March's Loaf - Irish Brown Soda Bread

Irish Brown Soda Bread seemed just right for March's loaf on a cold day supper involving a broccoli-cilantro soup.

A wheaty, dense loaf that has no yeast - so there is no resting/raising time required. Just needs about 45 minutes to bake. However, a soda bread really needs to be eaten freshly warm and in one sitting - because it doesn't last as well as yeast breads.  

Mmmm.

After cutting a 1/2" deep cross in the center of the dough, this baby raised in the oven like there was no tomorrow! I love the lack of symmetry in this crusty, handmade loaf.

Happy St. Patty's day, folks! 


See previous loaves here:
January's Loaf
February's Loaf 

**As usual, I'm not going to detail the recipes for sake of time (and my sanity with a 2year old!), but if you'd like a recipe just email me at lisamarie (dot) de (at) gmail (dot) com and I'll be happy to send you a copy.

February's Loaf -- (Orange Cinnamon Swirl Bread)

For February's loaf it seemed appropriate to go sweet.

I had no problem with this.

How does Orange Cinnamon Swirl Bread sound? I'll take some thank-you-very-much!

The process was a lot like cinnamon rolls, except no cutting - and the result was not gooey rolls but a moist, delicious hot slice of orangey heaven! There was 3/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice and plenty of orange peel involved.

Taste perfection! I still am having odd issues with my oven - the bread is splitting on one side. I may just have to live with that, but I'd love to know why. Maybe one side of my oven is hotter than the other? Have any ideas bakers?

See past loaves here:

January's Loaf

** I'm not going to detail the recipes for sake of time (and my sanity with a 2year old!), but if you'd like a recipe just email me at lisamarie (dot) de (at) gmail (dot) com and I'll be happy to send you a copy.

January's Loaf -- (The First Loaf)

I made January's loaf last week. It sure was yummy!

I'm using this old version of Bernard Clayton's Complete Book of Breads - a gift from a good friend several years back. I've baked several loaves from this book, but never was super intentional about trying different kinds.

source

For the first month, I decided to do the very first recipe called "The First Loaf" - a white, yeast loaf that is supposed to be very easy and executed flawlessly.

Well, it made our home smell WONDERFUL but I've definitely made prettier loaves.

Do you see the weird spot on the right side of the loaf? It looks like it raised too quickly in the oven and the top raised right off. (It's not supposed to do that.)

I have to admit that our oven is kinda junky - it's been hot, but lately about 50 degrees hot. Not cool. So I'm pretty sure it was still too hot when I baked these - thus the weird pulling apart on top. A junky oven is hard to fulfill my one new loaf a month challenge, but I'm going to keep trying.

It still was tasty! Especially hot out of the oven with buttah. Mmm.

** I'm not going to detail the recipes for sake of time, however if you see a loaf you like one month and want the recipe, I am more than willing to send you a copy! Just email me at lisamarie (dot) de (at) gmail (dot) com.