Irish Soda Bread

I had never shown a particular interest for baking until I came to London. I must have mentioned it before - I think it's the cold and the darkness that just push you towards the oven. Anyway, today isn't about cakes or cookies, it's about Irish Soda Bread. Note that it's the first time I've made this so i'll perfection it over time! It was nevertheless very tasty.

Ingredients:

1. 400g self-raising flour

2. 300g buttermilk (alternatively, 300g whole fat milk + the juice of half a lemon)

3. 3/4 tsp baking soda

4. 3/4 tsp salt

5. Cranberries & cashew nuts (as much as you like, but bear in mind that the cranberries give a lot of flavour).

How to:

1. Preheat your oven to 200 C.

3. Mix the flour, the salt and the baking soda.

4. Add the cranberries & cashew nuts.

5. Mix in the buttermilk and make sure that the dough it well mixed but not overworked

6. Place in a baking tray with a little flour to make sure it doesn't stick to it.

7. Bake for 30-35 minutes. It won't be fully cooked by then & what you need to do to make sure it's crusty when cooled is wrap it in a damp tea towel for a while (45 mins or so. Until cooled, basically).

8. Slice and enjoy with butter or any other spread!

I hope you like it!

Regina.

cxx