Irish Soda Bread

Irish Soda Bread is a pretty standard recipe and always a fav in my family this type of year. The only way I can describe it is a cross between raisin bread and rye bread.

Ingredients:
4 cups presifted flour
2 Tbsp sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
4 Tbsp no salt butter
1 cup raisins and dried cherries
1 egg
2 cups buttermilk

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425°

In a large bowl combine flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda.

Add cold butter into flour mixture, then stir in raisins and cherries. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture. Add beaten egg and buttermilk and mix in with a wooden spoon until dough is too stiff to stir. Gently knead dough in the bowl just long enough to form a rough ball. You may need a little more flour if the dough is sticky. Remember don't over do on the flour or the bread will come out heavy. Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and shape into a round loaf.

Place dough into a large, lightly greased a baking sheet. Using a serrated knife, score top of dough about 1/2'' deep in an "X" shape. Bake for about 35 minutes or until bread is golden brown.