Happy St. Patrick's Day: Irish Soda Bread

There are so many soda bread haters out there! I couldn't even give a slice away to my friends and neighbors this weekend! They all said "ew, I hate that dry, bland stuff". Well, I think I may have changed their minds! (most of them, anyway).

Though my mother in law is not Irish at all, she makes a mean Irish Soda Bread (recipe from her Irish best friend, Mrs. Dale).

I always use her recipe, but for some reason, hers comes out better than mine.
It may be the pans she uses, ovens vary in temperature, or just more experienced hands with many more loaves baked!

I only make this once a year. One loaf to keep, one to give away (which wasn't easy).

Have a happy St. Patrick's Day!

Shirley's Irish Soda Bread: makes 2 round loaves

4 cups flour
1 cup sugar
2 tsp salt
5 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda

2 tbsp caraway seeds (optional....I like them, no one else does!)

1/2 box raisins
2/3 stick of butter
2 cups buttermilk (she uses skim milk and adds 4 tsp of fresh lemon juice instead)
turbinado sugar for sprinkling on the top (optional)

Stir the dry ingredients with a whisk.

Add butter and work it in w/ your hands, cutting it into the flour mixture.



Add raisins.

Add milk, stir, mixture will be wet.



Divide batter into two lumps. Add to two greased and floured casseroles (1 - 1.5 quart size).



Score with a wet knife and make a cross on top of each dough round.
Sprinkle with a little flour.

Bake at 375 for 40-45 minutes.



Better the next day, and even better 2 days later toasted with butter!



Enjoy!