Irish Soda Bread

Ingredient List

4-4 1/2 C Flour

4 Tb. Honey

3/4 Tsp. Salt

1 Tsp. Baking Soda

4 Tb. Butter

1 Large Egg

1 3/4 C Buttermilk

1 C Raisins (optional)

Tomithy’s family is VERY Irish. They celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Big and Huge! Tom’s Great Grandparents actually came over on the Lusitania. (That is the sister ship to the Titanic) So When I say Tom’s family is VERY IRISH, I mean his Great Grandparents and his Grandfather were 100% Irish. So Irish cooking is very appreciated and loved in his family. Irish Soda Bread is something I usually make to help celebrate the Irish Tradition. Note- My hands get really messy when I make this bread, so I wasn’t able to get the pictures I normally do.

I first start with the dry ingredients and mix them together with a fork or whisk. I start with 4 cups of flour, salt, and baking soda. When they are fluffed together then I take the 4 Tb. butter and chop it up. Then I get my fingers in there and start breaking the butter down. I get it to the point where the butter is the size of small crumbs. If you choose to use raisins, after the butter is crumbled up, you can add them now.

Now I mix in the honey, butter milk and egg. I still use my hands to work the ingredients together. So this is where the pictures start missing. (Sorry) Just work the rest of the ingredients together. Try not to over mix or over knead. If you need to use the extra 1/2 cup of flour go ahead. You will be able to tell if the dough is really wet and sticky.

I use my cast iron skillet and grease it REALLY REALLY WELL! I form a circular lump of dough and place it in the middle. Then take a knife and cut an “x” into the top of the dough. Place it in a 400 degree oven and bake for about 35-45 minutes or until it is baked all the way through. If the dough starts getting too brown on top, cover the bread with a piece of foil.

Let the bread cool and enjoy with honey.