March Recipe - Irish Soda Bread

What else?!  Irish soda bread is not for everyone, but I acquired a taste for it when I lived in Ireland for a time.  With a generous dab of butter, it can’t be beat.  Following is a recipe I’ve used for a long time.  I gave some to an Irish friend of ours and was thrilled when she told me it was almost as good as her granny’s.  I hope you like it.

Sift together the following ingredients:
3 cups flour                              1 tsp. baking soda

¼ cup sugar                              ¼ tsp. cream of tartar

½  tsp. salt                                ½ tsp. baking powder

Add the remaining ingredients as described:
1/3 cup butter, cut in small bits
1 1/3  cups buttermilk
1/3 cup currants

Cut in butter with pastry blender until mixture resembles cornmeal.  Add buttermilk, stir just until moistened.  Mix in currants.  Shape into a ball and knead for about 15 seconds.  Place on lightly greased jelly roll pan or iron skillet.  Flatten and shape until dough is 6 or 7 inches in diameter and 1 ½ inches thick.  With a sharp knife, cut a cross on top, ¼ inch deep and about 5 inches long, to prevent cracking.  Bake for 45 – 50 minutes at 350 degrees.  It should sound hollow when lightly tapped.  Cool on wire rack.  Serve with butter.

Slainte!