. . . lucky soda bread

With St. Patrick's day just around the corner it seemed like the perfect time. . .

. . . to make a little. . .

. . . luck. . .

. . . of our own.   While closer to a "Spotted Dog" (because of the raisins) than a traditional Irish Soda Bread, this quick and easy morning bread has just enough sweetness and salt to make it irresistible, especially when served warm with a pad of butter.

Luck Soda Bread

Adapted from this recipe.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 4 tablespoons cold butter (cubed)
• 4 tablespoons honey
• 1 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 cup raisins (chopped) or currents, dusted in flour
• 1 tablespoon melted butter (for brushing on the loaves)

 

Preheat oven to 375.

In a large bowl combine flour, baking soda, and salt.  Mix until well incorporated.  Add the butter and mix until evenly incorporated.  You can do this with an electric mixer, a pastry knife, or you could break up the butter with your fingers.

In a separate bowl mix the egg, buttermilk, lemon zest and honey.  If you do not have buttermilk, simply mix lemon juice or white vinegar into regular milk and let sit for 5-10 minutes (1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar per cup of milk).

Pour your wet ingredients into your dry ingredients and mix until just combined.  Gently fold in the raisins or currents. 

On a generously floured surface, form the dough into a ball and cut it into four equal pieces. Form each piece into a ball and place them on a parchment lined baking sheet in a circle (so they look like clover leaves).  Press out the center of each ball so that they all meet in the middle. With a knife, slice into each "leaf" once from the center outward. Brush the tops with melted butter and bake for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick or bamboo skewer comes out clean when inserted in the center.

Remove from the oven and cool on a rack.  Serve warm with butter and a bit of honey.  You can slice it or simply break off a leaf and share it.

 

With the Kids: Invite the kids to help you mix the dough and break up the butter by hand. Ask them to help you form the four leaf clover shape. Learn a little about the history of traditional Irish Soda Bread Pack up the bread and head out to look for four leaf clovers in the park, or if they haven't peeped out from under the snow yet, make your own luck and draw or paint a four leaf clover!

 

 ~ Sarah

*Last time in Recipes: Cumulus Cloud Cookies