Home, Home and My Range

Home, Home and My Range
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Thursday, March 22, 2012

An Irish Dinner...Irish Coddle and Soda Bread

What we had for St. Patrick's Day yummins...
I couldn't get this posted in time to share for lucky green day. We had a big lightning storm that knocked out our internet. OK...tornadoes, lightning....maybe Arizona hot sun wasn't so bad?

This is a classic Irish dish and although a great dish for St. Patrick's Day...it should be enjoyed...anytime...often. It is a simple recipe, very hearty and flavorful.



Irish Coddle...so easy.  Great for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner...and with this big batch...all three!

IRISH CODDLE

Irish Coddle Ingredients

16 oz. thick-sliced bacon
12 - 16 oz. pork sausage links 
2 large onions, sliced
4 large potatoes, thinly sliced
1/3 c. chopped fresh parsley
pepper (and salt if you wish), to taste
2 c. chicken broth

How I make it...
Cook bacon. I cut the slices in half. It fits in the pan better and cooks more evenly. You could cut into smaller pieces for this dish...but I left mine in halves.


Browning the Bacon
 Place bacon on paper towels to drain....start cooking the sausage in a small amount of the drippings.
Browning the Sausage Links
The sausage can be cut into smaller pieces also...but I leave mine in whole links. When the sausage links are nicely browned...place on paper towels to drain. Reserve about a tablespoon of fat drippings. Add chicken stock to the drippings and heat.  This will be poured over the layers.

note: Some recipes call for just water but I prefer the chicken stock.

Peel and slice potatoes...thin slices.
Peel and slice the onions.
Chop the fresh parsley...chop lightly.

For the layers....
Into a 3 quart baking dish (9x13)...layer the bacon, sausage, potatoes,and onions. Sprinkle with pepper, to taste, as you go (also salt if you like...but I find the dish to be salty enough from the bacon), and sprinkle each layer with the fresh, chopped parsley.



Ready for The Oven
Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for about an hour. When potatoes are tender...uncover and bake a little longer until lightly browned...about 30 minutes.

Then...
add some Irish Soda Bread (recipe to follow), a nice salad...and enjoy! The flavor is amazing!




Irish Coddle...Dinner Version.


Irish Soda Bread...a hearty, homey bread, a bit like cornbread. Buttermilk gives this bread a very distinctive flavor...very good! Simple to make...even if you aren't a bread baker.
Irish Soda Bread

Ingredients:
4 cups all-purpose flour           1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
4 tablespoons white sugar        1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon baking soda            1 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt

To brush the top of bread while it bakes...1/4 cup melted butter and 1/4 cup buttermilk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl (I use my Kitchen Aid Mixer) mix flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt. With a fork or pastry blender...blend in the softened butter or margarine until you have coarse crumbles Mix egg into buttermilk and add this mixture to the dry ingredients.

Adding Buttermilk and Egg to Dry Ingredients
 Turn out onto lightly floured surface and knead...or change to kneading hook on mixer...and knead slightly.
Then form into a round loaf and place on lightly greased baking sheet or pan.

Kneaded, Shaped Loaf


Ready for The Oven

Brush the mixture of melted butter or margarine and buttermilk over dough. Continue brushing this mixture over the bread as it bakes. Cut  an  'X'  into the top.

Bake at 375 degrees for 45 - 50 minute...or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.

Note: Because this is a very dense bread...I may divide the dough in half and shape into french bread style loaves next time (hey...you can be part Irish and French too). It may take less time to bake and it will make smaller serving slices.  I'll keep you posted :O) on that version.

And...
Voila! Ok...that's French!

Delicious IRISH Soda Bread!


Ready to Enjoy

Cool slightly....slice and serve warm...with your Irish Coddle!

This bread is best served warm...but still yummy the next day...and the next!

I hope you'll try it.

Wishing you...all the comforts of Home and The Range...good food and good times with those that you love.
Vee

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