Pook's Pantry Recipe Blog

A Life in Food by real-life Chef Cheryl Bennett

eggs

Wedding Soup with Turkey Meatballs

Made with extra vegetables and turkey meatballs to make it lighter, this Italian Wedding Soup recipe is a meal everyone will love. This is an easy soup recipe for weeknight dinner, plus it makes excellent leftovers for lunch during the week. 

wedding soup with turkey meatballs and cheese

This soup comes together quickly, making it a great weeknight dinner. Make the meatballs ahead of time and this soup will be done in under 20 minutes.

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How to make sweet Irish soda bread

This sweet Irish soda bread recipe is different than traditional soda bread, which is not sweet. It reminds me more of a scone in loaf form and it’s perfect with a thick layer of Irish butter, and a piping hot cup of strong tea.

sweet irish soda bread on cooling rack

Soda bread is just as synonymous with St. Patrick’s Day as corned beef and cabbage. This recipe was given to me by a lovely 86 year old Irish lass. I tweaked it slightly, but the heart of this recipe is hers.

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Sweet Irish Soda Bread

This recipe is sweeter than most soda breads and a little cakier. There are many variations of soda bread out there. Most traditionally, it is not sweet and does not have raisins in it.

whole loaf of soda bread cooling on rack

I like this version, so it’s what I make and quite honestly, that is an integral part of cooking and baking as far as I’m concerned. 

If you are making something you like, you are more likely to cook or bake and isn’t that the point? Do what makes you happy, friends. This bread makes me quite happy.

How to make sweet Irish soda bread

This bread is very easy to make. First, cold Irish butter is cut into the flour mixture using a pastry blender. Then, raisins, golden raisins and currants are added.

Next, beat eggs and mix with milk. Then the egg mixture goes in and everything is mixed until it comes together. It is formed into a loaf and bakes for an hour.

This is not like baking traditional bread, where there is a rise and then punching it down to rise again. This is a quick bread recipe and as suggested by the name, comes together very quickly.

Sweet Irish Soda Bread with Raisins and Sultanas

If you tend to like barely sweet, in theory you should be able to reduce the amount of sugar to 1/2 cup without any major disasters. 

I haven’t done this, so I can’t be held responsible for the results! If you don’t care for raisins you can omit them or stick with all currants.

This bread is great the first day, a little less on the second and by by the third day: make toast. It makes a rather large loaf, so you could split the dough in half, reduce the baking time and just freeze the other one.

Of, if you’re like me and you tend to make enough to feed half the neighborhood, make someone’s day and share your golden, studded beauty with a few friends.

Best sweet Irish soda bread recipe

While I wouldn’t dream of calling this recipe the BEST, it is the best I’ve ever tasted. I love the sweetness in this bread, which could be served after dinner instead of a dessert.

However, these chocolate cupcakes with mint buttercream are perfect for a St. Patty’s Day dessert.

Pin it to your bread board

Yield: 16

Irish Soda Bread

sweet irish soda bread on cooling rack

A sweet Irish soda bread, perfect for enjoying with a cup of tea.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4  c. AP flour, plus extra for board
  • 1 c. sugar
  • 3 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 c. butter, cold, cut into cubes
  • 1/2 c. golden raisins
  • 1/2 c. raisins
  • 1/2 c. currants
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 1 c. buttermilk

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar.
  3. Set aside. 
  4. Using a pastry blender or food processor cut butter into flour mixture until pebble sized pieces remain. 
  5. Add raisins and currants into flour and butter mixture.  Toss to coat raisins in flour.
  6. Add milk and eggs, mix to combine (I don't recommend food processor here).  
  7. Dough will be sticky. Using floured hands, mold into a round or oblong loaf.  This is a quick bread and is not meant to be kneaded, take care not to overwork the dough.
  8. Place soda bread on baking pan lined with parchment paper in center of oven.
  9. Bake for 1 hour, remove from oven and place on cooling rack.
  10. Brush top of soda bread with butter while hot.
  11.  Let cool completely before cutting.

Notes

(because I lack patience, I sliced mine while it was still warm... It is better to wait until it has cooled completely before you cut into it)

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

16
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 408Saturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 37mgSodium: 279mgCarbohydrates: 78gFiber: 2gSugar: 25gProtein: 8g

Did you make this recipe?

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© Cheryl Bennett
Cuisine: Irish / Category: Bread
 

This post and recipe have been updated from the original publish date – 2/28/13

Tropical Coconut Bread Recipe

Tropical coconut bread is just the thing to turn an ordinary breakfast into a something special.  Coconut always reminds me of vacation and this bread is like a slice of paradise on a plate. This coconut loaf stays moist for days, which means you can enjoy it all week long.

tropical coconut bread slices on marble board

Tropical Coconut Bread

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Easiest 5 Ingredient Corn Casserole

This 5 ingredient corn casserole is a staple on nearly every Thanksgiving table. And with good reason – it is easy and delicious. It’s the time of the year for Thanksgiving recipes, and this one is always at the top of the list.
Corn Casserole in white baking dish
Creamy, sweet corn casserole is one of the things I wait all year to eat. I have been making this for over two decades, which is why I highly recommend it. It is one of the easiest recipes you’ll ever make and it is so unbelievably good. The browned, crisp top gives way to a creamy corn pudding inside, making this a staple on the holiday table.

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Baked Eggs in Mini Bell Pepper Cups

baked eggs in pepper cups with herbs

Baked Eggs in Mini Pepper Cups

Baked eggs are the perfect brunch item. Put those baked eggs inside mini bell pepper cups and now it’s an adorable brunch item perfect for serving on special occasions.  Make a few variations and your guests can help themselves, leaving you to enjoy your guests instead of being stuck in the kitchen. I had bell peppers on my list.  Not these sweet little things, but the grown up kind. When I laid eyes on these, somehow the big guys lost their appeal.   I’m a sucker for cute little things. …

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Triple Chocolate Bread Pudding

Triple Chocolate Bread Pudding with Creme Anglaise is a deliciously decadent dessert. Cubes of buttery brioche bread are soaked in custard and three types of chocolate are added in before baking to make a delicious bread pudding recipe that is worth every calorie.

bread pudding with creme anglaise

Triple Chocolate Bread Pudding

As if that’s not enough, it is served with a creme anglaise – a sauce that tastes like melted ice cream.

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Blushing Valentine

I know it may seem a bit early to start thinking of Valentine’s Day, but it’s only a few short weeks away.   If you like to make a special treat on Valentine’s Day, this is the cake.  
It is a towering 4 layers high and lovingly encased in the most delicate rose-scented buttercream.  It is outrageously good and worth every. single. calorie.  

This is also the type of cake that could easily become adorned with say a few candles for a little celebratory birthday party?   The colors could be swapped out for any, the flavor of the buttercream could be adapted to whatever you’d like it to be.  Using a vanilla base for both cake and buttercream allows you the flexibility to change colors and flavors to suit the occasion or intended recipient….

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Tom and Jerry Recipe

It has come to my attention recently that some of you only know this pair of names as a cartoon duo.

As soon as there is a chill in the air, I start craving this drink.  Think of it as a warm, boozy milkshake. Doesn’t that sound amazing?! It’s even better than you think…

I won’t lie, it isn’t one of those “Oh, I’ll just pull a bottle down and shake” kind of drinks.  It takes a little planning and effort, but the end result is worth the 10 minutes of energy it requires.

This drink has such a loyal fan base that there are special “Tom & Jerry” punch bowl sets with matching mugs.  I kid you not…  Here’s a pic to prove it:

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The 4 Food Groups…

Bacon, Eggs, Cheese, Pasta.   
It seems every time I make pasta, I always have leftovers.  Every. Single. Time.    I used to hear the phrase “your eyes are bigger than your stomach” on an almost daily basis and I think it may still be true.

So, seeing that sad bit of pasta hanging out in the fridge I felt the need to rescue it.  I’m not a fan of throwing food in the garbage (unless of course it has started to look like a science experiment gone horribly wrong).   With that sense of resolve,  I scanned the kitchen to see how this bit of leftover pasta could transcend its current state into something seriously good.

Staring into the refrigerator, I felt a bit like the woman from “Romper Room”…  you remember her right?   She would look through her looking glass and say the names of the kids she saw.  Every week I waited and waited to hear my name.  Never happened.  

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Herbed Heirloom Eggs & Crispy Roasted Mushrooms

This weekend is Father’s Day and while most Dads will be grillin’ & chillin’, they’ll need a little fuel to get the day started.
This is a perfect breakfast or brunch to start Dad’s day.  It is substantial, but not too heavy and it is absolutely delicious.

The roasted mushrooms take on an almost meaty taste and texture and the slight crunch from roasting them is unexpected.

This Sunday,  treat Dad to a special brunch and let him know you appreciate him.

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