In case you didn’t realize, Saturday Sept 29 is Michaelmas (the feast of St. Michael). St. Michael is our family’s patron saint and we are all named Michael or Michelle (first, middle or confirmation name), so Saturday is a big day for us.Michaelmas has been an important holiday in the Church, especially in Ireland, Scotland and Wales (ah those wonderful Celts). Michaelmas was a holy day of obligation until the 18th century, and because of its proximity to the equinox marked the beginning of Fall.
Here is a traditional Michaelmas recipe I found at Fish Eaters that we will be making this Saturday and wanted to share with you. We wanted to give you a jump on getting ingredients, since the flours are not your typical mega-mart staples (we had to go to a organic health food store to get the barley and rye). This is Celtic in origin (of course the Irish and Scots argue about whose it is, but never mind that).
St. Michael’s Bannock
1 1/3 C. barley flour
1 1/3 C. oat meal
1 1/3 C. rye meal
1 C. flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 scant tsp baking soda
2 1/2-3 C. buttermilk
3 TBSP honey or brown sugar
2 eggs
1 C. cream
4 TBSP melted butterMix the barley flour, oat meal, and rye meal. Add flour and salt. Mix the soda and buttermilk (start with the 2 1/2 C) and then add to the dry mixture. Stir in honey. Turn out onto floured board and mix (as with all breads, don’t over-mix), adding more buttermilk if too dry, or more flour if too sticky).Divide dough in half, and roll each, on a floured board, into an 8″ circle (about 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch thick). While heating a lightly greased skillet, mix the eggs, cream, and melted butter. Spread onto one of the bannocks and place the bannock, egg-side down, in the skillet and cook til the egg-side is browned. Put the egg mixture on the top side, flip the bannock and cook ’til the second side is golden. Repeat this application of the egg wash and flipping and cooking until each side has been cooked three times. Do the same with the second bannock. Serve warm with butter and honey.
Have a happy Michaelmas on Saturday, and enjoy.
Saturday, be sure to wish a happy feast day to anyone you know named for St. Michael!
