I have been lurking in the Wot RoTT Exchange and have hesitated joining the banter because I am not in the exchange. I guess I might have entered in at some point along the way because I am getting the notices of posts. I think I should be permitted to join for the recipes. I also have been thinking of how American's Celebrating St. Patrick's Day is percieved by the Irish. When I was a little girl my mother always helped me find something green to wear, if only a ribbon for my hair. In school the teachers would take the opportunity to teach us something about Ireland - geography, customs, or stories about Ireland. We'd make shamrocks. It's the media that focuses on the wild partying and I am not denying that does occur. But perhaps the reason we tend to want to wear green is that some of us have roots there and the others of us want to celebrate the diversity that we are. My ancestors came from Germany, Scotland and Ireland so long ago that I do not know who they were or any specifics other than nationality. St. Patrick's Day for some of us is more than just a good excuse for partying, although I must say, a bit of the partying is just dandy.

Terri, the best tea for this is black tea or English Breakfast Tea. Bren just made one using Earl Grey and said that it was good too. I prefer black tea though. You can use any fruit combo you like too. Also, I tried it using Rosemary's method of boiling the fruit in the tea for 1/2 hour rather than overnight and that worked great too. Although, I just brought it to the boil and then left the pot on the range rather than actually boil the fruit. That worked a treat. Hope you enjoy it.

It's obvious that us quilters love to eat in between quilting! I just found the famed "Barm Brack' on pg 8 or 82. I think I will try it. Which kind of tea is the best to saok the fruit in? I have all sosts of tea. - In fact, a whole cupboard dedicated allthings things tea. People know we like tea and every gift, whether hospitality, birthday, Christmas seems to be somethng tea related. A friend of mine recently visited Sri Lanka and a tea plantation, and brought us back a big package of first cut tea! OH! mY! ..I will dring that, if you please, not use it to soak the fruit.

I just got word about these stolen quilts so everyone who is looking at quilts keep your eye out for these

http://karencombs.wordpress.com/2012/03/18/quilts-stolen/

romira wrote:
Thanks! I agree with you Romira.

I just watched a show with Laura Nownes (710) and there is a spools quilt at about 40mins in.

Happy Mothering Day to all our friends not in the USA!! Have a happy quilting day!! Nancy

To answer your question Rita, I use 100% WW flour from a company called Bob's Red Mill. It's located in the Portland, Oregon area
and features high quality grains and other products . See at http://www.bobsredmill.com The difference is the flour is very finely ground and is made from SOFT white wheat whereas all purpose and bread flour is made mostly from white or red HARD wheat. Big difference in
protein and gluten. Many other companies produce similar products. I'm glad to say we are seeing more in the market here now...
as good ol' white is not so healthy. Love to make bread but not many cakes and cookies these days ! Happy Mothering Day !
Snowing here again today...but not "sticking" at our elevation ! Thank God ! I'm ready for spring !

Happy Mothering Day to all of you in the UK, Ireland and any other place that celebrates today! We celebrate in May.

Marilyn your tea brack looks delicious. Is your wholewheat pastry flour 100% wholewheat or is it a mixture? It looks great. I will have to try that too. DH was waxing lyrical about the tea brack again this morning as he cut himself another couple of slices. This brack is not going to last long! It's Mothering Sunday here in Ireland too. I get to sit and watch all the TQS shows I want today - that's my present from the family.

Oh... and Happy Mother's Day to all of our UK mums. Being a US mom in the UK, I am just going to celebrate it twice this year! My DH gave me two lovely blue hydrangeas.

Lorna

Rita, thanks for the idea for the rhubarb fool. We made it for Friday night's book club and it was a big hit with everyone. Now on to try some of teh other yummy recipes that have popped up on this forum since then.

We went sightseeing in London yesterday, but today I plan on getting some sewing done in honor of Quilting Day.

Lorna

Just couldn't resist trying out Rita's recipe ! With changes to match what was in my pantry, of course !
I mixed up spice mixture that Bren suggested..very good ! I had dried peaches and used them with golden raisons
and a little pinch of cranberrys. And, Rita..I use whole wheat pastry flour all the time...the brack turned out just
great. I will certainly try it again with a different combo of fruit. I honored the Irish roots in my family tree today with
a great meal of braised beef and vegs, cabbage and potatoes followed with a wee toast from the jug for desert ! And
I thank TQS for for providing this place where I meet the most amazing folks !! I wish you all could come for tea !
Looking forward to rhubarb time ...have my own in the garden...too early!

Reetzbobeetz wrote:
Looks so good, I wish we could get those really cool parchment paper liners... That would be better than on the roll like we have...It looks like a giant cup cake holder! LOL