Even with one day to go til St. Patrick’s Day, you’ve got PLENTY of time to gather together the ingredients for the following two recipes.

The first is simply, beautifully traditional. No eggs, no raisins, no sugar. Just plain soda bread, pure and simple.

The second recipe is admittedly unconventional — but it IS festive! Think of this prosecco cocktail as quaffable tribute to all those Irish-Italian unions out there (my own included). It’s for the non-beer drinkers in your crowd.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all! (Recipes after the jump.)

Real Irish Soda Bread
(from: The Society for the Preservation of Irish Soda Bread)

Ingredients
4 cups (16 oz) of all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
14 oz. of buttermilk

Instructions
Preheat the oven to 425°. Lightly grease and flour a cake pan.

In a large bowl sieve and combine all the dry ingredients. Add the buttermilk to form a sticky dough. Place on floured surface and lightly knead (too much allows the gas to escape). Shape into a round flat shape in a round cake pan and cut a cross in the top of the dough.

Cover the pan with another pan and bake for 30 minutes (this simulates the bastible pot). Remove cover and bake for an additional 15 minutes. The bottom of the bread will have a hollow sound when tapped so show it is done.

Cover the bread in a tea towel and lightly sprinkle water on the cloth to keep the bread moist.

St. Patrick’s Prosecco
(courtesy of Mionetto Prosecco)

Ingredients
1 fresh kiwi fruit
¾ oz vodka
1/4 oz lime juice
1/4 oz sugar syrup
prosecco

Directions
Cut open a ripe kiwi and scoop out the flesh into the base of the shaker. Muddle for a bit before adding the next 3 ingredients. Shake with ice for a few seconds. Fine strain into a chilled flute glass. Top up with prosecco. Add a kiwi slice on the rim of the glass to garnish.

If you’re looking for more St. Paddy’s-themed recipes, hop over to how2heroes.com. They have loads!