Gift of Simplicity: Irish Soda Bread

Brown Irish Soda Bread

2 Cups White (all-purpose) Flour

1-1/2 Cups Whole-Wheat Flour

1/2 Cup Wheat Germ, toasted

3 Tablespoons Sugar

1-1/2 teaspoons Salt

1 teaspoon Baking Soda

1 teaspoon Baking Powder

1-3/4 Cups Buttermilk

3 Tablespoons Butter, melted, divided

Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position; preheat to 400*. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.

Whisk the Dry Ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. Combine the Buttermilk and 2 Tablespoons melted Butter in a 2-cup bowl; stir into Dry Ingredients until dough just comes together. Turn out dough onto a lightly-floured board and knead until a cohesive mass forms, about 8 strokes. Transfer to prepared sheet and pat into a 7-inch circle. Using a sharp knife, lightly score the top of the dough in a cross about 5 inches long. Bake until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean, about 45 to 50 minutes. Transfer to cooling rack and brush with the remaining 1 Tablespoon melted Butter. Cool for at least 1 hour. Makes 1 loaf.

"And Jesus said unto them,

'I am the Bread of Life;

he that cometh to me shall never hunger,

and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."

John 6: 35

We had our St. Patrick's Day dinner last night--Corned Beef, Cabbage, Potatoes, Irish Soda Bread, and St. Patrick's Day Cake. I had never made Irish Soda Bread before and was blown away by how easy it is! This recipe is from Cook's Country magazine, February/March 2013, and the editors break down the preparation time as follows:

Measure dry ingredients: 5 minutes

Measure wet ingredients: 2 minutes

Stir wet into dry: 1 minute

Knead briefly: 1 minute

Shape simply: 1 minute

TOTAL WORK TIME: 10 MINUTES

Yep.

That's all it takes.

Seriously.

And the children couldn't stop raving over how good it was.

The girls brought me the first bouquet of spring flowers yesterday. Isn't it sweet?

Little One asked, "Do you like it, Mommy?"