{Tasty Tuesdays: Irish Soda Bread}

Hey, there! Just a quick note before getting into today's Irish edition of Tasty Tuesday ...

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Today's Tasty Tuesday has gone Irish in honor of this week's Saint Patrick's Day.

In all the time we lived in Ireland, I never tried my hand at making Soda Bread. I

decide to right that wrong today.


(Photo taken in Galway when David and I were there, 2006)

Traditional Irish soda bread is made with extremely basic ingredients. Soda Bread

purists would cringe at the idea of adding things like zest, whiskey, currants, sugar,

eggs, or other ingredients that are common in today's versions. But I say get with

the times, purists. These updated recipes look delicious.

David's Aunt Eileen gave me the recipe below. It's her Grandma Sullivan's. She was born

in Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan, Ireland. I'm honored to be able to make it and pass it

along to you. Not only is it cool to have a recipe carry on this way -- this bread is

wonderful. And as a bonus -- no kneading or rising time required.

Irish Soda Bread



Ingredients:

3 c. flour

3 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 heeping tsp. salt

1/4 c. sugar

1 1/2 c. buttermilk

2 eggs

3 Tbl. melted butter

1 c. raisins (dusted with flour to keep them from sticking together)

1 Tbsp. caraway seeds (optional)

Sift together flour, powder, soda, salt, and sugar.

Then, in a separate measuring cup, add buttermilk and eggs. Mix them together

with a fork. Add melted butter and combine that, too.

With electric mixer stirring the dry ingredients, slowly pour in the wet ones.

Put raisins (I used plump golden ones) in a bowl, sprinkle a bit of flour them and toss

so they're coated. (This will keep them from sticking together and clumping in the

dough.) Throw in raisins. Add caraway seed, if desired. (I did.)

Put dough into a greased 9-inch cake round. Cut an X into the top with a knife.

(As you can see, I didn't cut my X deeply enough. So, don't be scared. Get in

there and make your mark.) Bake at 350 for 75 minutes. (I only needed 60

minutes in my oven.)

You can see other Tasty Tuesday ideas here.