Yummy Wednesday - Irish Brown Soda Bread

Ever since we went to Ireland a year ago, I've been looking for a good Brown Soda Bread recipe.  When we were there, I devoured the stuff at breakfast, lunch, and dinner!  Couldn't get enough.  But every recipe I've tried hasn't been the same...  and I was really hoping not to have to rely on packaged mixes...  So I had all but given up.

Until this week!  My "Cooking Light" magazine came - with a whole section about St. Patty's Day Foods.  And Wa-la!  Irish Brown Soda Bread.  I looked through the recipe, realized I had all the ingredients, and before I even finished paging through the rest of the magazine - had the loaf in the oven!

It's really good.  If you've never had Brown Soda Bread before, let me warn you - it's not sweet, it's not savory.  It's hearty, a little dense, healthy, and has steel-cut oats in it which adds a little crunch now and then.  It's very plain - but wonderful with a little butter and jam, or cheese, or really, just about anything else!

If you make it, I'd love to hear your thoughts!  And, if you are a Irish Brown Soda Bread connesuir - I'd love to hear how this ranks in your book (and if you have other recipes you love!).

Irish Brown Soda Bread

(From Cooking Light Magazine)

You'll need:

Cooking spray

11.25 oz whole wheat flour (about 2.5 cups)

2.25 oz all-purpose flour (about 1/2 cup)

1/2 cup steel-cut oats (such as McCann's)

2 Tbsp brown sugar

1 Tbsp wheat germ

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

2 cups low-fat buttermilk

1 large egg, lightly beaten

To Make:

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

Coat a 9x5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.  Line the pan with parchment paper, and coat with cooking spray.

Weigh or lightly spoon flours into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife.  Combine flours and steel-cut oats, brown sugar, wheat germ, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

Combine buttermilk and egg; add to flour mixture.  Stir until just combined.

Spoon the mixture into prepared pan.  Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 5 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.  Invert bread onto a wire rack; cool completely.  Remove parchment; slice bread into 12 slices.

Enjoy!

Things I am thankful for today:

1.  Still no TV in the mornings!
2.  My lotion on clearance at Target!  ( I loaded up!)
3.  Amanda's "Happy Birthday" message yesterday (a month early)- too funny!
4.  An easier week.  I'm feeling caught up!
5.  The hubby's hard work cleaning the bathrooms - really well!
6.  Lenten dinner at church - fun people and lots of laughter!
7.  Playing games with Jacob, his dad, and his grandma - Jenga, Uno, Bingo, Would You Rather...  it was a busy night!
8.  Getting to bed early again - I think I'm getting used to this!
9.  Cadbury eggs.
10.  Ice cold milk.  Yum.