Irish Soda Bread
4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons caraway seeds
1/4 cup butter or margarine
2 cups raisins
1 1/3 cups buttermilk
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 egg yolk or 1 tablespoon cream
Preheat electric oven to 375°F. Grease a 2-quart casserole. Sift
flour with baking powder, sugar, and salt; add caraway seeds. Cut
in butter until mixture resembles coarse corn meal; add raisins.
Combine buttermilk, egg, and baking soda; stir into flour mixture until just
moistened.Turn dough onto lightly floured surface; knead lightly until just smooth;
shape into ball. Place in greased casserole. With a sharp knife, cut a cross
1/4-inch deep on top of loaf. Brush with egg yolk or cream.
Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until loaf sounds hollow when tapped.
Cool in casserole 10 minutes; remove and cool before slicing.
Recipe makes 1 loaf.
Source: Hawaiian Electric Company, Mar 2007 newsletter.