Irish Soda Bread Recipe

12 Servings / Prep: 15 min. Bake: 40 min. + cooling

Ingredients:

• 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons caraway seeds
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups (16 ounces) sour cream
• 3/4 cups raisins

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, caraway seeds, baking powder, salt and baking soda. In a small bowl, whisk eggs and sour cream. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in raisins.
2. Spoon into a greased 9-in. springform pan. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 40-45 or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 10 minutes before removing sides of pan. Cut into wedges; serve warm. Yield: 1 loaf (12 wedges).

Fizzy Mint-Chocolate Soda

Mint plus chocolate equal refreshing. Spoon or sip this ice-cream drink, with carbonated water or cream soda for bubbles, on warm days and evenings.

Servings: 4 servings / Total: 10 mins

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup chocolate-flavor syrup
• 4 teaspoons creme de menthe or chocolate-mint flavor
• 1 pint mint-chocolate chip ice cream
• 2 cup carbonated water or cream soda, chilled

Directions:

1. Pour 1 teaspoon of the chocolate syrup, then 1 teaspoon of the liqueur into each of four tall glasses. Add 2 scoops (1/2 cup) of mint-chocolate chip ice cream to each glass. Add 2 more teaspoons of chocolate syrup to each glass. Slowly pour 1/2 cup carbonated water or cream soda into each glass for fizz. Makes 4 servings.

Alcohol-free Version: Omit the liqueur.

Nutrition Facts:

Calories 245, Total Fat 11 g, Saturated Fat 6 g, Cholesterol 26 mg, Sodium 84 mg, Carbohydrate 33 g, Fiber 0 g, Protein 4 g. Daily Values: Vitamin A 6%, Calcium 10%, Iron 3%.
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Root Beer Float Recipe

Ingredients:

• Vanilla ice cream
• Root beer

Method:

1. Spoon a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream into a tall glass. Slowly pour root beer into the glass, allowing the foam to rise and then recede before adding more root beer.
2. Serve with straws and spoons.

Cream Soda Toffee Cupcakes

Makes: 18 cupcakes / Prep: 25 minutes / Bake: 18 minutes / Cool: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1-1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 Tbsp. molasses
• 1-1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup cream soda (not diet)
• 3/4 cup toffee pieces
• 1 recipe Brown Butter Frosting

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line eighteen 2-1/2-inch muffin cups with paper bake cups; set aside. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; set aside.
2. In large bowl beat butter with electric mixer on medium to high 30 seconds. Add sugars; beat until well combined. Beat in eggs, one at a time, on low until combined. Beat in molasses and vanilla.
3. Alternately add flour mixture, buttermilk, and cream soda to butter mixture, beating on low speed after each addition until combined. Stir in 1/2 cup of the toffee. Fill cups 3/4 full. Bake about 18 minutes or until tops spring back when lightly touched. Cool in pans on racks 5 minutes. Remove from pans; cool. Frost; top with remaining toffee. Makes 18 cupcakes.
4. Brown Butter Frosting: For brown butter, in saucepan heat 1/4 cup butter over medium-low heat until lightly browned, about 8 minutes; cool. In bowl beat 1/4 cup softened butter with mixer on medium 30 seconds. Add cooled brown butter; beat until combined. Add 2 cups powdered sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg, and dash salt. Beat in 1 to 2 tablespoons buttermilk until spreadable. Use immediately. If frosting begins to set up, stir in a small amount of boiling water. Makes 1 1/4 cups frosting.

Nutrition Facts: Servings Per Recipe 18 cupcakes Calories307, Total Fat (g)14, Saturated Fat (g)8, Monounsaturated Fat (g)3, Polyunsaturated Fat (g)1, Cholesterol (mg)69, Sodium (mg)241, Carbohydrate (g)42, Total Sugar (g)31, Protein (g)3, Calcium (DV%)5, Iron (DV%)5, Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Strawberry Ice Cream Soda

Servings: 2

Revisit your childhood while sipping one of these delicious treats on your front punch on a hot summer’s night.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups nonfat vanilla frozen yogurt, slightly softened and divided
• 1 1/3 cups hulled strawberries
• 2 cups chilled club soda

Directions:

1. Blend 1 1/2 cups frozen yogurt and strawberries in a blender. Divide between 2 tall glasses and add 1 cup chilled club soda to each glass. Top each with 1/4 cup nonfat vanilla frozen yogurt.

Recipe Nutrition:

Per Serving:

191 calories; 0 g fat (0 g saturated fat, 0 g mono unsaturated fat); 1 mg cholesterol; 43 g carbohydrates; 7 g protein; 2 g fiber; 81 mg sodium; 387 mg potassium

Vanilla Dream Float

Servings: 4

Cool down on a hot day with a big mug of this refreshing “Vanilla Dream Float.” Regular root beer floats won’t compare to this little piece of heaven, which uses cookie dough ice cream instead of regular old vanilla. Be sure to purchase amber-shaded cream soda so that the color contrasts from the ice cream.

ingredients:

• 1 1/2 pints cookie dough ice cream
• 2 cups cream soda

Directions:

1. Place 2 large scoops of ice cream in the bottom of each of four 8-ounce glasses. Fill each glass with cream soda. Makes 4 servings.