BCH 1Irish soda bread scaled — Irish soda bread. Photo by Susan Sprague Diamond.

Pi and pie rarely meet, but the annual exception is Princeton’s Pi Day, set for March 14 and 15.

The combined celebration of Albert Einstein’s birthday (March 14) and pi (π), the transcendental number that begins with the digits 3.14 and is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to the diameter, began in 2009 in the United States. Adding pie to the celebration came later. It makes sense since most pies are circles and they also taste good.

Princeton’s celebration will include dessert pies as well as pizza pies; on both days there will be all-day pizza pie lunches available at the town’s pizza restaurants: Conte’s Pizza and Bar, D’Angelo Italian Market, Ivy Inn, Jules Thin Crust and Nomad Pizza. Those who dine in will receive a copy of a Self-Guided Einstein Tour Map.

Sweet pies will be available through all-day fundraisers at LiLLiPiEs bakery and the bent spoon ice cream parlor. A Pi Day and Einstein Birthday pub crawl is set for 5 p.m. on March 14. You must be at least 21 years old and can register at princetonmimi@gmail.com.

A pie-eating contest is set for 9 a.m., Saturday, March 15 at McCaffery’s Food Market at Princeton Shopping Center. Participation is limited to the first 40 people who show up.

If you notice pint-sized Einstein lookalikes in town on Saturday, they are participants in the Einstein Look-Alike Contest, which is set for 11 a.m. in the Princeton Library. Registration is $3.14 and can be made at princetontourcompany.com/tours/pi-day/. Additional events scheduled for both days include a Pi Recitation Contest, Dinky Train Rides with Einstein and a Hands-On Einstein Exploration Station. For more information see the tour company website.

Days to be Irish

St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Monday, but the parties start early in Princeton. The Alchemist & Barrister will be serving traditional Irish food and offer a corned beef carving station during its annual celebration starting at 5 p.m. March 15. There will be live music from the Irish folk band Langaroo.

In nearby Hamilton Township Killarney’s Publick House will begin its St. Patrick’s Day celebrations on Friday, March 14, with a special happy hour. The celebration continues through the weekend, culminating in an all-day party on Monday, St. Patrick’s Day, with live music, the DeNogla Irish Dancers at 3 p.m. and a DJ that night. Irish fare such as shepherd’s pie, corned beef and cabbage and fish and chips are always on the menu at Killarney’s, with specials offered for St. Patrick’s Day.

Across the river in Bucks County, the Dubliner on the Delaware in New Hope is as Irish as you can hope to be on this side of the pond. Irish food is part of the standard menu at the tavern, along with plenty of Irish music.

Saturday and Sunday are times to be Irish at the winery at Terhune Orchards. There will be Irish music from 1 to 4 p.m., soda bread and lots of wine.

An easy recipe

There is no simpler recipe to make for St. Patrick’s Day than Irish Soda Bread. Recipes abound and range from traditional ones from Emerald Isle to vegan and gluten free versions.

This one comes from the website theviewfromgreatisland.com and lets you dress up your bread with dried fruit.

Spotted Dog (Irish Soda Bread with Raisins)

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

1 cup oat flour

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 ½ cups buttermilk (possibly a little bit more)

1 large egg

1 cup mixed raisins and/or currants

Preheat oven to 425 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Whisk the flours, salt, soda, sugar and fruit together in a large mixing bowl. I actually use my stand mixer for ease.
Whisk the egg and buttermilk together in a separate bowl or cup.
Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the buttermilk/egg mixture. Gradually mix together, adding a bit more buttermilk if your dough seems too dry. The dough will have a very rough, shaggy texture to it.
Transfer the dough to a floured surface and briefly bring it together with floured hands. Form into a round disk, about 1 ½ to 2 inches thick.
Transfer to your baking sheet and cut a deep cross in the top with a sharp knife.
Put the pan in the oven and immediately turn the temperature down to 400 degrees. Bake for about 40 minutes, or until golden brown. It should sound hollow when you rap the bottom.
Let cool for a few minutes, but then enjoy it while still warm, with some good Irish butter, of course!
Spotted dog, like all soda bread, is best eaten the same day. But leftovers can be wrapped in plastic and kept on the counter for a couple of days. Spotted dog can also be frozen: let it cool completely before wrapping it in plastic, and then in foil, to prevent freezer burn.