Irish Soda Bread

This month for Secret Recipe Club I was assigned The Harried Cook.  Marsha's blog has lots of different baked goods, delicious looking scones, muffins and cookies that are totally worth checking out. I wanted to find something for St Patrick's day since we are only a week away and I was in luck when I came across Marsha's recipe for Irish Soda Bread. I usually buy Irish Soda Bread from the food store in the days leading up to St. Patrick's Day. I like to put a slice in the toaster oven for breakfast with a little bit of butter. ShopRite's version of it has raisins and since that's what I'm used to eating, I decided to add raisins to my loaf. I really enjoy the little bit of sweetness they add to the bread. This recipe make a huge loaf which is great if you've got a lot of mouths to feed or like to share your baked goods with other people. I love that this is a bread you can make without yeast and the time it takes to wait for it to rise. In fact since I still have the buttermilk in the fridge I may just make another loaf to eat with our corned beef and cabbage next week.

Ingredients:

4 Cups Bread Flour

4 Tbsp Sugar

1 1/2 Tsp Salt

1 Tsp Baking Soda

1 Tsp Baking Powder

4 Tbsp I Can't Believe it's not Butter - cold & diced

2 Cups Cold Reduced Fat Buttermilk 

1 Egg

1 Cup Raisins

A little all purpose flour for kneading

Preheat oven to 400. Put parchment paper or something similar down on your baking tray, if you don't have either you can grease your baking tray with butter or spray it with Pam. In a small bowl combine the wet ingredients (buttermilk and egg). Set aside.

Combine the dry ingredients in your mixer bowl (flour, salt, sugar, baking powder and baking soda). Mix on a slow speed until combined. Add the diced up cold butter and mix again on a low speed.

Slowly add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients while the mixer is running on a low speed. Only allow the dough to mix until it is just combined. Do not over mix the dough. It will be wet and lumpy but that's what you want. 

Add the raisins and gently mix them in using a spatula.

Transfer the dough onto a well floured surface to knead. Knead the dough which will disperse the raisins more throughout the whole loaf. Form the dough into s round loaf and transfer it onto the baking tray shaking off some of the flour.Using a serrated knife cut an X into the dough.

Bake for 40-45 minutes until the whole loaf is golden brown. The base of the loaf should sound hollow when knocked on the counter.Transfer to a rack to cool completely. Slice and serve. Keep wrapped in foil until used.

Enjoy!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Reuben Pizza

If you love a good Reuben sandwich like I do than you will love my Reuben Pizza!! I can honestly say that I think the Reuben may be the best sandwich out there and I challenge you to find me a better one!! Until I watched one of the most recent Man vs Food episodes on the Travel channel I never imagined my favorite sandwich could be transformed into a pizza. Just think about it like an opened face version of the sandwich. The creamy Thousand Island dressing with the salty corned beef, the tart sauerkraut with the cheesy swiss my mouth is watering just thinking about the flavor combinations. The guys at the Black Market Pizza place in Ames, Iowa are so smart they even added Caraway seeds to give it the taste of rye bread. I've said it before and I'll say it again... pizza dough is a blank canvas that can be transformed so I urge you to give this one a try, you won't regret it!!

Ingredients:

1 Package of Pizza Dough

2/3 Cup of Thousand Island Dressing

3/4lb Corned Beef - Thinly Sliced

1/2lbs Swiss Cheese

14oz Can Sauerkraut - Drained and Squeezed

1 Tbsp Caraway Seeds

1 1/2 Cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

8-10 Bread & Butter Sliced Pickles

1/4 Cup Flour

Pam Spray

Adapted from Black Market Pizza in Ames, Iowa

Start by preheating your oven to 450 F. Spray your pizza pan with Pam and roll your dough out on a floured surface until it is about 1/2 thick, stretch the dough until it fits well on the pan. Spread the Thousand Island dressing down leaving about an inch border for the crust.

Put down your slices of Swiss cheese covering the dressing as best you can with a little bit of overlap.

Arrange your corned beef one slice at a time so it is evenly spread out as one big layer on top of the Swiss cheese. I don't think I've ever put this much meat on a pizza!!

Make sure your sauerkraut is drained well by squeezing as much of the liquid out as you can. Put it down in clumps until you've covered the meat almost entirely. Sprinkle the caraway seeds over the sauerkraut.

Your last layer is the shredded mozzarella cheese which you spread out on top of the sauerkraut. The pickles are obviously optional or if you don't like warm pickles you can also add them after the pizza comes out of the oven. I placed one for each slice I intended to serve and then one in the middle just for fun :) Bake the pizza for 18-20 minutes, until the cheese is completely melted and the sauce and crust has bubbled and browned.

Enjoy!!

Linked at: http://www.thecountrycook.net/

St. Patrick's Day Recipe Round-Up

We hope you've been enjoying the new St. Patrick's Day recipes we've been sharing with you this year like our Pistachio Bundt Cake and our Reuben Dip. We wanted to remind you of some of our older St. Patrick's Day recipes we've posted from the last two years since the holiday is only about a week away.

On Top from Left to Right:

Irish Soda Bread Muffins

Shepherd's Pie

St Patrick's Day Cupcakes

In the middle:

Guinness Stew

On Bottom from Left to Right:

Baked Donuts with Almond Glaze

Reuben Rolls

Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookies

Enjoy!!

&

Linked at: http://www.notyourordinaryrecipes.com/, http://www.foodiefriendsfriday.com/, http://www.thecountrycook.net, http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/, http://www.lifewiththecrustcutoff.com/, http://www.michellestastycreations.com/, http://www.cheeriosandlattes.com/, http://www.whatscookingwithruthie.com/, http://iamaddictedtorecipes.blogspot.ca/,
http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com, http://www.flourmewithlove.com/, http://www.nap-timecreations.com/, http://www.chef-in-training.com/, http://insidebrucrewlife.com/, http://www.mandysrecipebox.blogspot.com/, http://www.semihomemademom.com/, http://www.bunsinmyoven.com/, http://thenymelrosefamily.com, http://www.ladybehindthecurtain.com, http://djssugarshack.com, http://www.housewivesofriverton.com/, http://www.momstestkitchen.com/, http://www.mandatorymooch.blogspot.com/, http://www.mizhelenscountrycottage.blogspot.com/, http://www.momontimeout.com/, http://www.thebusybhive.blogspot.com/, http://www.michellestastycreations.com/

Mint Cheesecake Swirl Brownies

If you are looking for a green dessert to serve for your upcoming St. Patrick's Day party that is moist and delicious, then these Mint Cheesecake Swirl Brownies are for you! They are quick and easy to make since I cheated and used the brownie box mix. They also can be left plain if you don't want the cheesecake flavored but I think the mint makes them refreshingly sweet. 

Ingredients:

1 Package for Fudge Brownie Mix

1 Tsp Vanilla Extract

1 Eggs

1/3 Cup Canola Oil

1/3 Cup Water

8 oz Fat Free Cream Cheese - Softened

1 Egg

1 Tsp Mint Extract

1/4 Cup Sugar

2 Tbsp Flour

Green Food Coloring

Pam Spray

1

 Adapted from: http://www.sheknows.com/

Start by preheating your oven, the temperature you'll need depends on the type of brownie pan you will be using so follow the guidelines on the box for a 9 x 9 inch pan. In a large bowl using a spatula or wooden spoon combine the needed ingredients on the box to make the brownies, set aside.

In your stand mixer bowl with the paddle attachment on a medium speed combine the softened cream cheese, flour and sugar until smooth. Add in the egg, mint extract and food coloring. Beat again until well blended and you get the desired color.

In pan that has been sprayed with Pam or greased, spread all but 1 cup of the brownie batter in the bottom of the pan. Be sure to spread it out evenly. Next pour the cream cheese mixture on top of the brownie batter smoothing it out completely over top.

Using the remaining cup of brownie batter and drop spoonfuls of the batter on top of the cream cheese layer.

Using a knife swirl the brownie batter and cream cheese mixture together to make a fun and decorative marbled pattern. Be careful not to drag the knife too deep you want to try and stay on top layer and leave the bottom brownie batter alone.

Bake for the recommended amount of time as instructed by your brownie box. I believe mine baked for 30 minutes at 325. When they are ready a toothpick inserted into the middle will come out clean and the edges of the brownies will begin to pull away from the sides. Cool in the pan completely before slicing into squares. Store in the fridge.

Enjoy!!

Linked at: http://www.hungrylittlegirl.com/, http://www.momstestkitchen.com/, http://www.ladybehindthecurtain.com/, http://thenymelrosefamily.com/, http://djssugarshack.com/, http://www.housewivesofriverton.com/, http://www.bunsinmyoven.com, http://www.semihomemademom.com/, http://www.mizhelenscountrycottage.blogspot.com/, http://www.momontimeout.com/, http://www.mandatorymooch.blogspot.com/, http://www.thebusybhive.blogspot.com/, http://www.foodiefriendsfriday.com/, http://www.thecountrycook.net, http://www.notyourordinaryrecipes.com/, http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/, http://www.michellestastycreations.com/, http://www.lifewiththecrustcutoff.com/, http://www.cheeriosandlattes.com/, http://www.whatscookingwithruthie.com/, http://www.sweet2eatbaking.com/, http://iamaddictedtorecipes.blogspot.ca/, http://www.sweetsav.blogspot.com/, http://www.flourmewithlove.com/, http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com, http://insidebrucrewlife.com/, http://www.chef-in-training.com/, http://www.nap-timecreations.com/, http://www.mandysrecipebox.blogspot.com/

Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes w/Bailey's Irish Cream Frosting

These are guaranteed to get you in a St. Patrick's Day mood.  I am not a beer drinker at all.  I have had a few sips of a Blue Moon twice in my life and I think I only liked it because it had a big slice of orange in it.  That is the total of my beer drinking. So I wasn't sure I would like these but you don't taste the beer as much as it changes the flavor of the chocolate taste in a good way.  The cupcake recipe is adapted from Nigella Lawson's Chocolate Guinness Cake.     

Ingredients:

Cake:

2 sticks unsalted butter, melted

1 cup Guinness stout

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

2 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1-1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

2 eggs

3/4 cup sour cream

1 tsp vanilla extract

Frosting

3 cups confectioners sugar

1 stick unsalted butter, softened

3 tbsp baileys irish cream

4 tbsp heavy cream

1 tsp vanilla extract
Green sprinkles or green clovers

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line 24 cupcake cups with paper liners.
Bring the 1 cup Guinness and 1 cup unsalted butter to a simmer in a large saucepan over medium heat.

Add cocoa powder and whisk until mixture is smooth.  Cool slightly.

Whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda and salt in a large bowl to blend.

Using an electric mixer, beat eggs and sour cream until blended.

Add guinness-chocolate mixture to egg mixture and beat until just combined.  Add flour mixture and beat briefly on slow speed.  Using rubber spatula, fold batter until completely combined.

Divide batter among cupcake liners filling them 2/3 to 3/4 full.  Bake until tester inserted into the middle of a cupcake comes out clean about 15-17 minutes.  Cool cupcakes on a rack completely.  Makes 20-24 cupcakes.  While cupcakes are cooling make the frosting.

Mix softened butter, confectioners sugar, bailey's irish cream, heavy cream and vanilla until it is the right consistency.  Add more cream if needed.  Pipe onto cupcakes and top with green clovers if desired.

Enjoy!!  

Linked at: http://www.flourmewithlove.com/, http://www.sweetsav.blogspot.com, http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com/, http://insidebrucrewlife.com/, http://www.nap-timecreations.com/, http://www.chef-in-training.com/, http://www.hungrylittlegirl.com/, http://www.momstestkitchen.com/, http://www.ladybehindthecurtain.com/, http://thenymelrosefamily.com/, http://djssugarshack.com/, http://www.semihomemademom.com/, http://http://www.thebusybhive.blogspot.com/ , http://www.housewivesofriverton.com/, http://www.mandatorymooch.blogspot.com/, http://www.momontimeout.com/, http://www.mizhelenscountrycottage.blogspot.com/, http://www.notyourordinaryrecipes.com/, http://www.thecountrycook.net, http://www.foodiefriendsfriday.com/, http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/, http://www.lifewiththecrustcutoff.com/, http://www.michellestastycreations.com/, http://www.cheeriosandlattes.com/, http://www.whatscookingwithruthie.com/, http://www.sweet2eatbaking.com/, http://iamaddictedtorecipes.blogspot.ca/, http://www.mandysrecipebox.blogspot.com/

Reuben Dip

It is finally March!!! Not only will there be both St. Patrick's Day & Easter holidays to celebrate but we will also be welcoming my son into the world this month :) If that isn't exciting enough, it's my birthday next week as well as two of my sister's birthdays at the end of the month.As you can see we will have a lot of excitement in the next 31 days!! I made this Reuben Dip to get into the Irish spirit, I thought it would be the perfect snack as I took down all of the red and pink hearts and replaced them with lots of green shamrocks. I love Reuben's, it has been always been my go to meal out at an Irish pub and this dip certainly didn't disappoint. It was even better the 2nd day since the flavors got to mold together more.

Ingredients:

1/2 - 3/4lb Thickly Sliced Deli Corn Beef - Diced

1 Cup Shredded Swiss Cheese

1 Cup Sauerkraut - Squeeze Drained

8 oz Fat Free Cream Cheese - Softened

1/2 Cup Light Sour Cream

2 Tbsp Whole Grain Mustard

2 Tbsp Ketchup

1 Loaf  Small Pumpernickel Bread 

Adapted from: www.noblepig.com

Preheat the oven to 350 F. In a large bowl combine the softened cream cheese, squeeze drained sauerkraut, sour cream, shredded cheese, ketchup and mustard.

I got 4 thick slices of corned beef from the deli counter at our local supermarket which ended up being between 1/2lb - 3/4lb. Dice up your corn beef, if you want you can trim a little bit of the fat around the edges before you dice.. Add the meat into the bowl and mix everything well with a wooden spoon or spatula until it is completely combined.

Spray a 1 Qt baking dish with Pam spray and transfer the dip into the baking pan. Smoothing it out and packing it down evenly. Bake in the over for 30-40 minutes, until the top is brown and bubbling. Let sit at least 5 minutes and then serve. I used Pumpernickel bread but Rye would be good as well. Another idea would be to toast your bread or use Melba Toasts which would give it a nice crunch instead of the soft bread.

Linked at: http://www.thecountrycook.net/, http://www.foodiefriendsfriday.com/, http://www.notyourordinaryrecipes.com/, http://www.michellestastycreations.com/, http://www.lifewiththecrustcutoff.com/, http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/, http://www.whatscookingwithruthie.com/, http://iamaddictedtorecipes.blogspot.ca/, http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com/, http://www.flourmewithlove.com/, http://www.chef-in-training.com/, http://www.nap-timecreations.com/, http://insidebrucrewlife.com/, http://djssugarshack.com/, http://thenymelrosefamily.com/, http://www.ladybehindthecurtain.com/, http://www.momstestkitchen.com/, http://www.hungrylittlegirl.com/, http://www.housewivesofriverton.com/, http://www.semihomemademom.com/, http://www.bunsinmyoven.com, 

http://www.mizhelenscountrycottage.blogspot.com/, http://www.momontimeout.com/, http://www.mandatorymooch.blogspot.com/, http://www.thebusybhive.blogspot.com/

Pistachio Bundt Cake

Pistachios are the hottest thing these days. They are advertised on TV lately by the Harlem Globe Trotters and Snoop Dog and the commercial that was on during the Super Bowl by Psy of Gangham Style who I wish would go back to where he came from. This week the first thing I saw as I walked into my food store  was a huge pistachio display.  My family loves pistachio flavor and until this week we had never tried pistachio pudding. We are all fans of pistachio ice cream, pistachio muffins (which my Mom and I love) and pistachio gelato but never realized how good the pudding was.  Samantha who is going to be in Rome this weekend promised to get some pistachio gelato while she is there. The recipe was seen on pinterest and came from www.allrecipes.com.  I added the glaze and nuts but you could do as the recipe called for and just sprinkle the cake with powdered sugar.  I will be making this again as it was gone very quickly like most desserts are in my house.     

Ingredients:
cake
1 box vanilla cake mix
4 large eggs
1-1/4 cup water
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 3.5 oz box instant pistachio pudding
1/2 tsp almond extract
5 drops green food coloring

glaze
1 cup confectioners sugar
1 tbsp pistachio pudding mix
5 tbsp heavy cream

1/4 cup crushed pistachios

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 10 qt. bundt pan with PAM cooking spray.  Set aside.
In large bowl with a stand mixer mix together the cake mix, eggs, water, oil, pudding mix, almond extract and green food coloring.  After blending mix on medium speed for 2 minutes.  

Pour into prepared bundt pan and bake in oven for 50-55 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.

Make glaze by mixing pudding mix, confectioners sugar and heavy cream.  Add more cream if necessary to get glaze to desired consistency.  Take cake out of oven and cool for 15 minutes in pan.  Take out of pan and cool on wire rack.  Spoon glaze over cooled cake.   Crush pistachios in food processor.  Sprinkle over glazed cake.

  

Linked at: http://www.bunsinmyoven.com, http://www.semihomemademom.com/, http://djssugarshack.com/, http://www.hungrylittlegirl.com, http://www.ladybehindthecurtain.com, http://thenymelrosefamily.com/, http://www.momstestkitchen.com/, http://housewivesofriverton.blogspot.com/, http://www.momontimeout.com/, http://www.mandatorymooch.blogspot.com/, http://www.mizhelenscountrycottage.blogspot.com/, http://www.michellestastycreations.com/, http://www.thebusybhive.blogspot.com/, http://www.notyourordinaryrecipes.com/, http://www.foodiefriendsfriday.com/, http://www.thecountrycook.net/, http://www.lifewiththecrustcutoff.com/, http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/, http://www.whatscookingwithruthie.com/, http://iamaddictedtorecipes.blogspot.ca/, http://www.sweet2eatbaking.com/, http://www.sweetsav.blogspot.com/, http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com/, http://www.flourmewithlove.com/, http://insidebrucrewlife.com/, http://www.nap-timecreations.com/, http://www.chef-in-training.com/