I had a very large corned beef in the fridge that I got at costco, and was planning to make pastrami, but it is just too damn cold out to baby sit a smoker.
I got a text from my friend Jeri, and she asked if I was making soda bread. And bingo, I thought, why not. I used Martha Rose Shulman's whole wheat with raisins and walnuts, but I subbed in pine nuts and currants instead as that was what I had. I also used powdered buttermilk and water. Worked just fine!
Beautifully brown loaf that smelled wonderful and tasted even better. A keeper!
After three hours, I flipped the piece over, it was about 6.5 lbs to start, and after trimming off most of the fat, I guess it was around 5.5 or so. Still a big hunk of meat. At about 4 pm, I stabbed the meat and it was almost tender, so in went the veggies, and the lid was closed again for the last 1.5 hours. This photo is taken after that 1.5 hours. It sat on the stove for about 15 minutes to cool a bit and then we ate.
Nota Bene: This soda bread is some of the best I have ever eaten, so good that Bill said yes to me making it again the next day. The currants and pine nuts are a perfect combo - slightly sweet fruit and buttery nuts.
