My thanks to everyone who participated in my blog tour last month for Quest of a Warrior. And the winner is....

Congratulations, Mary McLarty!

Please send an email with your mailing address to: moirarose415@yahoo.com

Happy Lughnasa--first day of August! Lughnasa is Irish Gaelic and means "the násad (games or assembly) of the Celtic hero, Lugh. This day was also considered the first day of harvest. Lughnasa is also called Lammas, from the Anglo-Saxon hlaef-mass, meaning "loafmass." In the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle of 921 A.D., it states as "the feast of first fruits." It marked the first harvest, when the grain was gathered, ground, and baked into a loaf.

If you are able, spend some time outdoors, notice the shifting of the sun. In the Celtic wheel of the year, Lughnasa is also the first day of autumn. Though the tempts will be over 100 degrees in my part of the country today, I can long for the cool autumn breezes that will follow in the coming months. Enjoy the recipe below! Sláinte

HONEY WHEAT BREAD

2 ½ cups wheat flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon cinnamon

½ cup honey

¼ cup vegetable oil

1 ½ cups buttermilk

½ cup chopped pecans, almonds, or walnuts (your choice)

1 tablespoon grated orange rind

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan. Mix all ingredients together, beating until blended. Pour into pan. Bake for 45 to 60 minutes. Turn out onto wire rack and cool.