March/April (oops) Roundup
Better late than never...?
Hello dear reader!
It sure has been a while! March and April have both been and gone, and I’m embarrassed to be sending this in the middle of May… I don’t know if I can reliably think back to what I cooked in March, so instead I’ve provided a recipe for something I’ve made this month… The reading and writing sections are largely from March/April, with a May letter thrown in. I don’t intend for this roundup to supplant May’s, but I thought if I didn’t write something soon the Substack would die a death, and given my subscribers have somehow increased in my silence (maybe this is a hint to shut-up…) I thought that would be a tad silly.
So, here we are! Late, but hopefully better late than never.
March and April were the first full two months of life in Ireland. It’s been far sunnier and warmer than I anticipated and I’m feeling far more settled and at home now than I did at the start of March. Our chickens dropped from six to three (a story for another time) but I haven’t had to buy eggs since we acquired them. Toddlers love chickens (or they love to chase them, anyways). My husband has saved a good number of rhubarb plants from a few too many years of neglect, and we’ve planted a few seeds to start off our veg growing goals in a modest manner for our first year in our new home. My husband has been away most weeks Monday to Thursday with work but will only be gone one night a week come June; weekends are precious. I’m grateful for a fairly regular nap schedule with my almost 18month old, who has also learnt to climb stairs. Little ones really do get big quick.
It’s been a whirlwind couple of months despite “slower” days and weeks.
Life is good and there’s a lot to be thankful for. Deo gratias!
What I’ve been cooking lately
Shortly after moving to Ireland I attempted an Irish soda loaf, but no word of a lie it was inedible and perhaps my biggest kitchen flop to date. So put off by this (and the 400g of flour I wasted) I didn’t try again for over two months. Recently, however, I gave it another go and then found myself making three loaves within five days… it’s a hit! The bread is best enjoyed on the same day of baking, but does well toasted the next day too.
Recipe
Place a baking sheet into an oven set to 220 degrees.
Sift 400g plain flour, 1tsp salt, and 1tsp bicarbonate of soda into a large bowl, and make a well in the middle.
Pour in 300ml buttermilk and 40ml water, and mix with a spatula until the dough just comes together. If it is too sticky add more flour, or more water if it is too dry. Note that if you over work the dough you will keep needing to add flour - as soon as it comes together into a smooth-ish ball, leave it be!
Remove the baking sheet, dust the sheet liberally with flour, and place the dough in the centre. Score a cross in the top with a sharp knife, and add a little dusting of flour to the top.
Turn the oven down to 200 degrees and bake for 30 minutes, or until the bread sounds hollow when tapped underneath.
Leave to cool on a wire rack.
Variations
My soda bread days are only in their infancy but I’ve enjoyed both of the following variations:
Cheddar loaf: add in 100g of grated cheddar before adding the milk and water. Make sure you mix it into the flour mixture well so that each shred of cheese is coated in flour.
Rosemary and sundried tomato: roughly slice 4 large sun-dried tomatoes and mix into the flour mixture along with 1/2tsp of dried rosemary before adding the milk.
What I’ve been writing lately
I’ve been busy with some freelance work the past few weeks so I haven’t pitched much since my last roundup. I did, however, have one article in the Catholic Herald on some of the challenges facing today’s young men, and a letter in the Irish Times after the election of Pope Leo XIV, which I’ve copied below. I must admit I’m rather excited by the election of Pope Leo, not least because Leo XIII is one of my favourite popes. He wrote dozens of encyclicals and the ones I’ve read all seem to hold such significance still today. I’m hopeful for the next chapter of Catholic Social Thought!
What I’ve been reading lately
I’m somewhat ashamed to say I haven’t made reading a priority the past few weeks, and have really only dipped in and out of several books, making little headway with any one in particular.
I did, however, finish Domestic Monastery early into Lent. It’s a super quick read and offers lovely reflections on the slower, hidden life of parenting little ones. I’d recommend it as spiritual reading for those who think they lack the time for spiritual reading!
That, dear reader, serves as my catch-up roundup. May’s roundup won’t be quite so late… I hope!
As ever,
Portia