Irish Goody Recipe
One of the things I love doing on this blog from time to time is resurrecting an old recipe. I’m not talking about an old recipe from my archives, I’m talking about an old recipe that goes back, sometimes hundreds of years. Those recipes that are disappearing and being replaced by modern, from-the-box recipes that look so good in those pretty, pretty pictures. You know what I’m talking about. The ones that make cardboard look like pure caramel.
So today I wanted to post about the Irish Goody. It’s fading from existence, even in Irish kitchens! It’s a fantastic way to use up some bread before it goes bad or stale and makes for a wonderful dessert, particularly for the kiddos.
One of the memories that I often think back on is the trip I took to Ireland with Mini Chef and my mom. The funny thing is, I had always heard that Irish food isn’t very good. Even Irish people told me that! But I have to say, everything I ate there was just dreamy. I pretty much ate my way through Ireland and loved every crumb and morsel (except for that blood sausage stuff served with a traditional Irish breakfast. Ya, except that.)
I saw this recipe mentioned in a forum. Not the recipe itself so much as people hoping to find a good recipe. The description is below. This was really wonderful comfort food. In fact, it was so good I had to give it away so I wouldn’t eat any more of it. My in laws were pretty happy with it!
“The Irish Goody is a very old recipe dating back to the 18th century and before. It was usually served on St. John’s Eve (June 23rd) and is basically a soggy mess of bread, milk, spices and sweetener.”(1)
There is no traditionally specific recipe for it. It was something that was thrown together with the spices on hand. So I stayed true to form but added a little seasonal flavor to it with pumpkin pie spice. But you could get pretty creative if you have a good spice cabinet. I’m thinking sesame, chia or caraway seeds would be wonderful here as well. But no matter what you have on hand, it’s a delicious, soggy mess of a dessert that is fast to put together and comforts many a belly around the dessert table.
This has roughly the texture of cooked oatmeal when it’s done. I’m sure it’s possible that some people only cooked it enough to get the bread soggy so that the bread holds it’s form and it’s more like a bread pudding. But I just felt it was more of a “comfort food” if it more closely resembled oatmeal. So I cooked it a little longer and that’s exactly what I got! Yum!!!
YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY THESE CLEAN EATING RECIPES:
IRISH GOODY RECIPE:
Irish Goody
Ingredients
- 6 slices whole grain bread
- 3 cups milk (any kind, unsweetened)
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (no sugar added – see link above)
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a medium pot and bring milk to a boil.
- Continue cooking and stirring until you have something that resembles oatmeal. (about 10 minutes, give or take)
- Cool slightly and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
We used to eat milk toast when we were kids a long time ago, buttered toast with warm milk on it. I like your recipe with the spices and honey and more like oatmeal. This would be easy to make only half a recipe. Amazing what good food you can make with simple ingredients. Thanks Tiffany
Joyce – Ya, it’s a great way to use up bread before it goes bad! I have a feeling that’s one of the reasons this recipe came into being in the first place. Recipes had more “purpose” back then. I’m so happy you liked it and thanks for the feedback! 🙂
My mother, who was born in 1912, used to eat bread with milk and sugar. I thought it was not appealing in those days….Our family tree is Irish , Scottish, English on her side. Have to think this was a version passed on. So interesting, Thanks. Yours looks much better, I have always loved bread pudding as well. Will try.
Jillian – Great! I hope you enjoy it! I just love these old recipes. I think it’s important to try and keep them alive. 🙂
Actually, Goody was given to weaning babies between 4-6 months made with,
Sugar or Honey
Bread.
Hot milk.
All mashed up to a pulp, given to millions of Irish babies in the past, as their first taste and introduction to semisolid food.
Patti – That’s great to know! Thank you!
Yes that was true ! Weaning babies and young children were fed tea goodie probably in my Grandmas day in Ireland 🙂
My Dad used to eat goody when he was a small child, he grew up in the late 40’s early 50’s in Dublin. Milk was delivered in those days to houses where people who worked in Grangegorman Psychiatric Hospital now a university lived! His Dad worked in Grangegorman and milk was delivered locally to staff by horse and cart!
Anne – What a wonderful story! Thank you so much for sharing that! 😀
Glad you enjoyed Tiffany and going to make with your recipe 😀
Anne – Great! Let me know how you like it!