Happy St. Patricks Day - Irish Soda Bread

Here's a traditional Irish Soda Bread Recipe that's easy to make. Soda Bread is made using sour milk and baking soda as a rising agent, rather than yeast; and is very common in Ireland.

Ingredients:
4 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for currants
4 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1 3/4 cups cold buttermilk, shaken
1 extra-large egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
1 cup dried currants

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

Combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the butter and mix on low speed until the butter is mixed into the flour.

With a fork, lightly beat the buttermilk, egg, and orange zest together in a measuring cup. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture. Combine the currants with 1 tablespoon of flour and mix into the dough. It will be very wet.

Dump the dough onto a well-floured board and knead it a few times into a round loaf. Place the loaf on the prepared sheet pan and lightly cut an X into the top of the bread with a serrated knife. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. When you tap the loaf, it will have a hollow sound.

Cool on a baking rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Spring Jam Sale

 May 11, 2013

We had our first Spring Jam Sale on Saturday just before Mother's Day.  It was a scorcher of a day with temperatures reaching triple digits here in Orange County!  Sitting in the shade of the apricot tree, sipping on strawberry lemonade spritzer was all we needed to stay cool and comfortable.

We had a good turnout and sold out of scones, strawberry jam, blackberry basil jam and all but four jars of blackberry jams.  Lots of Orange Marmalade and Lemon Curd was sold and many delicious loaves of challah, buttermilk, and honey wheat bread.

It was a fun afternoon, as we enjoyed visiting with friends, family and friends of friends who stopped by.  Looking forward to doing it again in mid summer when the apricots and peaches are ready for harvesting.  

Thanks to everyone who came and purchased and ordered!  

We're still taking orders...feel free to email us at: torokfarmandgardens@gmail.com

Be watching the blog for our Summer Jam Sale!

Doing what we can with what we have where we are...