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Showing posts with label St. Patrick's Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label St. Patrick's Day. Show all posts

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Soda Bread with Cranberries


Ever since I made my mom's Irish Soda Bread last week for St. Patrick's Day, I've been wondering what it would taste like with cranberries instead of raisins. I know, it sounds so yummy, doesn't it?

Since there are only mere crumbs left of the last loaf, I made another one. Well, ok, I'm on my third loaf now, I really do love this bread!


This last time I made it a little more healthy by using organic flour, Splenda, a sugar substitute, since I'm still on my Sugar Crush Challenge, and I added Craisins, dried cranberries, instead of raisins. It was even more scrumptious than I imagined as the cranberries added a little tartness to the sweetness of this bread. D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S!

And the amazing thing about this recipe, is you can not only make it for St. Patrick's Day too, but it will compliment your Thanksgiving meal too with the cranberries.


With its sweet, crispy crust and soft, moist center, this bread is sure to be your family's favorite no matter what time of year you serve it up.
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Soda Bread with Cranberries

Makes 1 loaf
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Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour, sifted (I used organic flour for this loaf)

3 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon sea salt

3 Tablespoons Splenda (Stevia or plain granulated sugar)

1 and ½ cups Craisins (dried cranberries)

1 and 1/3 cups buttermilk
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Directions

Preheat oven to 375F degrees.

Line cookie sheet with parchment paper or you can use an ungreased cookie sheet. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, add all dry ingredients – sifted flour, baking powder, baking soda, sea salt, and sugar.

Mix Craisins with flour mixture, making sure all Craisins are covered with flour mixture and Craisins are not clumped together.

Add in buttermilk.

Using a bread attachment on your stand mixer, blend all ingredients together until all flour is mixed.

If mixing by hand, place dough on a flour covered surface and knead about 10 times.

Dough should be sticky.

Place on prepared cookie sheet and place into oven for 45 minutes.

After 45 minutes, remove from oven and brush with hot sugar water, brushing all exposed surfaces.

Place back into oven for 10 minutes, or until bread is a golden brown. Check after 5 minutes to be sure it doesn’t burn.

Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Best served with margarine or butter.

Ingredients for Glaze

2 Tablespoons Splenda (Stevia or plain granulated sugar)

2 Tablespoons hot water

Directions for glaze In a small bowl, add hot water and sugar. Mix together and brush over bread. Return to steps above.


*Helpful Hints*

- If you find you run out of buttermilk or don't have any on hand when you want to make this bread, for 1 cup of buttermilk, you can substitute 1 cup of milk with either 1 Tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice, letting it sit for 5 minutes before using it in the recipe.

- Or you can substitute 1 cup plain yogurt for 1 cup of buttermilk.

- If bread is not sticky after mixing all the ingredients together, add a little buttermilk at a time until dough is sticky. Or you can use any of the above buttermilk substitutes.


All content and images are property of Sweet and Spicy Monkey. Please do not reprint this content without my permission. If you wish to include this recipe on your site, please re-write in your own words and use your own photographs and link back to this post for original recipe.
Follow Julie's board Sweet and Spicy Monkey on Pinterest.

Shared with: Sweet and Savoury Sunday #105, Munching Mondays #83

Monday, March 16, 2015

Healthy Shamrock Shake (Smoothie)


I really think I made a big huge mistake for the timing of my Sugar Crush Challenge. I say this because every time I walk into a store, I see St. Paddy's treats and Easter candy all around me!

Ugh, this hasn't been easy!

My sweet tooth is telling me to indulge. Will Power is saying "don't do it!" It's like the battle between the little angel and devil that sit on your shoulders in the cartoons. Lucky for me, my willpower is much stronger than my sweet tooth.

And since I've been seeing homemade Shamrock Shakes all over the web these last few weeks, I decided to make a healthier version, one that doesn't have as many calories, fat, or sugar as the original McDonalds Shamrock Shake.

Sprigs of fresh mint

My version is still green, although a darker green, and has that refreshing, delicious minty flavoring that many of us look forward to at this time of year.


Plus, you can make it year round and it will satisfy your Shamrock Shake cravings. It's a win-win!

Healthy Shamrock Shake
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Ingredients

8 ounces coconut milk, unsweetened

1 frozen banana, sliced

3 to 4 sprigs of fresh mint

2 Tablespoons agave nectar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 Tablespoons chia seeds

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Directions

Add milk, banana, and mint leaves into a blender. Puree until all ingredients are liquefied. Add in remaining ingredients and pour into a tall glass. Enjoy!

Can top with whipped cream or garnish with a mint leaf.

All content and images are property of Sweet and Spicy Monkey. Please do not reprint this content without my permission. If you wish to include this recipe on your site, please re-write in your own words and use your own photographs and link back to this post for original recipe.
Follow Julie's board Sweet and Spicy Monkey on Pinterest.

Shared with: Totally Terrific Tuesday #24, Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #139, Savoring Saturdays, Munching Mondays #83

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Irish Soda Bread


St. Patrick's Day is only 2 more days away and I've got a recipe that will make your St. Paddy's Day meal rock this year!

This recipe is one of the things I love about St. Patrick's Day, my mom's Irish Soda Bread. It's moist, mildly sweet, and has a sweet, crunchy crust that makes this bread my favorite.


And it's so easy to make! It doesn't have any eggs or yeast. So no more waiting and hoping that your bread will rise. You just mix it up, place it in the oven, brush over the glaze, and BAM! A deliciously moist bread with a crunchy crust that will be the star of your St. Patrick's Day meal.

But don't take my word, make it yourself today and you'll see what I'm talking about. Trust me, you will be making two loaves of this bread after you try it!


Irish Soda Bread

Makes 1 loaf
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 Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour, sifted

3 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon sea salt

3 Tablespoons granulated sugar

1 and ½ cups raisins

1 and 1/3 cups buttermilk
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Directions

Preheat oven to 375F degrees.

Line cookie sheet with parchment paper or you can use an ungreased cookie sheet. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, add all dry ingredients – sifted flour, baking powder, baking soda, sea salt, and sugar.

Mix raisins with flour mixture, making sure all raisins are covered with flour mixture and raisins are not clumped together.

Add in buttermilk.

Using a bread attachment on your stand mixer, blend all ingredients together until all flour is mixed.

If mixing by hand, mix buttermilk with dry ingredients and then place dough on a flour covered surface and knead about 10 times. Dough will be sticky.

Construct into a large ball shape and make an X on the top with a sharp knife (I forgot to do the X, as I was so excited about sharing this recipe with you!).


Place on prepared cookie sheet and place into oven for 45 minutes.

After 45 minutes, remove from oven and brush with sugar glaze (glaze recipe below), brushing all exposed surfaces.

Place back into oven for 10 minutes, or until bread is a golden brown. Check after 5 minutes to be sure it doesn’t burn.

Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Best served with margarine or butter.

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Ingredients for Glaze

2 Tablespoons granulated sugar

2 Tablespoons hot water

Directions for glaze

In a small bowl, add hot water and sugar. Mix together and brush over bread. Return to steps above.

All content and images are property of Sweet and Spicy Monkey. Please do not reprint this content without my permission. If you wish to include this recipe on your site, please re-write in your own words and use your own photographs and link back to this post for original recipe.
Follow Julie's board Sweet and Spicy Monkey on Pinterest.

Shared with: Sweet and Savoury Sundays #104, Munching Mondays #82, Totally Terrific Tuesday #24, Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #139