Commodore Cooking: Irish Soda Bread

Growing up, my mom would always make the traditional St. Patrick's Day meal of corned beef and cabbage. I quickly realized that duplicating this meal with ingredients from the markets was going to be impossible so I opted to prepare another St. Patrick's Day classic, soda bread. I have never before attempted soda bread but this recipe was fairly simple to prepare and makes for a great addition to your St. Patrick's Day meal. All ingredients may be purchased in Varsity Morgan. Based upon the calculated cost per serving of each ingredient, one loaf of soda bread will cost you $7.52 or $0.31 per slice. This does not include the cost of salt. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Irish Soda Bread

Yield: 24 slices
Total Cost: $7.52 (does not include cost of salt)

4 cups flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
4 tablespoons butter
1 cup raisins
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 3/4 cup buttermilk substitute (scant 1 3/4 cups milk and scant 2 tablespoons lemon juice)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Prepare buttermilk substitute by placing lemon juice in a measuring cup and adding milk until liquid reaches the 1 3/4 cup measurement. Let stand 5 minutes. Whisk together flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda in a large bowl. Cut in butter until coarse mixture forms. Add in raisins.

Make a well in center of flour mixture. Add egg and buttermilk substitute to well and mix with wooden spoon until dough is too stiff to stir. Dust hands with flour and then gently knead dough in the bowl, long enough to form a rough ball.

Transfer dough to floured surface and and shape into a round loaf. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray and transfer dough onto it. Score top of dough about 1 1/2 inch deep in an "X" shape (helps heat get into the center of the dough while it cooks). Transfer to oven and bake until bread is golden and bottom sounds hollow when tapped, about 35-45 minutes.