Celebrate St. Patrick's Day

Try these simple recipes for your March 17th celebrations. We use whole wheat flour grown and milled by Amish farmers two concessions from our farm for this traditional Irish soda bread. It's great any time and so easy to make. Of course we use ground lamb from our farm when possible to make this Irish Shepherd's pie. Delicious!

Irish Soda Bread

1 1/2 cups flours

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

2 Tbsp sugar or honey

2 Tbsp oats

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Oil or line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Mix together dry ingredients and add buttermilk. Mix on a lightly floured board. Mark an "X" on top and sprinkle with oats. Bake 40 - 50 minutes.

Traditional Irish Shepherd's Pie

1 Tbsp oil

1 tsp pepper

1 lb ground lamb or beef

1 large onion, finely diced

3-4 large carrots, finely diced

1 cup frozen peas

3-4 sprigs thyme, chopped

2 Tbsp flour

1 Tbsp butter

1 glass red wine

2 Tbsp tomato paste

2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

1 cup chicken stock

6 cups mashed potatoes

1 egg, beaten

grated parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Saute carrots in olive oil. Add onions, then meat. Season with pepper and thyme. Brown meat then drain the fat. Add butter and peas. Add tomato paste, wine, and Worcestershire sauce. Reduce and add stock. Reduce until a gravy forms. Season. Grease a casserole dish or pan and assemble with the mashed potatoes on top of the meat mixture. Brush the potatoes with the egg and sprinkle cheese on top. Bake for 20 minutes.