Irish Soda Bread
Ingredients
4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ cup butter
1 2/3 cups raisins
1 1/3 cup buttermilk
1 egg unbeaten
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 egg yolk
Method
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 2-quart casserole dish.
In large bowl sift flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Cut in butter. (I use a box grated to grate in the cold butter.) Rub butter into flour with fingertips until a coarse meal forms. Stir in raisins. In a separate bowl combine buttermilk, egg, and baking soda. Stir into flour mixture until just moistened. Turn mixture onto lightly floured surface. Knead lightly and shape into a ball. Place in greased casserole dish. Brush with beaten egg yolk. Bake 1 hour or until done and a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove from pan to wire rack to cool completely before slicing.