ADD SPARKLE TO YOUR SAINT PATRICKS DAY BAKING

A touch of Baileys and a sprinkle of Lucky Charms is all you need.

Today's recipe is easy. I used a boxed cake mix. A Brownie mix would be ideal, but I only had a Devil's Food mix. I adjusted the cake recipe to a Brownie recipe by googling Duncan Hines. The only addition I added was a tbs of Expresso flavored Baileys. I'm not a coffee drinker. A couple of teaspoons of a strong coffee enhances the flavor of any chocolate cake.

And now for the best part of this recipe—the frosting. If you could smell the brownies, you would understand what I'm saying. The frosting is an assault on your senses.

RECIPE

Add the following ingredients to a bowl you will place over a pot of simmering water or use a double boiler.

1/2 cup sweet condensed milk

1cup chocolate chips (I prefer semi-sweet chips )

1/4 cup Baileys—I had a 2 ounce bottle of vanilla cinnamon Baileys. It was a little more than a 1/4 cup.

If you don't have a flavored Baileys add 1tsp vanilla

Blend everything in a bowl and stir until the chocolate is melted and ingredients are blended.

Pour over brownies, cake, or cupcakes and let set in refrigerator

I wish you could smell the frosting. It's an assault on your senses.

I should have made extra to pour over ice cream or dip shortbread.

https://.com/stories/Zelda_Benjamin/author/BOO1JS8lPG

Not Your Traditional Soda Bread

I'm not a fan of using raisins when I bake. So, it goes without saying, I'm not a fan of traditional soda bread with raisins. I like raisins as a snack, especially covered with chocolate—just not cooked or baked in a recipe. So, why not make a soda bread I'd like to eat.

Soda bread is not difficult to make. There are only 4 basic ingredients—flour, baking soda , salt, and buttermilk. My version added 5 tbs butter, which makes everything taste better, 3 tbs brown sugar, and 3/4 cup chocolate chips.

Soda bread dates back to Native Americans who used pearl ash to leaven bread. Pearl ash is a natural form of baking soda. When bicarbonate soda was introduced in the UK in the 1830s, Irish Soda Bread was created. The name comes from the addition of bicarbonate soda.

BASIC RECIPE

2 cups flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1cup buttermilk

mIx first 3 ingredients then make a well and add buttermilk

Shape into a disk 11/2 inches high

Cut and X in the middle with a knife

Bake at 450 10-15 minutes— should be brown and crusty on outside

Lower oven to 400 and bake for 20–25 minutes.

Stop by tomorrow for a delicious Baileys Brownie recipe

Shortbread is another great Saint Patrick's Day snack

https://www.amazon.com/Shortbread-Cookie-Princess-Zelda-Benjamin-ebook/dp/B0B8XNGQZB/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3GECVR7XLUQFD&keywords=shortbread+cookie+princess+kindle&qid=1678910487&sprefix=shortbread+cookie+princess%2Caps%2C176&sr=8-1

A WHISK IS A BAKER'S MAGIC WAND

Imagine having to bake without the help of modern kitchen gadgets. Simple ingredients took hours to prepare. Research for Shortbread Cookie Princess introduced me to handsome men in kilts and a whole new world of kitchen gadgets. The beater in the photo inspired an important scene. Sophia is reluctant to learn about her ancestors.

“Not only a name, but a patent date, too.” She read the inscription out loud. “Dover Eggbeater, Pat. May 31, 1870.”

“I guess that’s how they did things back then,” Alana said.

“That’s the year Marjorie started the bakery.” Sophia stared out the front window toward the bakery truck parked at the curb. “It’s too much of an eerie coincidence.” Surrounded by modern appliances and stainless steel counters and sinks, she felt a strange sense of wistfulness. Marjorie’s laborious day of mixing and baking started hours before Sophia turned on her ovens. What did the kitchen look like back then? Did she use a butter churn, cast iron cookware, and dense wooden utensils? She dropped the beater back in the box and stepped away.

“Do you remember what Hot Scot said about the tartan the first day we met him?” Alana asked.

“Something about how seemingly meaningless things found in a closet or attic could have historic value.” Sophia never cared about the tartan the way Ian did, but she was beginning to believe every old thing had a story to tell. She just wasn’t sure she wanted to hear it.”

Excerpt From: Zelda Benjamin. “Shortbread Cookie Princess.” iBooks.

I will admit I love my Kitchen Aid. I can't image baking from scratch without it. However, I like a hand mixer for smaller task. They're easier to clean and put away.

What's your favorite kitchen gadget?

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy baking.

Zelda