Happy Holiday from Amanda McIntyre

In A CHRISTMAS PROMISE (Decadent Pub., December 2010) widowed Irish immigrant Brady McCormick and his young travel to America and arrive on the docks of Ellis Island just before the Christmas holidays. The bustling sights and sounds of a Victorian New York City at holiday time, must have been a great change to the traditions practiced in his Irish homeland. I love the historical aspects of the Irish traditions, many which have trickled down to our homes today.

A Candle in the Window: Traditionally, on Christmas Eve, it was a symbol to welcome Mary and Joseph. Long ago, I began the tradition of lining my front porch windows with seven electric candles on the evening before Thanksgiving as a symbol to welcome my family and loved ones home for the holidays. Every night, they are lit during the holiday as the first thing seen when you come up the drive. I keep them up past January 6th as before hand it is is bad luck to take down your holiday decorations!

TRADITIONAL GAELIC SALUTATION The Gaelic greeting for 'Merry Christmas' is: 'Nollaig Shona Duit'

......which is pronounced as 'null-ig hun-a dit'. HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

And no Irish holiday meal (albeit any meal) was complete without its traditional Soda Bread!

Irish Soda Bread Recipe

Ingredients:

4 cups all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons white sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup margarine, softened
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup buttermilk

Directions:

HINT: To give a real authentic look to your creation, before baking any Irish bread recipe use a knife to cut a cross in the top of the loaf. According to old Irish folklore, the cross will ward off the Devil. Preheat oven to 375° F.

Lightly grease a large baking sheet. In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and margarine. Stir in 1 cup of buttermilk and egg. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead slightly. Form dough into a round and place on prepared baking sheet. In a small bowl, combine melted butter with 1/4 cup buttermilk; brush loaf with this mixture. Use a sharp knife to cut a big cross into the top of the loaf. Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, about 30 to 50 minutes. You may continue to brush the loaf with the butter mixture while it bakes. This Irish bread recipe makes 1 (1 1/2 pound) loaf, 20 servings

'Nollaig Shona Duit'

Amanda McIntyre
A Christmas Promise Dec. 2010