American Irish Soda Bread and Who Is Erin, Anyway?

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! Back in 1983 I kissed the Blarney Stone. Shortly after, I got my first job in public relations. That one big wet kiss has served me well in both my professional and personal life. Yet with all that loquacious luck at my disposal, I’ve always been at a loss to explain the phrase “Erin Go Bragh.” So, as I take this piping hot Irish Soda Bread out of the oven in honor of Saint Patty’s Day, I can report that I finally know the answer. We didn’t have Wikipedia back in 1983, but now I know that “Erin Go Bragh,” is a Gaelic phrase that means “Ireland Forever.”

Irish Soda Bread is one of the first “quick breads” I remember baking. I didn’t know that there are variations on the traditional recipe. I mistakenly thought that the authentic recipe contains raisins and caraway seeds. That's a bit of blarney. The recipe containing raisins and added sugar is actually called American Irish Soda Bread, which I have made here. The additional ingredients were added to satisfy the American craving for sweets. The authentic recipe, from “the old sod,” does not contain raisins or seeds – just flour, butter, salt, sour milk and soda for leavening.

Oh, well. It still tastes light, buttery and delicious. And that’s no blarney.

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