Irish Soda Bread

Today, Ashton is doing a breakfast theme and one of her planned dishes is an authentic Irish soda bread.

Irish Soda Bread

Ingredients:

• 4 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 3/4 cups buttermilk

• Optional: 1/2 cup raisins or currants

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (218°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. If using raisins or currants, mix them in at this point.

3. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the buttermilk.

4. Stir the mixture together with a wooden spoon until it forms a sticky dough. It should be moist but not too wet.

5. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead it briefly (for about 1-2 minutes) until it becomes smooth.

6. Form the dough into a round loaf and place it on the prepared baking sheet.

7. Cut a cross into the top of the dough with a sharp knife, about 1/2 inch deep. This will help the bread to cook evenly and release steam.

8. Bake the bread for 30-40 minutes, or until it is golden brown on top and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.

9. Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack before slicing and serving.

Notes:

* If you don't have buttermilk, you can make a substitute by mixing 1 3/4 cups of milk with 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice. Let the mixture sit for 5-10 minutes until it thickens and curdles before using.

* Traditional Irish soda bread is made with only flour, baking soda, salt, and buttermilk, but you can add raisins or currants for a sweeter version.

* This bread is best eaten on the day it is made, but leftovers can be toasted or used to make sandwiches.