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Thursday, March 12, 2009

Flashback and Foodie Friday ~ St. Patrick's Day Style


With St. Patrick's day around the corner and Michael Lee at Designs by Gollum hosting a little pre-St. Patty's day blog party, it only seems fitting that we should flashback to last year, when some internet buddies of mine had a little virtual Irish celebration. I remember having a hard time pulling together green items (of which there were few) to set my table. It was kind of a hodge podge..maybe Irish cottage? :-)



In my search around the house for green things, I "discovered" this cute little milk pitcher that belonged to my husband's Granny.



On the menu was corned beef, colcannon and Irish soda bread


A nice brew in a pilfered Bennigan's glass. Hey what can I say? It was my brother that did it..he's into cheap gifts....Larry are you out there?


And shamrock decorated cupcakes for dessert



Here's a recipe for the Irish Soda Bread muffins. I found it on Recipe Girl's blog, but she quotes her source as Mostly Muffins. These were tasty and moist.

IRISH SODA BREAD MUFFINS

2 cups all-purpose flour
3 Tbs granulated sugar
1½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
¼ cup butter
1 cup buttermilk (lowfat is fine)
1 large egg, beaten
¾ cup currants
½ tsp caraway seeds (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease small muffin tins or large muffin tins.

2. In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. With pastry cutter or two knives used scissors fashion, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In a small bowl, stir together buttermilk and egg until blended. Add buttermilk mixture to dry ingredients and stir to combine. Stir in currants and caraway seeds (if using).

3. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups. Bake 20 to 25 minutes (longer for the larger muffins), or until cake tester inserted in center of one muffin comes out clean.

4. Remove muffin tin or tins to wire rack. Cool 5 minutes before removing muffins from cups; finish cooling on rack. Serve warm or cool completely and store muffins in an airtight container at room temperature.

Yield: 12 regular- sized muffins or 5 large
Recipe Source: Mostly Muffins

Of course I have to throw in a little garden flashback!




21 comments:

Foley said...

Suzy - What a great flashback..but since I wasn't around then it's all new to me!! What a great spread, and I think I have a few of those "inexpensive gifts" laying around also! lol

Karen at Nittany Inspirations said...

How fortunate that you were able to get the lovely pitcher. What a treasure.

Nancy Jane said...

Love the idea of the soda bread muffins! A must try...Nancy

Debbie@Mountain Breaths said...

Suzy, what a great spread! I am intrigued by the Irish soda bread muffins. I learn so much by coming to your wonderful blog!

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you!

Martha said...

Lovely, homey table. I've made Irish soda bread LOTS -- but have never made muffins -- may have to try that this year!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Suzy, what a fun table and fun Irish foods, and I love soda bread! Do you think that recipe could be made by the cooking-challenged aka me? I keep reading these neat bread recipes (am quite the bread lover), and you all are tempting me to bake. Usually my experiments end in a totally trashed kitchen and burned experiment, but I think I might just give it the old college try. Might even surprise you girls one week. ;-) Thanks for sharing...

Happy FF and St. Paddy's...

XO,

Sheila :-)

A Grain of Salt said...

Suzy, pretty post all around! Nice to see your Irish green pretties. Good idea with soda bread muffins. I may try that. I'm saving the flashback logo. ;-)

Sara said...

Everything looks so pretty! I'm making corned beef this weekend too :)

Anonymous said...

Delicious meal! Lovely treasures.

Cynthia said...

Suzy, I love your flashback post. Everything looks so festive and GREEN .. Cute cupcakes and the soda bread muffins look fantastic. ... I know someone that also has a pilfered Bennigan's glass. And the Bennigan's filled with Guinness make it even more Irish.

I'm so glad you posted your little garden flashback. ... Cute bunny and brightly colored flowers .... so pretty.

Kathleen said...

Love your post..fond memories of our party last year..time flies!
And it all looks good!
See you on the 17th!

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

I used recipes from our party last year too :) It was such a fun party, wasn't it?

I love all your photos, Granny's milk pitcher, and that cute irish card! Looking forward to more fun, on the 17th :)

Carol said...

Another great post, Suzy! Cracked up at your brother's gift :) Fun party last year! Another this year!

Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer said...

great post..full of green and loved the muffin idea...Happy Foodie Friday! Have a great weekend ~ Susan

bj said...

Ummm, it all looks just delicious. To my knowledge, I've never had soda bread...but it sure sounds good.

Marsha said...

I just love these flashbacks! You did it so well with your Irish cottage decor. I am "coveting" your milk pitcher...it is gorgeous! I hope you have it setting out all the time.

The meal looks great but the cupcakes are so pretty with their shamrock jewels.

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

Looks wonderful! I love your pitcher - lovely!

Larry said...

In referance to the Larry blurb, there was nothing cheap about those pints... oh, and I deny it anyway.

Suzy said...

Bout time....

Sylvia said...

Your milk pitcher is adorable and the cupcakes delicious

Michelle said...

Granny's milk pitcher is just gorgeous! Love it!

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