Arán Donn (Brown Bread), 30 x 30, Acrylic on canvas
We were treated to some warm, delicious home-baked Irish Brown Bread upon returning from a long, drizzly day of sight-seeing while visiting our good friends in Ireland a while ago. Topped with cream cheese and smoked salmon, or just plain butter, it’s quite a treat. I had to paint the recipe of “Arán Donn”, complete with locally-grown apples and the magpies you often see along the road. There’s an old superstition about the meanings behind the number of magpies you see together. Two is for Joy! Beannachtaí na féile Pádraig…Or, if you’re not up to speed on your Irish, Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Want to try it for yourself…here’s the recipe:
6 oz / 175g whole wheatl flour
2 oz / 50g plain white flour
2 oz / 50g steel cut oatmeal
1 oz / 25g wheatgerm
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 large egg
10 fl oz / 275ml buttermilk
mix dry stuff in big bowl
whisk egg in the buttermilk
mix dry and wet stuff
put into buttered bread tin
make a deep cross on top and prick the four corners to let the fairies out! (very important, I hear)
Bake in a pre-heated oven at 375F for 50-60mins
Let me know what you think!
PS: You can purchase prints of this piece here. Contact me directly to inquire about the original.
