Irish Soda Bread

Once again, my day seems to be filled with sitting around waiting for the phone to ring. Unfortunately, it has not been ringing much since January so it is possible this cushy job may be in danger. I need to take full advantage of it while I can. So today, in one more nod to St. Patrick I whipped up some Irish Soda Bread.  This bread is so easy and delicious!

Ingredients

5 cups all purpose flour

3/4 cup sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 stick unsalted butter

3 tablespoons caraway seeds

2 1/2 cups buttermilk

1 large egg beaten

(2 cups raisins optional)

Directions:

Oven at 350

1. Stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda

2. cut butter into small cubes and cut into flour mixture until grainy

3. Stir in seeds and raisins if using

4. Add buttermilk and egg to flour mix and stir until well moistened.

5. Shape into 2 loaves and place in well buttered pans (I used one pan and on baking sheet to try a round loaf..)

6. Bake for an hour, cool in pans for 5 min then move to rack

7. Eat lots of this to soak up all the booze you will be drinking.