Irish Soda Bread as a Pick-Me-Up

                                   

Our family loves soda bread.  We use this recipe because it tastes good, and it feels like it lifts our spirits.  Soda bread seems to balance the digestive system and its soothing taste is a good antidote for the rich food consumed over the Christmas and New Year festivities.

If you feel down, try the soda bread as a pick-me-up.  Tear off a bit and spread it for the birds as they love soda bread!

IRISH SODA BREAD WITH ROSEMARY AND CHEESE

--Makes 16 servings thinly sliced

1 ½ cups of all purpose white flour 

1 cup whole wheat flour 

2 tablespoons of granulated sugar (I use brown sugar) 

1 ½ teaspoons of baking powder 

½ teaspoon of baking soda 

½ teaspoon of sea salt 

1/3 cup of grated cheddar cheese (for a different taste, use raisins or currents) 

1 tablespoon of rosemary flakes or crushed rosemary or fresh herb rosemary as in the picture 

1 egg 1 ¼ cups of buttermilk (I use regular milk with 2 tablespoons of white vinegar) 

3 tablespoons of vegetable oil 

In a large bowl, combine all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir together well. Stir in cheese and rosemary seeds into flour mixture.

In a separate bowl, combine egg, buttermilk and oil. Pour liquid ingredients over flour mixture and very lightly combine together into rough dough. 

Place dough in 9 inch by 2 ½ inch spring form pan lined with parchment paper. 

Bake in preheated 350 degrees Fahrenheit oven for 50 to 55 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on rack.

Happy baking,

Judy

Listen to Your Ancestors

                            

I found this poster/saying when I was looking for information on being Swedish.  My husband’s grandparents came from Sweden.  They came to Canada for a different way of life and for the adventure of starting something new.

Our Ancestors had very little in the way of choice for each activity that they did through out the day.  The one thing that they could choose was how they approached life.  The best choice was to be fearless, hopeful, moderate in eating, more quiet than talkative, and very loving.

This sounds like a great mantra for living life every day, even in current times.  While many say that we do not have a choice in things, all of the activities above are choices we can make to change our life.

Today, choose one activity and concentrate on achieving it throughout the day.

Many blessings,

Judy

Spirit Animal - Deer Finds You

                                            

                                                         Picture from an email.

When I first moved to Calgary twenty years ago, there was an abundance of Deer in our neighbour hood in the late evening and into the night.  There were herds of twenty or so Deer in Fish Creek Park.  The many Deer could come into the residential area, up to houses and sleep on lawns.  The message that the Deer brought to the home was about gentleness and trust.  It was about knowing your neighbours and friends and relying on them to help keep one safe.  People left fallen cherries and apples on the ground for the deer to eat.  There was a comfortable sharing of space.  Now, with the increase in population and the growing use of the park, the Deer have retreated to an island which is supposed to be off-limits to humans.  The Deer come out at night and seldom stray into the residential areas.

Remember that when Deer appears to you:

• Deer is reminding you to be gentle with yourself.
• If the Deer has antlers (a buck), the message is to look for a higher purpose or a higher good.
• If the Deer is young, perhaps it is time to start something new… a new study, a new hobby, a new phase of work.
• If several Deer appear, perhaps it is time to make time to be with friends and family and plan a group activity.

Blessings

Judy