Irish Soda Bread With Drambuie

by Liz // September 27, 2015 // 12 Comments

It’s the 27th of the month, which means it is time to be challenged by one of the Daring Bakers. This month we were asked by Meredith from Poco Loco Olsons to bake Irish Soda Bread. Since I’ve never made Irish Soda Bread and, dare I say it, have never even tasted it, I was excited to give this challenge a go. I found a recipe for Irish Soda Bread in The Bread Bible by Beth Hensperger that uses Drambuie. Drambuie is a type of liqueur made of Scotch whiskey, heather honey, and a secret selection of herbs. It’s one of my husband’s favorite winter time drinks, and we just happened to have half a bottle’s worth left. Irish Soda Bread gets its rise from the reaction between the acid in buttermilk and baking soda. It’s easy to make, and easy to eat. As soon as the loaves came out of the oven, and cooled for a minute or two, I began to slice it up. I smeared butter on top of a slice, and let it melt just a bit. I took a bite. It was perfect. It had a crunchy texture on the outside and a soft texture on the inside. It was slightly sweet with a faint taste of caraway seed. This quick bread is delicious and it makes fantastic toast. Thanks for the challenge, Meredith! Continue reading →

Vegan Vanilla Bean Shortbread

by Liz // September 22, 2015 // No Comments

Remember in the 1978 movie Superman with Christopher Reeve when Superman is flying around and he sees a young girl trying to get her cat out of a tree? Do remember that part? Well, he gets the cat out of the tree, hands it to the girl, and flies off. The girl then runs into her townhouse and excitedly tells her mother what has just happened. The craziest part is that the mother says, “Haven’t I told you not to tell lies?!”, and then you hear a slap. She hit her daughter. I assume this scene was for comic effect, but… crazy. That totally wouldn’t fly (no pun intended) with today’s audiences. There’d be a difference of opinion as to what the girl actually saw, probably a call to the daughter’s therapist, and then they’d hug it out. By the way, I’m aware of how strange it is that I’ve started this blog with Superman, but my youngest Wesley is obsessed with the movie, so it’s been on my mind. The good news is he seems to eat more while he watches it. Since he is underweight I am fine with him watching it as much as he wants. Shifting gears here, I made vegan vanilla bean shortbread using coconut oil and it was delicious! It is light, sweet, flaky, and studded with tiny vanilla beans. I wasn’t planning on posting another shortbread recipe so soon after this one, but I couldn’t help myself. I’ve made these cookies four times in the last week. I’ve also watched Superman about 12 times. Since Saturday. Continue reading →

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

by Liz // September 17, 2015 // 6 Comments

It’s time I learn about special needs and healthful baking. For the next couple of weeks I’m going to bake some sort of dessert that will fall into this category. I decided to start with these gluten-free peanut butter chocolate chip cookies because they looked delicious and they looked easy to make. I needed easy. Both of my kids were off from school for two days for Rosh Hashanah. Selfishly, I didn’t want their help in the kitchen, so I did what any good mother does, and had television babysit my boys. I put on the 1978 classic movie Superman in the basement, ran back upstairs, closed the door, and got it done. The cookies were cooling on the rack and the kitchen was all cleaned up by the time Margot Kidder squeaked out the famous line “You’ve got me? Who’s got you?!” Afterwards, we went to the park to play “Superman”. This is how we play “Superman”, the kids fly around and pretend to shoot rabid animals with pretend guns (usually sticks), while I’m on the computer (my phone) looking for the bad guys (checking Facebook). Continue reading →

Honey Cake

by Liz // September 13, 2015 // 16 Comments

This is a moist, simple honey cake for Rosh Hashanah. It comes from the lovely cookbook Jewish Cooking In America, by Joan Nathan. This book was given to me by my friend Amy who thought it could be of some use. You see, my husband is Jewish, but I was brought up Roman Catholic, so I don’t have much knowledge about Jewish traditions. Not only is this book filled with delicious dishes, but there is a beautiful story attached to each recipe. This honey cake was a real find. It’s very easy to make, and I bet you have most of the ingredients in your kitchen already. It is the type of cake I imagine myself eating with a cup of coffee in the afternoon–just before Cameron is picked up from kindergarten and while Wesley is still napping. Unfortunately, I’ve never had this opportunity, but sure sounds nice and civilized. And speaking of Cameron, five years ago today we officially became his mom and dad. And so, to all who celebrate Rosh Hashanah, may this New Year be most sweet, and to my amazing little man, Happy Adoption Day. Continue reading →

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