st. pattys dinner party.

Well, that weekend went fast. Or maybe thats because I spent most of it cooking and doing dishes. But hey! Totally worth it to have my second annual St. Pattys Dinner Party under my belt. One of my menu favs has to be Irish Soda Bread, because its not just a St. Pats recipe. Its a four ingredient bread...beyond easy to make...and pairs so well with soup or any meal that needs a little beefing up. Also, delicious with jam. Heres my recipe, from Irish Pub Cooking:Irish Soda Bread4 cups all purpose flour1 3/4 cups buttermilk1 tsp salt1 tsp baking sodaPreheat oven to 425 degrees, and grease a baking sheet.Mix flour, baking soda, salt and buttermilk in a bowl. Use your hands if it gets difficult to stir! The dough should be soft and sticky enough to form a ball for kneading. (Add extra flour or buttermilk if needed!)Lightly flour the counter, and turn the dough over a few times. Then shape it into an 8" round, and place on your baking sheet. Cut a cross in the top of the loaf with a knife.Slide your baking sheet into the oven and set your timer for 30 minutes. Mine usually take upwards of 40 minutes, but I always start checking at 30. When the top is golden brown, you know its ready!I pulled out my collected china for the occasion, and dusted off the gold flatware. It was a pretty fem St. Pattys party...but thats okay. It doesnt have to be all kelly green, does it? A few minutes before the guests arrived, I decided it might be wise to assign places. So, I reached for my trusty paper doilies and labeled spots.Im a bit of a socially anxious girl, so throwing parties can be nerve-wracking. For me, the most rewarding part is stepping into the kitchen to wrangle dishes, or prep something...and listening to the din of your guests laughing, enjoying each others company. Worth every hour spent peeling potatoes and apples. :) My entire house still smells like corned beef...and theres enough Guinness left in my fridge for another year. But thats not a terrible problem to have! All told, a very lovely evening with friends and family.