A Taste From Home: Basic Irish Soda Bread
March 2, 2010
- Image by citymama via Flickr
By Jean Gruber
Staff Writer
The celebration of St. Patrick’s Day here in Scranton is one to never be missed. The bagpipes roaring down Lackawanna Ave on Parade Day make the city and the people come alive. Excitement about life illuminates this city from early morning to…early the next morning. I am not the least bit Irish, in fact it probably looks more like I have the Italian flag written across my face, but that does not stop me from exploring the Irish cuisine. The recipe I’d like to share with you this month is Irish Soda Bread. The thought of baking bread terrifies me, but this is not a rise-knead-rise-knead-rest-proof kind of bread, in fact it is the complete opposite. Crispy crust with a light center, slightly sweet, and a perfect combination with some hm…Irish breakfast tea perhaps?
Basic Irish Soda Bread
4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
Three-quarters cup butter (1 and a half sticks)
Half teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup raisins or craisins
1 1/3 cups buttermilk
Directions:
Preheat oven: 350 degrees. Sift flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, then stir in sugar; cut in butter. Stir in buttermilk. Separate dough into two portions (use your hands) shaped like balls. Place them in small round cake plates or pie plates greased and floured. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Bread should be golden brown on the outside. While the bread is still warm from the oven spread some butter on top and sprinkle with granulated sugar. Enjoy!