Irish Soda Bread

Prep time: 10 minutes          Bake time: 40 minutes          Total time: 50 minutes

About:

I am of Irish descent, and I suppose one night I felt like paying homage to my ancestors. It may not win a beauty contest, but this Irish Soda Bread is filling and tastes great (especially when drizzled with honey). It calls for very few ingredients and serves as a great side to any meal, especially soups. I served this with roasted potatoes and pinto beans (one of my favorite meals). So if you like a good, hearty, rustic bread, give this recipe a chance.

Ingredients:

Non-stick cooking spray

4 cups flour

1  1/8 teaspoon baking soda

1  1/4 teaspoon salt

1  1/2 cup milk

1  1/4 tablespoon vinegar

Note: You may use buttermilk instead of combining milk and vinegar; it would make things easier, but I never have buttermilk on hand so I use a substitute. I can’t tell a difference.

Preparation:

1. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. While the oven is heating up, start by pouring the milk into a bowl and stirring in the vinegar. Stir well and let this sit for at least 5 minutes.
2. While the milk is sitting, combine the flour, salt, and baking soda into a large mixing bowl.
3. Once the milk has been sitting for about 5 minutes, stir the milk and vinegar mixture into the mixing bowl with the dry ingredients. You may use a mixer, but I just use a good wooden spoon to stir everything together until it is blended.
4. Once the oven has preheated, spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray. Remove the dough from the mixing bowl and form it into a large ball. Flatten it a little, but not too much. You don’t want flat bread, you still want a nice, rounded shape. Once you have shaped it, cut a cross into the top of the dough.
5. Place into the oven and bake for 40 minutes.
6. Remove from the oven, serve, and enjoy!