This month's recipe, IRISH SODA BREAD, is one of the most well known of Irish foods. Served warm out of the oven or lightly toasted, it is a comforting and tasty teatime treat! It is also wonderful spread with butter, jam, marmalade or lemon curd.
Since this is one of the easiest types of bread to make, it is perfect for beginners or children who like to help out in the kitchen. Because soda bread is leavened with baking soda instead of yeast, there is no rising period. Buttermilk is usually used in soda bread recipes because it's acidity helps to activate the baking soda, releasing the CO2 which makes the bread rise. So brew up a pot of Irish breakfast tea and get baking! Oh...before putting it in the oven, don't forget to mark a cross in the center to let the devil out!!
New recipes in the weight watchers segement this month include Pastitsio- 8 points,
Pasta Fagioli- 5 points, Tomato Olive Tart- 1.5 points, Chunky Chicken Noodle Soup- 2 points, Jello Cloud- 3.5 points, Pork Chops Dijon- 5 points, and Country-Fried Steak with Mushroom Gravy- 8 points. Hope you will try them, and if you do please let me know how you like them!
New this month is a make-over recipe for Pastitsio. The original recipe which is from my cookbook was featured as the Recipe of the Month for March 2000. This is a delicious recipe, BUT....not for dieters! So I decided to try "lightening up" the recipe, and I am really pleased with the results! The original recipe has 14 points per serving, and my new "make-over" recipe has a mere 8 points- perfect for a dinner entre' with a salad! I think you will like it...give it a try. I am hoping to do more recipe make-overs, but probably will not have one every month.
Have you all noticed all the spring things happening? Spring flower bulbs are already beginning to sprout, and the birds are looking for nesting places. We who live on the East Coast just had one of the mildest winters of all time.....and it sure was nice! I get so excited this time of year! I'm already planning my garden.
Until next month...
