Irish Soda Bread

QUESTIONNAIRE:

Have you ever chosen a particular restaurant just because they serve great bread on the table?

Have you ever ordered mussels just to be able to dip large amounts of bread into the broth?

Do you have a loaf of bread on your counter right now that costs more than you would like to admit?

Have you ever chosen a sandwich at a deli based soley on what bread it came on?

If you answered yes to these questions you may be...a BREAD-AHOLIC.

And you maaaaaaaay love bread as much as I do. Though loving bread as much as I do is a hard and possibly unobtainable goal.

I know, I know, you're disappointed, but only one of us can be the bread queen. And considering I’m pretty sure 80% of my body is made of bread, I have to say I win that title.

As much as I love bread, and as simple as some recipes will tell you it is to make, making your own bread can easily go terribly, terribly wrong (BELIEVE ME!).

This is exactly why when I have a hankering for some fresh bread, I love QUICK BREADS!

You see, they are...well...QUICK!! No rising, no kneeding, just GREAT BREAD...QUICK!! And the quicker I am eating this bread, the better it is for not only me, but everyone around me ;)

RECIPE:

4 cups all-purpose flour

4 tablespoons white sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup margarine, softened

1 cup buttermilk

1 egg

Wash:

1/4 cup butter, melted

1/4 cup buttermilk

         

        Preheat oven to 375 degrees and lightly grease a large baking sheet. In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and margarine. Stir in the buttermilk and egg and mix till just combined. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead slightly. Form dough into a round and place on the prepared baking sheet. In a small bowl, combine the ¼ cup melted butter with the ¼ cup buttermilk and brush the loaf with this mixture. Use a sharp knife to cut an 'X' into the top of the loaf and bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.  During the baking process brush the loaf with the butter and buttermilk wash at least once.

NOTES:

• The buttermilk wash will burn if it gets on your pan so try to not let it drip too much over the sides of your bread.
• You can brush with the buttermilk as often as you wish just make sure you give it at least 10minutes with no extra brushing of the wash at the end of the baking to allow the top to brown completely.
• It is supposed to be a little chunky and not overly smooth so don’t over knead it. 

You might also like these recipes:

• Roasted Garlic
• Appetizer Cups
• Irish Soda Bread
• Cookie Dough Truffles
• Brocolli Tacos