Irish Soda Bread
Well you can call it a cheat if you like …. or you can revel in the simplicity of it while enjoying the incredible results!!
I was lucky enough to get a gift of these the other day from someone who knows my fondness for cooking and trying all things new. They were on my doorstep as I headed out on my quest for 20,000 steps a day in between rain showers.
It’s a genius product … it includes the bag and the tin … all you need is milk! To be honest though - next time I make it … I’ll mix it in a bowl … if I can suggest a way to reduce plastic it’s worth doing. But this time I did it as per the instructions just to see.
Anyway … I noted they suggested adding a bit of cheese to ramp it up a bit … and Jonido reminded me how delicious the Cheese and Onion bread is in one of our favourite restaurants. I googled cheese and onion bread and there was any amount of recipes where you could start frying onions before you make the bread. But that’s not in the spirit of the ‘easy’ bread … and anyway my taste memory tells me even my best Caramelised Onions won’t taste the same … it’s a very distinctive taste in the bread … and then BING … it’s more like the crispy fried onions from the supermarket … could it work???
Don’t ask me what’s in those onions … don’t EVER make me read the ingredients… they are too nice .. but would they do the trick? I had to try it!
So I opened the McCambridges mix , fired in a handful of cheese, a handful of onions and gently mixed it through with my fingers. In goes the milk - shake it all about and then gently press it around a bit … I was trying not to crush the onions to nothing. It said to squeeze the mixture out but I used a spoon and then I did the cross in the top with a knife … it’s all written on the pack .. and hey presto it’s done! Bung it in the oven and by the time you’ve said McCambridges of Galway, you clever Bread Making Magicians … the bell was ringing and my first loaf was done! (Artistic license with the time here … it was more like 35 mins!! )
The bread was spot on! It’s McCambridges .. of course it was great. But what about the onions and cheese?? I’m going to try a stronger cheese next time … I’m not sure I could really taste it … but the onions … they were SPOT ON!! I mean … exactly the flavour from the restaurant we adore and which will remain nameless less they accuse me of accusing them of making their bread this way!! I’m going to use a large handful next time - it was just fab.
I’m a bread baker now don’t you know … my cheese and onion bread is famous! (Famous in my house … and visitors would love it if they were allowed in!)