Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Who said Irish food had to be bland?


In honor of St. Patrick's Day I baked an Irish soda bread from Barefoot Contessa At Home. Ina Garten is my absolute favorite cookbook author. Her recipes are simple, fun and so delicious. I have all six of her cookbooks and have enjoyed every recipe I have tried. Mr. T and Miss L nibbled on slices of this bread all day today. Here is the recipe:


4 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for the currants

4 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 inch dice

1 3/4 cup cold buttermilk, shaken

1 extra-large egg, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon grated orange zest

1 cup dried currants


Preheat oven to 375. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.


Combine the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Add the butter and mix on low speed until the butter is mixed into the flour. With a fork, lightly beat the buttermilk, egg and orange zest together in a measuring cup. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture. Combine the currants with 1 tablespoon of flour and mix into the dough.


Dump the dough onto a well-floured board and knead it a few times into a round loaf. Place the loaf on the prepared sheet pan and lightly cut an X into the top of the bread with a serrated knife. Bake for 50 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool on a baking rack.

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