Long live the color pink and Dartmouth Street

 October is Breast Cancer awareness month. Everyone's lives have been touched in some way by knowing someone that has had Breast Cancer or by hearing on the news about a celebrity going through treatment.

My good friend and neighbor Peggy passed away from Breast Cancer about two weeks ago. She had her first case of Breast Cancer nineteen years ago. Everyone on Dartmouth Street was so upset for her and of course it was so difficult for her family, her husband Frank and her two sons Chris and Mike. 

Peggy was a nurse. She would always look after the children's bumps and bruises on the block. Her response was always "You will be fine!". Peggy was very witty and always put a smile on everyone's face. I will miss her very much.

Dartmouth street was a wonderful place for our children to grow up. It was the '80s when children played outside and played pretend school or house. They would also put on mini plays. No play dates- just knocked on each other's doors and would walk in, as if a member of the family.

All the families including Peggy's would interchange houses to make dinner for the neighborhood kids. We had multiple block parties, birthdays, communions and graduation parties all on our block and  backyards. We would celebrate every milestone together or just a impromptu barbecue.

All the children on the block are now all grown up and are creating families of their own. We shared many memories and milestones that we can recall to this day. No matter how far away we might be, we will always know Dartmouth Street to be a source of welcoming and home when we return.

As for my late friend and "family member", I would like to contribute some of my profits to Breast Cancer research organizations such as Susan G. Komen for the Cure, which Peggy was a proud supporter of. I will also be creating a new recipe, a gluten free Irish soda bread, in honor of the friendly, witty Irish woman I had the pleasure of knowing.

 Irish Soda Bread (Gluten free)
Makes 1 Loaf, 20 mins prep time, 50 mins bake time

3 cups gluten free all purpose flour blend (I use Namaste)
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup raisins 
2 tablespoons honey or agave nectar 
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup ghee
1 cup almond milk combined with 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar
1 egg beaten

Blend flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, honey, coconut oil and ghee with pastry blender unlike it looks like cornmeal. Add raisins and mix. Blend in beaten egg and almond milk mixture just until mixed. Form in a round loaf and place in a 10" round glass pie dish greased with coconut oil or ghee. Brush a little coconut oil or ghee on the top of the loaf. Make an x shaped slit in the uncooked loaf with a knife. Cook at 375 degrees for 50 minutes or until golden brown. Serve and enjoy!