Irish Soda Bread

I don't know how authentic this recipe is and I make individual ones instead of one big loaf, but we really like it and look forward to having soda bread every St. Patrick's Day!



2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 Tbsp brown sugar
3 Tbsp butter
1 beaten egg
3/4 cup buttermilk or sour milk
1/3 cup raisins or currents



Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl. Cut in butter. Add milk and egg. Stir just until moistened. Stir in raisins or currents.



Drop onto greased baking sheet and bake at 375 about 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

Corned Beef and Cabbage

St. Patrick's Day is a holiday we look forward to every year because it means corned beef and cabbage, Irish soda bread and potatoes. Andy said it is the "best meal of the year"!

This corned beef is so easy to do in the crock pot and is so tasty! It makes you feel like you have "the luck of the Irish"!

1 onion, sliced

2 1/2 - 3 lbs of corned beef brisket

1 cup apple juice

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 Tbsp orange zest

6 whole cloves

2 tsp prepared mustard

6 cabbage wedges

Place brisket in crock pot. Combine apple juice, brown sugar, orange zest, cloves and mustard. Pour over brisket. Place cabbage and onions on top.

Cover and cook on low for 10 to 12 hours or on high for 5 to 6 hours.

Beef Stroganoff

This recipe is a favorite of both my mom and my grandma and now our family. It can also be cooked in the crock pot after browning round steak in skillet.

Cut 1 1/2 pounds of round steak into strips. Dredge in flour, salt and pepper.

Brown in 1 tbsp oil in large skillet.

Add chopped onion, dash paprika, 1/4 tsp marjoram, 1 can mushrooms undrained.

Simmer until cooked through, adding water periodically to make a gravy.

When the meat is done, add flour and water to make a paste. Stir into water in skillet and make gravy.

Add 1 Tbsp tomato sauce.

Turn down the heat and let cool slightly. Stir in 1/2 cup sour cream.

Heat through but don't boil.

Serve over cooked egg noodles.

Clam Fritters

I made these with the clams we dug ourselves but had wonderful friends to clean them for us! They were so yummy and VERY filling for being so small. Served with a lettuce salad and fruit, they made a nice light supper.

1 1/2 cups complete pancake mix (just add water kind)

1 cup minced clams (I ran them through the food processor), reserve juice

1/2 of a green pepper finely chopped

1/4 cup finely chopped green onion

1 tsp Old Bay seasoning

milk

Mix pancake mix, clams, green pepper, green onion and Old Bay. Add clam juice. Stir in enough milk to make a batter thick enough to drop into the oil.

Drop tablespoons of batter into oil that has been heated to 375. Fry for 2 minutes on each side. Test for doneness. If they are still doughy, use smaller spoonfuls of batter.

Remove from oil and drain on paper towels. Serve immediately.