I made it pretty much exactly as the recipe said. Don't leave out the raisins, they are a must! They add to the moisture and flavor. This recipe makes one good-sized loaf.
Ingredients
4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
1/4 cup corn oil
1 cup raisins
Directions
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet, or line with parchment paper.
2.In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, whisk together eggs, buttermilk, and corn oil. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture, and pour in the buttermilk mixture. Add the raisins, and stir a few times, just until the ingredients come together into a soft dough. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface, and with floured hands shape dough into a ball. Place the dough on the prepared baking sheet, and cut a large cross in the top with a sharp knife.
3.Place the bread on a middle rack of the preheated oven, and bake until golden brown, 30 to 40 minutes.
This pulled together in 10 minutes and was honestly sooo good. Luickly I made two loaves as everyone had their fill and then asked to take some home. In the end I had no leftovers. :)
Sidenote: If you want to make a nice authentic Irish meal, I served this bread with a thick, hearty country stew using cabbage, parsnips, carrots, onions, leeks and bacon, of course. On the side I also served imported Irish cheddar, which was a divine addition!
The rest of the feast:
