Happy Mangia Monday my friends! Can you believe we’ve enjoyed a whole year of Mangia Monday madness??? Time flies, doesn’t it?
How was your weekend?? Yesterday my daughter and her Girl Scout troop represented Sri Lanka at International Day, a yearly event for which each troop learns about a country. It just so happens that my brother-in-law is marrying a woman from Sri Lanka in 6 weeks, so it was especially fun for Hannah to learn about this country, dress in a modified sari, bindi (the dot between the eyes), bells and jewelry and perform a Sri Lankan dance in front of 30 or so other troops. They did such a great job!
All the girls, from kindergarteners on up to our 6th graders, looked SO cute dressed in their country’s traditional attire! A lot of the troops also sold food that originated in the country they represented and it was great to see kids being adventurous and trying foods from around the world: blinis from the Russian troop, waffles from Belgium, pizza from Italy, hummus from Israel, samosas made by Hannah’s troop representing Sri Lanka, and of course raisin bread from Ireland.
It struck me how every ethnic group has a particular food that is associated with it, of which each family within that ethnicity claims to have the best recipe for. For my husband’s Italian family and Italians throughout the world: red sauce. Brazilians: flan. For my family, Irish Bread. Also known as soda bread or raisin bread, it’s a staple in Irish households everywhere. I could do a blind taste test of 20 Irish breads and know which one was my Auntie Julie’s, Aunt Maunie’s or my Mum’s.
Just so happens that my Mum’s Irish bread is the.best.ever and I’m not just saying that because she’s from Killagoola, Moycullen, County Galway, Ireland, and because in Killagoola they don’t put icky caraway seeds in the Irish bread and because the bread’s not too sweet, not too bland and because Mum doesn’t use measuring cups or spoons ever but yet it always comes out perfectly. I’m telling you it’s the best because I love you and you have to experience it fresh out of the oven with a little butter and a cup of tea. Maybe a smidgen of strawberry jam. Let’s use the upcoming St. Paddy’s Day as an excuse!
I shared this recipe two years ago when my blog was brand new and it definitely deserves an encore!
Killagoola Irish Bread
2 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2/3 sugar
1 cup raisins
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 c sour cream
3/4 cup milk
1 egg
Preheat oven to 350. Butter and flour a loaf pan.
Mix and aerate flour, baking powder and sugar. Add raisins to dry mix until thoroughly covered. Add oil and mix until moistened. Add the sour cream, milk and egg and blend only until combined. Do not overmix or your bread will be tough.
Bake for 45-55 minutes, until golden brown and tester inserted into middle of loaf comes out clean. (All ovens are different; test at 45 minutes and don’t overbake or your Irish bread will be dry.)
Why don’t you share a recipe with us today? My co-host, the beautiful Kristin of Delightfully Dowling fame, and I both love seeing what you all are cooking up or eating out! (PS be sure to visit Kristin to check out her recipes and her Mangia Mondays anniversary giveaway!)
Michelle says
Lisa~I love this post. I saw the title of it and got excited to make it! Alan's Mother makes Irish Brown Bread. Different from the soda bread. I have tried and failed! She has different flour in Ireland she uses. My kids love her brown bread. I need to learn to make it. Does your Mom have a brown bread recipe? I tried my Mothers as well, but like your Mother there is no measuring or anything so it is hard to make. This is going to be my goal this week! Happy St.Patrick's Day!
Michelle
Lisa Scibilia says
Michelle, I'll ask Mum about the brown bread. She does make it but has no actual measurements! I got the recipe for her raisin bread by making it with her and making her use actual measuring cups and teaspoons to show me! Her "measuring cup" is a tea cup with flowers on it 🙂 Love hearing from you!
Tammy says
This sounds wonderful and can't wait to make it. In the directions you indicate to add oil but in the ingredients listed, oil wasn't listed. How much oil? Thanks!
Barbara says
What is better then homemade bread yum!
Lisa - A Room with A View says
My kids have made Irish bread in school every year from the time they were 3 yrs old through elementary. Always delicious! Thanks for the recipe. Have to check out some of the others.
Suzy www.savedbysuzy.blogspot.com says
I will have to try your Mum's recipe. I like to make soda bread on St. Patrick's day, but don't have a recipe that I love. This might be the ONE.
Calypso In The Country says
Sounds delicious! I need to page thru all the recipes today because I am getting sick of the same go-to recipes. I ended up taking the kids to Panera for dinner because I just couldn't get my act together today…and its only Monday!
-Shelley
pam {simple details} says
No kneading, raising, waiting – my kind of recipe! Fresh, warm out of the oven, my family will love this! Could be dangerous!
Carrie @ Hazardous Design says
Oh, I'd love to try this recipe. Looks so easy!
Moore or Less Cooking says
Lisa! Congratulations on Mangia Monday 1 year Blogiversary, that is so exciting!! My daughter is a girl scout and I just love that she is part of a wonderful group of girls that are as sweet and wonderful as she. Sri Lankan soon to be sister in Love, that is so exciting, can't wait to hear about the wedding! My hubs is Irish decent and I'm Italian decent so I can really relate to your post. I love Irish Soda Bread, I am excited for St Patty's Day, I'll be flying home that day, so I'll make an early Irish supper for hubs this week. I have linked up my Hasselback Potatoes on your linky party! Hope you are having a wonderful evening!! Ciao Bella, Nettie
Carmel @ Our Fifth House says
Thanks for sharing – looking forward to trying this!