I just made this last night. It was my first time making Irish Soda Bread, and it was delicious!
INGREDIENTS:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar (I used Whey Low)
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 Tbsp caraway seeds, optional (I used them)
1 cup raisins or currants (I used currants)
1 cup buttermilk (I used homemade)
1 egg
DIRECTIONS:
Set a rack in the middle level of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees. (I lined baking sheet with parchment paper).
In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, soda and salt and stir well to mix.
Add the butter and rub in until the butter disappears into the dry ingredients.
Stir in the caraway seeds if used and the raisins. (or currants).
In a small bowl, whisk the buttermilk and egg together and mix into the dough mixture with a rubber spatula.
Turn the dough out on a floured work surface (I used a well-floured silpat), and fold it over on itself several times, shaping it into a round loaf. (I used well-floured hands). Transfer the loaf to one cookie sheet or jelly roll pan covered with parchment or foil and cut a cross in the top.
Bake for 15 -20 minutes, then reduce heat to 350 F and cook for about 15 to 20 minutes more, until well colored and a toothpick plunged into the center emerges clean. (I baked about 20 minutes, then reduced the heat and baked another 18-20 minutes).
Cool the soda bread on a rack and serve with plenty of sweet butter and bitter orange marmalade.
Makes one large loaf.
By Marilyn O' Reilly
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/mari ... index.html
