Foodie Friday: Irish Soda Bread

St. Patrick's Day is just five days away and before it is too late, I wanted to share a great Irish Soda Bread recipe straight from the Irish Isle!

So what's the deal with the giant X on Irish Soda Bread? The cross is said to scare away the evil spirits.

Irish Soda Bread
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups flour
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
3/4 cup rolled oats
1 Tbsp. and 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. sugar
2 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1 3/4 cups buttermilk
6 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted and cooled

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, combine both flours, oats, baking powder, sugar, salt, and baking soda. Add the buttermilk and butter. Stir until dough is combined. Turn dough out onto floured surface and knead until soft and elastic. Shape into a round loaf and place on baking sheet. With a knife, slash an X into top of bread. Bake for one hour or until the bread is golden brown and the bottom sounds hollow when tapped. Let the bread cool completely.

If you are a person who likes quick and easy, here is another recipe. My mom used to make this when we had potato soup. We called it Irish Flat Bread in our house.

Irish Flat Bread
Ingredients:
1 cup Bisquick
1/4 cup water
2 tsp. butter
1 Tbsp. Sesame Seeds

Mix the Bisquick and water. Grease a cookie sheet. Pat the bread in a circle on the sheet. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake for 8-10 minutes at 400 degrees.

However you choose to prepare your food, complex or simple, it is a great way to discover other cultures!

Your Irish Girlfriend,
Melinda