On the Menu!

Tonight's dinner featured grilled chops with buttermilk mashed potatoes, steamed green beans with butter and almonds and homemade Irish Soda Bread. It rocked! The chops were marinated in olive oil with Vegeta (a seasoning that some of our Bosnian friends use all the time, you can find it at international markets), paprika, lemon pepper and cayenne. The potatoes were mashed with buttermilk, butter, salt, pepper and dried parsley for color and flavor (skins on, of course).

Irish Soda Bread

3 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp baking soda
8-10 oz buttermilk

Sift all dry ingredients. Add buttermilk until you achieve a raggy, very soft dough with lumps that looks dry and floury yet squishy (technical cooking term).
Blend quickly, turn out immediately on a floured board and knead.
Shape bread, slightly domed approx. 6-8" diameter on a lightly floured cookie sheet or pizza stone
Using a sharp knife cut a cross over the top
Bake 45 minutes, first 10 min. on 450*, then drop heat to 400* for remainder of time.
After 45 min. pick up loaf, with gloves obviously, and tap bottom, if it sounds hollow, it's done.

Enjoy!