Okay, so soda bread came long after Saint Patrick. Bicarbonate of soda arrived on the scene in the mid 1840's as a leavening agent and was used in Ireland to work with the wheat grown there. Whatever, who needs the details of St. Patrick anyway. This bread is to soak up all the beer in your belly on the biggest beer drinking day of the year. Spend your money on the brew and get thrifty on the bread by baking a loaf yourself.
INGREDIENTS
-- 3 C flour
-- 1 Tbspn baking powder
-- 1/3 C white sugar
--1 tspn salt
--1 tspn baking soda
--1 egg
--2 C buttermilk
-- 1/4 C butter, melted
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees
2. Grease a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan
3. Combine flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and baking soda in a large bowl
4. Combine egg and buttermilk together in a small bowl, whisk together
5. Add egg and buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture, mix just until moistened
6. Stir in melted butter
7. Pour into prepared pan
8. Bake for 1 hour or until top browns
9. Cool on a wire rack and then a towel
10. Wrap in foil overnight, for the very best flavor. When ready slice and serve
