Irish Soda Bread

Kinda, sorta, baaa-aack.  Don’t worry, we’re still being super frugal.  So frugal, in fact, that in an attempt to get rid of some starting-to-get sour milk, I made some of this beautiful Irish soda bread.  The recipe is super easy and if you have milk that is just beginning to turn (please DO NOT use curdled or rancid milk), use it instead of buttermilk!  This bread is best day-of and the next day – it doesn’t keep too well, so eat up or tightly wrap and freeze a loaf or give one to a friend!  Delicious with cheddar cheese, sweet butter, soups and just about anything.

I adapted this recipe from Epicurious – the original recipe can be found here.

Irish Soda Bread

Ingredients:

• 4 cups all-purpose flour OR 2 cups all-purpose and 2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon bakin soda
• 1 cup golden raisins, soaked (if you have time, do this overnight, if not, just start when you decide to bake) in a mixture of half hot water and half bourbon (or just all water)
• 2 cups just-about-to-turn milk or buttermilk or homemade sour milk (2 tablespoons vinegar + 2 cups milk)

To Do:

1. Mix together the dry ingredients.  Strain raisins, pat dry a bit, and stir those in too.
2. Add milk and stir until the dough forms.
3. Turn dough on a well-floured surface and knead with your hands or use your dough hook on a stand mixer to mix for a minute or too.
4. Half the dough and with floured hands shape each bit into a ball and smush down.
5. Transfer bread to a lightly greased baking sheet and cut an X on the top of each loaf.
6. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until a tester comes out clean.  Place on racks to cool.  Slice and enjoy!

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