The stories you read here on the blog are usually pieced together in my brain while I’m in the kitchen baking away.  I had a hard time deciding on what to write about when posting this soda bread.  The reason being because it brings so many ideas to mind.  Should I post about the buttermilk I used to make this with and how Rob hates buttermilk?  Should I post about how Rob’s grandfather loves buttermilk and drinks a glass of it everyday?  Should I post about Nine Irish Brother’s restaurant (NIBR)and how they serve soda bread and our obsession with eating there?  Should I post about Rob’s group of friends, known as “The Legion” and how they would always eat at NIBR and everyone would fight over the soda bread?

So many choices people, SO MANY CHOICES.  I could write about everything, but then it would be a 5 page post, and none of us have time for that, so I’ll hold back.

I’ve decided I’ll tell you about “The Legion”, because honestly, those memories were running through my mind when making this bread.  The Legion consists (consisted?) of a small group of friends that Rob met during his freshman year of engineering at Purdue.  During that first semester, they all became good friends and all enjoyed eating at NIBR.  Fast forward to Rob’s senior year of college and their friendships were still going strong.  Shortly into the Fall semester, I entered the picture.  I remember Rob inviting me to go to dinner with him and the rest of the Legion.  I didn’t really know what to expect, but I was nervous because I knew all eyes would be on me – the newbie.  I was also nervous because I had already met one of the legion members (Named RJ) a week before, and the first impression I left him with wasn’t a good one.  He met me right after I found out my car had been towed (what’s a college career at Purdue University without your car being towed a few times?)….and I was ticked.  Soooo, going into this dinner, I knew I had to bring my A-game.

Luckily, everyone was really nice, even RJ who up until that night probably thought I was a jerk.  I didn’t say much while we were there – I had a hard time getting a word in as it was 4 guys and 1 other girl there….people kept interrupting people, people were asking for each other’s soda bread, people were joking around about things that had happened in past classes with each other.   Let’s be honest, most of the time I was lost.

I do remember having finished everything on my plate, except for my soda bread and it was at that time when RJ leaned over and said to me “Hey, are you gonna eat your soda bread?” and I responded with “No, you can have it”.  Everyone else gasped and had the look of “NO FAIR!” on their faces.  I didn’t care though….at least I knew RJ liked me now and I didn’t have to worry about that bad impression anymore.

Irish Soda Bread Recipe

By Joy Published: January 25, 2013

• Yield: 1 loaf (4 Servings)
• Prep: 10 mins
• Cook: 60 mins
• Ready In: 1 hr 10 mins

The stories you read here on the blog are usually pieced together in my brain while I'm in the kitchen baking away.  I had a hard …

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup raisins
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 2/3 cups sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 cup buttermilk

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 365 degrees F.
2. Mix the dry ingredients. Add in the raisins.
3. Combine the eggs, buttermilk and butter. Add to the dry ingredients.
4. Pour batter into a prepared bread pan and bake for one hour. Allow to cool and ENJOY!

Overall, the night was good.  Samantha, the single girl in the group, announced to everyone near the end of dinner that she liked me and that Rob did a good job.  PHEW.

So that’s what this soda bread is all about  – good friends, good food and a lot of memories to reminisce over.