photo copyright Alyce Morgan, 2003 |
I had a farm in Ireland.......
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Not. I did, however, visit once.
I wish I could go back.
I can't go today, but I can make Potato Soup and Irish Soda Bread on
St. Patrick's Day......
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I've been making this meal for a long time. I love it, but I don't make
it any other time of the year. I don't know why. Perhaps it wouldn't
be special if I made it, say, in May or September. You, however, have
no holiday strings emotionally strumming over these recipes and could
make them next week or next year. Go you. So, here's the soup...........and then the bread--
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
.
potato soup with leeks and bacon
2 slices of bacon, diced; 1/4# Canadian bacon, chopped*
2 onions (different kinds are nice), chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 leeks, chopped
3 large pototoes, peeled and cut into 1" pieces
1 turnip, peeled and cut into 1" pieces
1 parsnip, peeled and cut into 1" pieces, optional
6-8 cups unsalted chicken broth
Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper
1/2 c Greek yogurt or sour cream
parsley or dill
In an 8-10qt soup kettle, saute bacon until about half-done; add
Canadian bacon. Cook until well browned. Remove meats from pot and
drain on paper towel-lined plate. Cool and refrigerate until you're
going to serve the soup.
.
.
Pour out all but enough bacon grease to coat
the bottom of the pan well. Add onions, garlic and leeks and saute
until almost golden, stirring often. Add potatoes, turnip and parsnip
and cook 2-3 minutes until hot. Add chicken broth. Bring to a boil
and lower the heat. Simmer until all vegetables are soft, about 25
minutes. Salt and pepper to taste.
.
.
Puree (you can choose not to, as well) in food processor, with
hand-held blender or by hand using potato masher. Serve with a dollop
of sour cream, a bit of the bacon and ham and a garnish of fresh parsley
or dill. Make sure there's fresh ground pepper at the table.
*You could choose to use all bacon.
.
.
There isn't much better than soup and bread anywhere. If you're cold.
If you're really hungry. Can you think of anything better? Kids eat this. Lots. I have a
friend whose husband doesn't like soup, Just doesn't like it at all.
He did, however, eat soup at my house once. And asked for the recipe
later. Such folks are few and far between. Who doesn't walk in a
house, smell soup simmering or bread baking and go, "Wow! It just
smells so good in here." And, while we can't always put our fingers on
what makes us happy in life, we do know we like it when the house smells
like something good to eat. Those "Wow"s come with big smiles and
anticipatory movements that include looking around for the delighting
elements. So, here's the bread. More on the provenance later.
.
irish soda bread, american style
Baker's Note: Irish butter is well worth the splurge.
4 cups flour
1/4 c sugar
1 tsp salt
1tsp baking powder
1/4 c butter
1 1/2 c currants or raisins
1 1/3 c buttermilk (+ 2-3 T, if at altitude)
3 large eggs
1 t baking soda
. .
Grease a 2qt round bowl (ovenproof), casserole or deep cake pan.
Preheat oven to 375F.
.
In food processor, or large mixing bowl, measure dry ingredients and
mix well. Cut in with blade attachment or with knives or pastry
blender, the butter.
In a large mixing cup, whisk together the
buttermilk and eggs; add the currants and baking soda. Pour the liquid
ingredients into the dry and mix well to form a very wet dough.
Turn
dough into the prepared baking bowl and bake for about an hour (or a
bit more) until bread is very well-browned and firm in the center. A
wooden skewer stuck in the middle of the bread should come out clean.
You may have to test several times.
Let this bread sit 15-20 minutes before cutting or it will crumble.
Cool completely before wrapping tightly in foil and storing in the
refrigerator. Will keep 3-4 days. Excellent leftover just as it is, but even better for toast made under the broiler.
Me and the green.
---
A couple of notes on the provenance of the recipes:
I began (and later changed) the potato soup years ago from a recipe
called "A Cold Winter's Day Potato Soup" from THE EASTERN JUNIOR LEAGUE
COOK BOOK, edited by Ann Serrane and published by David McKay in
??1980.
The bread recipe is one I have no idea about from whence it came. It's
on a recipe card I've had for so many years. I'd guess I copied it out
of a magazine or a book at the library one day as a young wife.
Sing a new song,
Alyce
The soup and the bread look delicious. I love potato and leek soup, and now I'm curious to see how the other root veggies will change the flavor of the soup.
ReplyDeleteI never met anyone--including kids, dogs, and men--that wouldn't eat this and eat this. I dunno why. It does not taste of the other vegetables; it just tastes good. The parsnip adds a nip of sweetness; the turnip--maybe the lower depth note with its hint of
ReplyDeletefuller sharpness.
Tuesday laughter to you, Linda!