Favorite St. Patrick's Day Traditions

Growing up we always celebrated St. Patrick's Day in my house.  My grandmother was 100% Irish so it was always fun to celebrate my heritage.  It didn't hurt that my mom is a great cook and so the food was always delicious.  She loves to cook but can take or leave the whole decorating the table part so she always let me (and/or made me) set and decorate our table for St. Patrick's Day dinner.

This is the table decorations from a few years ago at my parent's house. My general thought on decorating the table was the tackier the better and there is not such thing as too many sparkles.  While I am not having a full on St. Patrick's Day dinner at my house this year because it falls on a Tuesday but I did decorate my house a bit and I can't let this holiday without my favorite St. Patrick's Day food.

Irish Soda Bread!  So yummy with butter as a savory dish and also so good with a bit of jam on it for something sweeter.  Here is the recipe I use:

4 cups flour

1 tsp salt

3 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 cup butter

1 egg

1 3/4 buttermilk

Preheat the over to 375 degrees

Mix all the dry ingredients together and then cut the butter into the dry ingredients with a pastry cutter (or 2 knives if you don't have a pastry cutter).

Add the egg and the buttermilk to the dry/butter mixture and mix well with your hands. (put a bit of water on your hands to prevent some of the sticking).  

Divide the dough into two pieces and press into 2 greased round pans (or make 2 round shapes and place on a greased cookie sheet). 

Cut a cross into your loaves and bake for 30-40 minutes.

Enjoy!  Happy St. Patrick's Day!

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