October 15, 2004

Traditional Irish Halloween Foods

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The Barnbrack Cake is a traditional Halloween cake in Ireland. Each member of the family gets a slice of this fruit bread. Great interest is taken in the outcome as there is a piece of rag, a coin, a ring, a button, and a thimble in each cake. If you get the rag then your financial future is doubtful. If you get the coin then you can look forward to a prosperous year. Whoever gets the gold ring will be married within the year. The button, means that the boy finding it will remain a bachelor; and a thimble, that the girl will remain a spinster.

BARNBRACK
8 ozs sultanas
4 ozs currants
2 ozs mixed peel
1 oz. fresh yeast
3 oz. caster sugar
½ tsp. salt
1 tsp. mixed spice
1 lb. strong white flour
1 beaten egg
10 fluid ozs tepid milk

Mix yeast with one teaspoon of sugar and milk, add the rest of the warm milk, plus the egg. In another bowl, sieve flour, spice and salt together, rub in butter and add the fruit. Stir the yeast mixture into this and mix well. Turn this onto a floured surface and knead for ten minutes. Place in a greased bowl, cover with an oiled plastic bag and leave for one hour in a warm place. Divide the dough in half and knead for a few more minutes, then place each in a loaf tin and return to the warm place for a further hour. By this time the dough will be well risen. Bake for 35 minutes in an oven pre-heated to 200º C. If you wish, a glaze can be applied to the warm cake, by dissolving 2 tablespoons of sugar in 2 tablespoons of hot water.

Another favourite dish at Halloween was Tea Brack. This is a simpler recipe to make, as there is no yeast in it.

TEABRACK
8 ozs sultanas
8 oz. raisins
6 ozs brown sugar
2 tbsp. whiskey
10 fluid ozs strong black tea
2 beaten eggs
1 lb. self-raising flour
½ tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. mixed spice
½ tsp. nutmeg
Soak the spices in the tea and whiskey overnight. Next day simply add the remaining ingredients and mix well. Bake in a pre-heated oven, 160ºC for 1½ hours.