Dairy Free Irish Soda Bread

What would St. Patrick’s Day be with out a little Irish Soda Bread? 

For those of us who are sensitive or allergic to dairy, the usual butter laden variety would be treacherous. This recipe is a sweeter version than traditional soda bread and uses Earth Balance vegan buttery spread as a dairy substitute. I especially love the hearty flavor of the caraway seeds combined with the sweetness of the raisins. Legend has it that the cross cut on top of the bread wards off evil spirits for the holy feast of St. Patrick, but I find that it simply makes it easier to divide after baking. If dairy is not an issue to you, real butter and buttermilk may be directly substituted.

DAIRY and EGG FREE

serves 8 

Preheat oven to 375º

Dairy Free Irish Soda Bread

2 cups all purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking SODA

3/4 teaspoon sea salt

9 tablespoons dairy free margarine

1 tablespoon caraway seeds

1/2 cup raisins

dairy free “buttermilk” divided

(1 cup + 1 1/2 tablespoons of original rice milk

mixed with 1 1/2 tablespoons of vinegar)

1. Line baking sheet with parchment and set aside.

2. In a large bowl combine dry ingredients with a whisk.

3. Mix rice milk and vinegar and set aside.

4. Cut the cold margarine into small (1/4") size chunks and mix  into dry ingredients using a pastry cutter or fork until mixture is crumbly 

(do not over mix).

5. Add caraway seeds, raisins and dairy free “buttermilk” reserving 1 1/2 tablespoons to brush on top of the bread.

6. Stir until evenly moist. 

7. Gather dough into a ball. Kneed 16 turns on a lightly floured board.

8. Pat into a flat (1.5" thick) disk onto a parchment lined baking sheet.

9. Slash a cross on top with a knife, brush with dairy free “buttermilk”.

10. Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden.

11. Cut into wedges and serve warm or cool.

©2010 tricia barry biagi

Lyrical Leprechaun Mask

One of the most whimsical symbols of Ireland, and St. Patrick’s Day for that matter, is the mischievous, legendary leprechaun — a dwarf-like creature known to galavant the Emerald Isle hiding pots of gold among the rainbows. Perhaps you have your own playful “little person” at home anxious to rally in shenanigans and jest? Well, here’s a festive craft to help them express their glee. Using geometric shapes, cut with circle cutters and punches, this mask is based upon an orange paper plate.  

A wooden, paint-stirrer stick (available for free at most hardware stores) becomes the handle to hold for positioning in front of one’s face. I used the Martha Stewart four leaf clover punch to add a little luck to the leprechaun’s tie. Pre-cutting the pieces will make this assembly easy and give you something with which to entertain your wee one — at least until the corned beef and cabbage is ready.

Supplies

9" orange paper plate

various shades of green card stock

peach colored construction paper

black paper or card stock

yellow paper or card stock

wooden paint stirrer stick

6" circle cutter

1" circle punch

four leaf clover punch or sticker

x-acto knife (adult use only)

scissors

glue stick

template for hat and bow tie

1. Using 6" circle cutter, cut a circle from the peach construction paper and divide in half.

2. With the 1" circle punch, create eye-holes in semicircle and save one punched, peach circle to be used later as the leprechaun’s nose.

3. Position the peach semicircle on the orange paper plate and trace eye-holes with a pencil.

4. Use the x-acto knife to cut the traced circles away from the orange paper plate, trimming slightly larger than the tracing.

5. With glue stick, attach peach semicircle onto paper plate, aligning the eye-holes. Glue reserved, 1" peach circle on as the nose.

6. Download leprechaun accessories template above and print hat and bow tie on green card stock. Trim out the pieces.

7. Trace the hat band on black paper and trim. Trace the buckle on yellow card stock, cutting the inside of the buckle with the x-acto knife.

8. Assemble hat and bow tie according to the image.

9. Double cut, a 1" circle punch from the black paper resembling a crescent moon smile for the leprechaun. Attach with glue stick.

10. Finish by applying heave glue to the wooden paint stirrer, adhering to the back of the paper plate. Press firmly and let dry until secure.

©2010 tricia barry biagi