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Quick and Easy Whole Wheat Irish Soda Bread Recipe

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Coffee and whole wheat toast are one of my breakfast mainstays. St. Patrick’s Day is coming up so why not whip up a loaf of Irish Soda Bread one of the greatest gifts this Lazy Budget Chef (who can’t proof bread to save her life) has ever known – the bread machine. As luck would have it I have more whole wheat flour than white and more raisins than normal because I went to a bulk bin without a container and bought more raisin than I thought. No problem. I’ll make a Irish style whole wheat bread featuring those those happy raisins sitting in my kitchen. I am using the bread machine to make and proof the dough for this recipe and baking the bread in the oven because I want the round shape of a traditional Irish style bread. You can bake it that way or you can bake the whole wheat Irish bread from start to finish in a bread machine. It will taste just the same although I personally think baking bread in the bread maker makes it a little more dense than when I bake bread machine do
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My New (to Me) Canning Equipment!

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I got over my fear of canning and canned spiced blueberry jam. Now that I know canning jam doesn't take all day or bushels of fruit I want to do more of it. I looked into buying some of the equipment many of you agreed I didn't absolutely need to can food but will make the job easier and is nice to have.

After not winning it at the drawing at The Easton Farmers Market (waaah!) I bought the Ball Home Canning Discovery kit because I wanted something to keep the full jars of jam from flopping around in my stockpot while they cooked/processed/did the thing that makes sure you don't kill people with botulism. It's 10 bucks, comes with three jars (I need those too), and the silicone basket thingy squishes into a drawer when you aren't using it. How perfect for me and my small kitchen!

Ball Home Canning Discovery Kit

After I bought it, I mentioned my purchase and recent canning escapades to my mom. She asked me if I could return the Ball Home Canning Discovery Kit. I told I could but didn't want to because I didn't know where she was going with the conversation.



Where she went was to her garage. My mom gave me her old canning equipment!

 
I have a canning pot, rack, jar lifter, canning funnel, and a few jars too.


I will definitely use it. Husband and I are trying our hand at creating a covert front yard vegetable garden. I think we did a little too well at our first attempt.

 

I have to do something with all of these cucumbers! 

Good thing Husband likes pickles.

Help a canning newbie out. What are your favorite canning cookbooks?




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Comments

Athena said…
I am new to canning but my mom always canned. So far my daughter and I have made apple jelly and grape jelly. And guess what - no fruit needed - we made them from juice. Awesome and easy. I do have the recipe on my blog if you are interested. I want to try pickles and salsa next...
September 5, 2011 at 9:25 PM
Rivki Locker said…
I am terrified of canning. I think it's the only food preparation I've never tried. I have fears of killing my loved ones with my horribly spoiled goods. Burning my arms while reaching into scalding water to rescue my jam. You are a brave soul.
September 5, 2011 at 10:03 PM
Lisa Nelsen-Woods said…
Rivki - Try making freezer jam instead of canning. You do everything to make jam with the exception of putting the jars in a canning pot. It's much less intimidating.
September 6, 2011 at 5:38 PM

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