I think everyone can agree, that when it comes to holidays, there's a bit of a hierarchy. Some differences are obvious, for example Thanksgiving and National Peanut Day, but even some more commonly known holidays are revered on different levels. For many, St. Patrick's Day is simply a time wear green, maybe drink a Guinness, and celebrate their Irish heritage (or in many cases...pretend they have Irish heritage). However, in our family, St. Patrick's Day stands above most holidays. Its a time to gather around the table with family and share a meal, and enjoy being with ones we love. (It's almost like a springtime Thanksgiving...). My mother (who doesn't eat meat) prepares a boiled dinner that most of the family gets excited about, but everyone looks forward to my Mom's freshly baked Irish Soda Bread; one loaf is never enough! So, in honor of the upcoming holiday, we figured we share one of the highlights of our holiday dinner!
What you'll need:
- 4 cups flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 cups buttermilk
- ¾ cups raisins
How you'll do it:
- Preheat the oven to 375F. Grease a baking sheet or an 8-inch round cake pan.
- In a large mixing bowl, stir and toss together the flour, salt, baking soda and raisins.
- Add the buttermilk and stir briskly with a fork until the dough holds together in a rough mass.
- Knead on a lightly floured surface for about 30 seconds, then pat into a 8-inch round about 1 ½ inches thick. With a sharp knife, slash a large ¼ inch-deep X across the top.
- Place the formed dough on the prepared baking sheet or cake pan and bake for about 45-50 minutes, until it is nicely browned and the X has spread open.
- Transfer to a rack and cook, then wrap in a slightly damp towel and let rest, on the rack, until cooled.
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