2 C lager beer

1 C quick-cooking tapioca

1 C shredded cabbage

1 Tbsp miso

2 Tbsp chopped parsley


1.  Heat 1/2  Tbsp oil in large pot over med heat.  Add mushrooms and garlic, saute 8 min or until mushrooms are brown.  Remove from pan

2.  Add remaining 1/2 tbsp oil  to pot with leeks and cook 5 min. 

3.  Add potatoes, carrots, parsnips, and tomato paste.  Cook 2 min.

4.  Add tomatoes, broth, and thyme sprigs (bundle) - bring to boil.  Reduce heat to med-low, cover and simmer 40 min, stirring occasionally.

5.  Add lager, tapioca, and mushroom/garlic.  Simmer 10-15 min, stirring often.  

6.  Remove thyme bundle.  Stir in cabbage and miso and simmer 4-5 min. or until cabbage softens.

7.  Stir in chopped thyme and parsley and season with salt and pepper.


~Vegetarian Times (March 2011)