Irish Soda Bread

What better way to spend this rainy Seattle day than inside baking.  Last night was my friends theme dinner and naturally the theme was St. Patricks Day.  I LOVE corned beef, cabbage and potatoes and look forward to this meal all year long.  But I also LOVE the Irish Soda Bread that my mom made growing up that goes along with the meal.  So after a busy day, I came home and whipped these two loaves up.  This is a very simple bread that takes just under an hour total to make.

First, put all the dry ingredients in the bowl and whisk together.  Add the butter in chunks and use a pastry cutter or two knives to cut the butter into little pea sizes.

Mix together the egg and buttermilk and and add along with the currents, to the dry ingredients.  Then take it to a floured surface to knead for 3 minutes.  Once the dough is no longer sticky, cut the dough in half.

Form them into two round loaves.  Cut a cross in the center.  If you want your bread to have a nice browned top, paint buttermilk over the top with a pastry brush.  Place in a preheated oven set to 375 and bake for 35-40 minutes.

 Enjoy!

Irish Soda Bread Recipe

Ingredients
4 cups flour
1 t. salt
1 T. baking powder
1 t. soda
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter
2 cups currents (or raisins)
1 egg
1 3/4 cup buttermilk