Hallowe'en traditional cooking: Barm Brack
Well, it's that spooky time of year again and the shops are choc-a-bloc with orange pumpkins with scary drawn on faces. Is it me or does it seem more commercialised each year? Grumble, grumble - mutterings of "in my day...".
But seriously, it's strange how americanised Hallowe'en has become here in Britain, all "Trick or Treat" and carved pumpkins, especially strange since the source of the american Hallowe'en activities originated from this side of 'The Pond'. The Irish have always celebrated Hallowe'en right back to when it was known as Samhain, a celtic feast to celebrate the end of summer.
This time last year I reminisced in a post about my childhood Hallowe'ens when I wrote about some of the traditional foods and games we played on 'Oiche Samhna' (Hallowe'en Night). That post is here.
Being far too old and sensible I don't play the games anymore (at least when sober) but one thing I do still do is bake that wonderful fruit cake/bread, Barm Brack. The word 'barm' refers to yeast and 'brack' is derived from the gaelic 'braic' meaning speckled, referring to the dried fruit in the cake. I don't make the yeast version of Barm Brack - there are 2 versions, one with yeast and one without yeast strangely enough given its name - but I do make the second yeast-free version with baking powder and strong tea. Plus I add some good irish whiskey because... I like it.
The recipe below makes 2 Barm Bracks, I find one usually gets devoured on the day at work and the second lasts a week or so by taking a slice, smeared with good irish butter (no substitutes thank you) with a cup of Barry's Tea in the evening. Lovely. This is such a simple cake to make it's positively sinful. You have a few days to make it now, so no excuses. Better than an ol' pumpkin pie any day of the week!
And if you place all the traditional items in the cake that I listed last year it is a source of great amusement for all!
Barm Brack
Makes 2 x 16 cms cakes
Based on an old recipe by the great Theodora FitzGibbon with some 'tweaks' by me!
300 grams mixed fruit
(currants, sultanas, mixed peel - I'm a mixed peel lover)
300 grams sultanas
300 grams brown sugar
(I like to use a mix of soft and dark brown sugars)
480 mls strong tea (no milk, remember!)
lemon zest (about half a lemon)
2 tablespoons whiskey
300 grams plain flour
2 eggs, beaten
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp mixed spice
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 toy rings covered in greaseproof paper
(if you have no ring a 5p coin is a good substitute!)
Method:
Soak the fruit and sugar overnight in the tea with the whiskey and the lemon zest
.The next day add the flour, eggs, baking powder, mixed spice and lemon juice.
Divide the mixture between 2 x 16 cms tins. Insert the covered rings deep into the mixture and bake for 1.5 hours at 160C.
Take out and brush the tops with warmed honey as a glaze. Cool.
Slice carefully and spread with butter (this can hide any sign of the hidden ring).
She/he who finds the ring is assured of love for the next year or if you include hidden money you're assured of wealth! Yes, please.