Nothing about this week turned out as planned. Our poor pup fell down the stairs on Monday and sprained her leg, so I’ve been playing nursemaid to a 90 pound dog who doesn’t want to be handled- and I can’t tell if she’s being dramatic (as huskies are very prone to do – this one very much so), in pain, wants to play or just wants to be annoying while she surely but very slowly heals.
I can’t wait for Hawaii.
In the meantime, one has to eat, and I love nothing more than fresh bread to fill my house and soul with comfort. This recipe is a family recipe- not my family- but those recipes are the best and when I’m lucky enough to secure a family’s special food, and the story that goes with it, I’m delighted to share.
Mrs. Kelly’s brown bread came to me from my friend, Breeda. In her one woman play, Mrs. Kelly’s Journey Home, she details the story of her mother, Mrs. Kelly, and her journey as an Irish immigrant in Detroit, raising Breeda and her brothers, making some spectacular apple pie and her slow decline into dementia. It was a story to which, I’m sure, many families can relate. I myself found parallels to my own grandmother’s story, a Hungarian immigrant in Canada who met the same end.
You’ve seen Breeda before, and her soda bread.
Anyway, this brown bread was Mrs. Kelly’s and as Breeda shared her mother’s story with me, now I get to share it with you.
The bread goes together in minutes, with minimal ingredients and elbow grease. Perfect to accompany a cozy bowl of soup, or a cup of tea and a good story with a good friend.
Psst. My own, equally delicious recipe for brown bread is here.
Mrs. Kelly's Brown Bread
Mrs. Kelly's Brown Bread is traditional Irish fare made with simple ingredients, perfect for any occasion and best served with Irish butter.
Ingredients
- 4 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup oatmeal (barely)
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 cups of buttermilk, give or take
Directions
- Step 1 Preheat the oven to 400F.
- Step 2 In a large bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients. Leave a bit of oatmeal to sprinkle on top. Slowly add the buttermilk to the dry ingredients until a large grey clump forms. It will be sticky and wet (add more buttermilk if needed to make it sticky and wet). Dump into a large, greased pie pan. Cut a bit X across the top and sprinkle with the remaining oatmeal.
- Step 3 Shove it in the oven and have a nice cup of tea. Let it bake 45 minutes. It should be hard on top and sound hollow with you give it a knock. Turn it out to cool and slice into 4 sections (the reason for the X). Slice thinly and serve with a generous portion of (salted) Irish butter and good jam.
