It happens every year around this time: thoughtful, well-meaning people cart large amounts of carb-enriched food to rectories, knock on the door and, using a crane or a winch, drag up a big brick of dough and raisins on the doorstep and say with a smile, “Here! I made some soda bread for ye! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!”
It’s a wonderful gesture. But honestly? I’ve never had soda bread that can begin to compare with this masterwork by Elizabeth Scalia. She shared some with me several years ago. I swear, at the first bite, angels sang.
This, my friends, is something more than soda bread. It is the GOAT soda bread. It is epic. It is transcendent.
It made me weep.
Maybe the fact that it was perfected by an Italian — Elizabeth’s mother-in-law — has something to do with it. I dunno. But this really is a masterpiece. I think St. Pat would agree. Try it for yourself and see.
From the recipe at Aleteia:
Scalia calls Irish soda bread “a delicious butter-delivery system” and is happy to share her mother-in-law’s famous recipe with Aleteia readers. (Her Italian mother-in-law, mind you.) So grab your pint of Guinness or a cup of Irish Breakfast tea and pull out your measuring cups.
Maria Lucia’s Irish Soda Bread
4 c sifted flour
1 1/2 tsps baking soda
1 tsp salt
3/4 c sugar (traditional or coconut palm sugar, which will darken the bread)
1 c raisins (traditional, or dried cranberries)
2 Tbsp melted butter
2 eggs, beaten
2 cups buttermilk (or soured milk)Directions: Preheat oven to 350F. In large bowl, mix dry ingredients together. In separate bowl, mix butter, eggs and buttermilk. Stir wet ingredients into the dry. Fold in raisins or cranberries. Form into round shape and carve a cross on the top. Place in a 2 quart pan (like a Pyrex) because it works the best. Bake for 1.25 hours.
Note: If you use coconut palm sugar, a reportedly healthier sweetener than white sugar, you will get the same degree of sweetness, but the bread will be browner.
As you place the bread in in the oven, or as a grace just before eating it, pray the prayer of St. Patrick:
St. Patrick’s Breastplate
I bind to myself todayThe strong virtue of the Invocation of the Trinity:I believe the Trinity in the UnityThe Creator of the Universe.I bind to myself todayThe virtue of the Incarnation of Christ with His Baptism,The virtue of His crucifixion with His burial,The virtue of His Resurrection with His Ascension,The virtue of His coming on the Judgement Day.I bind to myself todayThe virtue of the love of seraphim,In the obedience of angels,In the hope of resurrection unto reward,In prayers of Patriarchs,In predictions of Prophets,In preaching of Apostles,In faith of Confessors,In purity of holy Virgins,In deeds of righteous men.I bind to myself todayThe power of heaven,The light of the sun,The brightness of the moon,The splendour of fire,
The flashing of lightning,The swiftness of wind,The depth of sea,The stability of earth,The compactness of rocks.I bind to myself todayGod’s Power to guide me,God’s Might to uphold me,God’s Wisdom to teach me,God’s Eye to watch over me,God’s Ear to hear me,God’s Word to give me speech,God’s Hand to guide me,God’s Way to lie before me,God’s Shield to shelter me,God’s Host to secure me,Against the snares of demons,Against the seductions of vices,Against the lusts of nature,Against everyone who meditates injury to me,Whether far or near,Whether few or with many.I invoke today all these virtuesAgainst every hostile merciless powerWhich may assail my body and my soul,Against the incantations of false prophets,Against the black laws of heathenism,Against the false laws of heresy,Against the deceits of idolatry,Against the spells of women, and smiths, and druids,Against every knowledge that binds the soul of man.
Christ, protect me todayAgainst every poison, against burning,Against drowning, against death-wound,That I may receive abundant reward.Christ with me, Christ before me,Christ behind me, Christ within me,Christ beneath me, Christ above me,Christ at my right, Christ at my left,Christ in the fort,Christ in the chariot seat,Christ on the deck,Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,Christ in every eye that sees me,Christ in every ear that hears me.I bind to myself todayThe strong virtue of an invocation of the Trinity,I believe the Trinity in the UnityThe Creator of the Universe.
