450g (1lb, 31/2 cups) plain flour 1/2 teaspoon sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda 300-600ml (1/2 – 1 pint, 1 1/4 – 2 1/2 cups) sour milk or buttermilk
METHOD
Sieve the dry ingredients. Make a well in the centre.
Pour in all the milk at once. Using 1 hand, with your fingers stiff and outstretched like a claw, stir in a full circular movement from the centre to the outside of the bowl in ever increasing circles. The dough should be softish, not too wet and sticky. When it all comes together, turn it out onto a well-floured work surface. Wash and dry your hands. Tidy it up and flip over gently. Pat the dough into a round, about 4cm deep.
Cut a deep cross on the loaf and prick in the four corners.
Bake in the oven for 15 minutes then turn down to 200deg C for 30 minutes until cooked. If you are in doubt, tap the bottom of the bread, when it is cooked it will sound hollow. Cool on a wire rack.
Tip! Soda breads are best eaten on the day they are made, but are still good the next day.
Spotted Dog
Follow the recipe above adding: 1 dessert spoon of sugar, 100g sultanas, 1 egg.
Add the sugar and the sultanas with the flour and drop the egg in with the milk before missing. Spotted dog is also called railway cake in some parts of Ireland.
Stripy Cat
Follow the spotted dog recipe replacing the sultanas with 75g of roughly chopped best quality chocolate.
Come to savour culinary delights at Ballymaloe House Hotel.BOOK YOUR STAY
I am excited to take over the café from today. We’ll be opening the doors as usual at 10am but with all the same familiar faces and the usual cosy atmosphere that you’re used to.
I’d like to wish Emma the very best, and a big thank you for the time we’ve worked together & all the laughs we’ve had along the way.
I am looking forward to welcoming our loyal customers and new faces over the coming weeks and months.
Thank you to everyone for all your support and well wish so far. I’m very grateful.
2 fennel bulbs, trimmed and cut lengthways into 3-4mm (¼in) slices
2 apples (unpeeled), quartered, cored and cut into wedges 5mm (¼in-½in) thick
4 smoked mackerel fillets, skin removed and flesh torn into bite-sized chunks
4 handfuls of rocket leaves
First, add the extra-virgin olive oil and the lemon juice to a large bowl. Season with the salt and freshly ground black pepper, then whisk everything together. Next, add in the sliced fennel, the wedges of apple and the chunks of mackerel. Mix together well, then add the rocket leaves and gently toss everything together to dress the leaves. Divide between plates and serve immediately.
Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4. Lightly grease 2 flat baking trays or swiss roll tins.
Put the butter and sugar into a mixing bowl and beat until smooth and creamy.
Next, beat in the peanut butter. Finally, stir in the beaten egg and the flour. Mix until smooth.
Put teaspoonfuls of the mixture onto the baking sheet (a little apart, to allow for spreading during baking).
Bake for 15 minutes if you like them soft in the middle, or for 25 minutes if you like them crisp.
When baked, allow to set for about 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire tray to cool. When completely cold, store in an airtight container to keep them fresh.
Ricotta adds an interesting texture here, and the saffron makes it wonderfully fragrant.
Serves 6
500ml/17 fl oz whole milk
1 tsp of saffron threads
5 egg yolks
200g/7oz sugar
250ml/8½ fl oz double cream
500g/1lb 2oz ricotta
2 tbsp honey, plus extra to serve
2 handfuls of toasted pine nuts, to serve
Bring the milk and saffron to a simmer and keep warm.
In a large bowl, combine the yolks and sugar and beat until pale.
Add half the warm milk to the egg mixture and whisk again until combined. Pour the mix into the saucepan along with the remaining warm milk. Cook over a low heat, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens into a custard and coats the back of a wooden spoon. Remove from the heat and whisk in the double cream, followed by the ricotta and the honey, until blended.
Churn in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Serve sprinkled with toasted pine nuts and a little extra honey.