Soda Bread

Well hello there! Sorry for the lack of posts - I haven't intentionally stopped blogging, I've just been busy visiting friends  interstate and as such I've had no access to my computer and there's been little time for cooking and pottering about with DIY projects. 

Anyway, tomorrow is St Patrick's Day and coming from a big Irish family we'll be celebrating with a traditional Irish stew, soda bread and a pint of Guinness or two! I usually make the bread and this year I decided to add some potato and rosemary to the top to spice things up a little. We've been so pleased with the result that we've already eaten one loaf so I'll be whipping another one up in the morning. This is another easy recipe and tastes so good spread with butter or dipped into soup, a casserole or stew. If you wish, leave out the potato and rosemary to make a more traditional bread that can be spread with butter, jam or honey.

4 cups plain flour

1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

1 teaspoon salt

600ml buttermilk

1 potato, halved and thinly sliced

Rosemary springs

Pre-heat oven to 190°C. Sift flour, bicarbonate of soda and salt into a bowl. Add the buttermilk and stir to bring the dough together. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead for 2 minutes or until smooth. Shape into a log and place on a lined baking tray. Slash the top of the dough with a sharp knife at 3cm intervals and insert the sliced potato and rosemary springs. Bake for 40 minutes or until golden. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.