This Actually Tastes Good Irish Soda Bread

Oven 450* to start, finish at 350*

You will need a large cast iron pot with a lid or an enameled cast iron pot with a lid

4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon sugar

¼ cup butter

2 cups plain yogurt

Put the butter in the freezer until hard. Mix the flour, salt, baking soda and sugar in a large bowl with your fingers. Take the frozen stick of butter and roll it around in the flour mixture and then using a box grater, grate the butter into the flour. Stir the mixture with your fingers, add the yogurt and mix and then knead until well combined and it holds together. Shape into a ball and cut a cross on the top. Let the loaf of bread rest for 15 minutes. Butter the bottom of the cast iron put the bread in, cover and place in the oven. Bake at 450* for 5 minutes and then reduce heat to 350* for 45 minutes, keep the cover on the pot the entire time.

This is my recipe that I have adjusted from several others and trial and error. Feel free to share, but please give me credit, Thanks!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Reflections From My First 40 days for Life

I have had many excuses, most of them valid, for not volunteering to stand and pray during the 40 Days for Life campaigns. We have diligently said a rosary every day for the last few campaigns, but I prayed that our schedule would work so that I could stand and pray. February 22 was my first day, I really didn't know what to expect. I have been livid about the huge Planned Parenthood in MY neighborhood and this year is the first time that 40 Days has had an organized vigil outside this clinic. There are people who pray there regularly, but Ash Wednesday was my first day. I am easily distracted and I love to talk so I plugged in my headphones and prayed the Rosary with Fr. Benedict Groeschel, Dana and Fr. Scallon. The road noise, cars honking and the newness of it all made it very difficult for me to pray. It was a busy morning, there was a steady flow of cars into the parking lot, most of the office lights were on and we saw a caterer carry food inside. I saw two different young ladies walk past us (presumably from the bus depot down the street) and enter the facility. As I stood and the darkness of the late Winter morning changed to light I prayed for the women entering the clinic that day and for the conversion of the employees of Planned Parenthood. The second Wednesday, the clinic was dark and fewer cars drove in, we saw no one walk by us. I filled in last Friday for a friend who was out of town, it was a slow day, a slow trickle of cars, trucks and minivans disappearing into the hidden parking lot. I am so thankful that Hubby is at peace with me doing this. Each day I have been, I have used one of the children's rosaries to help me focus on the children. My three days on the sidewalk have not been uncomfortable, just peaceful. I am thankful that our schedule finally worked out so that I could finally do this. I don't know what I really expected, but nothing scary or bad has happened, and I actually look forward to getting up at 6:30 AM on Wednesdays. I wanted to gather my early thought and compare them to my thoughts six weeks from now, I'm always curious...

Lights Out

Last night was our first of of six "Lights Out Friday Night." I read about it on a blog as a sacrifice for Lent. Turn out the lights and turn off the electronics after dark. In hindsight, we should have planned better and discussed what it meant to us. Hubby thought it was a great idea, but his idea was different from mine. I got called in to work at the last minute. On my way out the door, I spouted off a list of chores, dinner menu, etc.. When I got home, it was already dark outside, so they lights were off and there were lots of candles, very nice. As is custom, the minute I walk in, the kids start with, "I'm hungry," and I ask, "Did Daddy feed you?" "No nothing." Due to a carrot experiment by Number Two Son, the large cast iron skillet needed to be washed and it was dark so we were having trouble finding the right scrubbie. I tuned to the stove and the clock light was out. Hubby had turned off all the breakers. I had forgotten to explain to him that the point of lights out was to LEARN to simplify, not FORCE simplicity on the children. I did use the over-the stove-light while cooking dinner and I screwed in the refrigerator light so I could see where the food was, but other than that, it was Light's Out Friday. Once the breakers were turned back on, the kids flipped the bathroom lights a couple of times, but they really had fun with the candles (note to self, buy lots more candles). While I was cooking, Hubby played around on the piano and then brought the Beatle's songbook to the table to try and teach Number One Son the words to "I am the Walrus." That ended in Hubby walking away and Number One Son in tears. Grumpy-because-I-a-still-sick Hubby and I-don't-know-when-to-not-be-silly Number One Son do not mix in the dark. After dinner we played a couple of games of  "Go Fish" that were truly excruciating for the adults. Number One Son kept trying to go out of order (sequencing issues, I guess) and Number One Daughter was just asking for cards, whether she had one of the pair, or not, but Number Two Son was absolutely joyful when anyone got a match. Three games of double-nine dominoes and Hubby and I were ready for bed! Next week we will plan much better! I never imagined that no lights or electronic devices would be so exhausting!

We spent a lovely afternoon in Georgetown, Texas with one of our Priest's, Fr.James Martin, CSC. We would have liked to have had a remembrance ceremony earlier, but it took a very long time for the stone to be engraved and delivered. It was so kind of Fr. James to spend half of his day with us. He blessed all of us and said some lovely words, but I was distracted by the loss, the wind chimes, the wind, the cool air, the children and pain. Deciphering how I feel has been very difficult. Number Two Son told me, "I love you Momma, I'm sorry that your baby died." Number One Daughter and Number Two Son have expressed remorse for the loss and wanting another sibling. Number One Son has expressed remorse, but I'm not so sure he wants another sibling, he is a nine year old boy, after all. It is hard to be 44, knowing the statistics, and believing that my childbearing years have ended in two miscarriages. Fr. James shared that he had four siblings born to heaven and that he is looking forward to meeting them. I think about our babies every day, when we meet in Heaven one day, I'm sure I will know exactly how to feel.

Green Dip

My kids can not eat Spinach, so I usually substitute collard or turnip greens. This tastes better with turnip greens. The frozen variety we use has tiny little cubes of turnips also.

1 # bag frozen turnip greens with turnips
1 pint Daisy brand sour cream
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Cook turnip greens according to package directions. I steam mine in boiling salted water for about 10 minutes. Drain in a colander, put paper towels or a dish towel on top of the greens, while still in the colander and then weight them down to remove as much water as possible. I use a cast iron skillet and a gallon jug of water. Let the greens cool down and then transfer them to a bowl and add the sour cream, salt, onion powder, garlic powder and pepper. Refrigerate for an hour or overnight. We eat Green Dip with baby carrots or celery sticks and on special occasions, sweet potato chips.

I made it twice over the holidays and even the non-allergic folks ate it up. Number Two Son ate it for Christmas dinner :)

Red Lipstick

I grew up with my Mom wearing beautiful bright-colored lipsticks in the 70's and 80's. I loved wearing bright lipsticks when I was younger. When they went out of fashion, I had decided that my days of wearing red lipstick were over. Bright lips are in fashion again, but should a 44-year-old wear read lipstick? The thought of never wearing red lipstick again made me sad, so I bought some and I got to wear it twice before the kids used it for blood on a leftover Halloween decoration. I felt fabulous, if only for a couple of days. I know what the kids should get Momma for Christmas!

Welcome Home Frankie Francis

Frankie Francis (named for our beloved St. Francis of Assisi) has been with us for about two weeks. The Town Lake Animal Shelter was closing and moving across town so we thought it would be a good time to get a free dog. After three visits, numerous phone calls and messages, it became apparent that getting a suitable dog from Austin was not going to happen. Someone sent me a link to the shelter in San Antonio. They are not a no-kill shelter, like Austin, Their goal is 50% + 1. We saw a couple of dogs we liked,one was toy poodle, she was deemed "aggressive" and not available for adoption. I saw this cutie and could not believe that a beautiful dog like this was actually at a shelter and not already adopted. The online information said the Pomeranian was male, when we got there, the paperwork said the Pomeranian was a female and when we went to pick up the Pomeranian, we were told HE was a neutered male. He loves me, which is the most important thing AND he is house trained. He gets along well with Einstein (Smart Puppy). Initially, he barked and nipped at Hubby and Number Two Son, but he has adjusted to our home and is really very calm. He has a cold (AKA Kennel Cough), it has been two weeks so we are headed to the Vet tomorrow for treatment options. Bless his little canine heart, he has coughing spells during the night. Being the Momma that I am, I wake up every time he coughs. I hope he gets over this soon, it so tiring (and pitiful!).