Rite Of Spring Passage

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Before you can enjoy the most beautiful spring and summer in the USA in Chicago, you must endure a rotten transition out of the clutches of Winter's gripping hand.  

Many a woman has lost her head during the Ides of March in my neck of the woods.   The days are dark and grey. The snow is dark and grey.  Our thoughts turn to pedicures and haircuts and beautiful umbrellas.   Yes we value beautiful umbrellas. 

In order to leap into the next season around here, you need some tough stuff.   And you need some Irish Soda Bread. 
 My recipe book is exactly as I like it.  Go ahead, ask me for a recipe and I know EXACTLY where it is in this pile of paper.   I would be lost if I "organized" it.  It is organized already. 

 Here we have my Nana's Irish Soda Bread......ready to be devoured by the men in my house.  They act like it is candy.  Fireman feels the need to put a good 1/2 inch of butter on each slice, but to each his own.   I told Zach on Saturday, "Son, it's time you learn to make Irish Soda Bread" and he nodded in agreement. 
Some things must be passed down in a family. 
My children already know how to knit....
but now they must master the Irish Soda bread, so that one day in a Nearly Spring years and years into the future, they can
survive the last week of Chicago winter...

 How do you survive the end of winter??/


Comments

fancystitching said…
Winter comes and goes so quickly here in the South. Some years we really don't have much, and this year we have only had a few day with temp lows in the 20s. Although the calendar says "winter", evidences of spring are everywhere with flower and trees blooming... glad I'm a Southern gal... don't think I could make it in a place with "real" winter! Now surviving the SUMMER where I live... different story! Thank heaven for AC!!
10:29 AM
Meredith said…
After growing up in Michigan, I am sure glad I am here in Florida. I remember March so well, cold and dreary. I'd love a piece of that bread. It is good to know your son will carry on your traditions. He sounds like an amazing guy.
Hugs to you Kathy,
Meredith
10:32 AM
Nancy said…
I can't say that I've ever had Irish Soda bread, but it looks tasty. It is important to pass family recipes on to the next generation. For our last full-family reunion my niece collected family recipes and compiled them into a family cookbook. The book also includes memories for each recipe as well as photos of family members.

I have one of my mother's cookbooks with recipes written in her hand on any blank space she could find. The book is a treasure.
11:04 AM
SissySees said…
I have my grandmother's recipe box and need to scan it!

I love green and am Irish, so I get through the first half of March by focusing on St. Paddy's Day. Usually in my parts, that gets us close enough to spring...
11:30 AM
Celia said…
Mmmmm Yummy!
11:46 AM
Unknown said…
I don't think I've ever tried Irish Soda Bread (knowingly, anyway). I might have to give it a try...especially if it will help get me through the next month of "springtime in the Rockies."

I love the idea of passing down family recipes with pictures and stories to accompany.

Oh, and BYW, I enjoyed seeing your recipe book...mine has a similar look! LOL.
12:11 PM
Anonymous said…
I've been known to turn the heat up to 90 and put on a shorts and sandals for an hour or two - all Mr. Iknead can tolerate. I'm almost to that point today. Thanks for the read and the comment!
12:22 PM
kathy b said…
Okay...I think I need to turn the heat up to 90 and put on my shorts for a bit today...
what a great idea.. WHy didnt I ever think of that/
12:39 PM
Anonymous said…
Mmmmm...Irish Soda Bread is the BEST. Fireman is right. Lots and lots of butter on warm bread. YOWZA!

It sure would make winter a lot more tolerable.
2:04 PM
geeky Heather said…
Hmmm, I make it 'til my birthday at the end of February, when I go somewhere warm. I'm real mad if I get home and it's still cold, LOL! Even though it always is.... *sigh* At least it's getting up to 60 today.
3:28 PM
Marguerite said…
I'm surviving by working on my taxes and telling myself that since the weather is miserable I may as well do something miserable so when the weather gets better the taxes will be done.
5:08 PM
Gracie Saylor said…
Seed catalogues, Kathy! I highly recommend savoring every page even if you never plant a thing :-)

And of course Irish Soda Bread, and corned beef and cabbage and soup and spaghetti along with stitching something colorful and keeping a fire in the fireplace burning...and

by the way, I think you asked if I had a pattern for the lovely lavender fingerless gloves I was given from Wendy in Australia. I do not, but perhaps you could ask her for it http://ruffsadventures.blogspot.com/

Blessings to you and yours,
xx from Gracie
8:12 PM
Mrs. Micawber said…
We survived it today with Raspberry Chocolate Chip Muffins. Tomorrow it will be carnitas and salsa verde. Maybe by Wednesday it will be spring. :)

Funny, I too have a recipe "book" that is a pile of papers. All held together with a binder clip.
9:57 PM
Tracy Batchelder said…
"It is organized already." --- I love that!
7:04 AM
Lynneb said…
Well, I survive the end of winter by making it to my birthday on St. Patrick's day. And I knit, and I plan our camping trips and I make a good old fashioned outside meal of grilled burgers and potato salad!
4:56 PM
Nicole said…
IRISH SODA BREAD! I haven't made that in way too long.
10:55 PM
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