Get a Kiss For the Cook with these Irish Recipes

As promised, here are a couple of recipes for those who want to have an Irish menu for St. Patrick's Day. The recipes I've chosen are Irish Soda Bread and Corned Beef & Cabbage.

I'm not sure that I've ever eaten any of this stuff. My dad loves cabbage, but I've never been a fan, and I just can't recall eating corned beef ever. As for the bread, in my family I'm known as the "bread eater." My family jokes that I practically lived off of bread when I was a kid. And I must admit, to this day whether it's rolls, biscuits, or baked breads on the table, I always help myself and eat my fair share (if not more). So I'll definitely be trying this Irish Soda Bread!

Irish Soda Bread

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

3 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/4 cup raisins (optional)
1 egg white, slightly beaten
3/4 cup buttermilk

Nonstick cooking spray
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions
1. In a medium mixing bowl stir together flour, baking powder, soda, and salt. Cut in margarine or butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in raisins, if desired. Make a well in the center of the mixture.

2. In a small mixing bowl combine egg white and buttermilk. Add all at once to dry mixture. Stir just until moistened.

3. On a lightly floured surface knead dough 10 to 12 strokes until nearly smooth. Shape into a 7-inch round loaf.

4. Lightly coat a baking sheet with cooking spray Place bread dough on baking sheet. With a sharp knife, make 2 slashes in the top to form an X.

5. Bake in a 375 degree F oven about 30 minutes or until golden. Serve warm. Makes 1 loaf (16 servings).

Corned Beef and Cabbage

Ingredients
1 3-pound corned beef brisket
1/2 cup sliced onion (1 small)
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
3 cups water
1 1-1/2-pound cabbage, cut into 6 wedges

Directions
1. Trim any visible fat from the meat. Set aside.

2. Place rack in a 4- to 6-quart pressure cooker. Add the meat, onion, bay leaf, black peppercorns, and water.

3. Lock lid in place. Place pressure regulator on vent pipe (if you have a first-generation cooker). Over high heat, bring cooker up to pressure. Reduce heat just enough to maintain pressure and pressure regulator rocks gently; cook for 50 minutes.

4. Allow pressure to come down naturally. Carefully remove lid. With a slotted spoon remove the meat and onions to a serving platter; set aside.

5. Place the wedges of cabbage in the pressure cooker. Lock lid in place. Place pressure regulator on vent pipe (if you have a first-generation cooker). Over high heat, bring cooker up to pressure. Reduce heat just enough to maintain pressure and pressure regulator rocks gently; cook for 2 minutes.

6. Quick-release the pressure. Carefully remove lid. With a slotted spoon remove the cabbage wedges. Serve with meat and onions. Makes 6 main-dish servings.