Irish soda bread

[bif]

http://cookingwiththemark.blogspot.com

Ingredients
3 1/2 c unbleached white flour
1 level teaspoon salt
1 level teaspoon baking soda
14 ounces buttermilk

Directions
In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients. Make a crater in the middle and pour in the buttermilk. Mix with a fork until it's a solid lump. Then turn out onto a floured surface and work into a loaf. Don't overwork the dough and handle it as little as possible. Form into a round loaf and with a sharp knife, make a cross on the top of the loaf. Place on a greased cookie sheet and bake in a 475° oven for roughly 40 minutes until the loaf sounds hallow when the bottom is tapped. Let rest on a cookie rack for 5-10 minutes before slicing.

[Warpy]

1. Sprinkle a little cornmeal on the sheet for extra flavor and crunch

For fancy Irish bread. add 1T caraway seeds and 1/4 cup dried currants.

[raven mad]

2. Made 6 loaves on St. Pats............

the neighbors loved me! This is such an easy bread to make, and never fails to come out great. I love it with good butter; spouse wants local honey!