Soda bread

Soda bread – serves 8

500g wholemeal or white plain flour

(or try a mixture depending on taste)

100g butter

2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

1 tsp salt

1 tsp caster sugar

284ml carton of butter milk (or milk with a squeeze of lemon juice works well)

4 tbsp milk

Method

1. Heat the oven to 220c/gas mark 7. Lightly flour a baking tray.  Tip the flour into a bowl, add the butter and rub it with your fingers until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.  Stir in the salt, sugar and bicarbonate of soda.
2. Mix the buttermilk and milk in a jug, pour it into the flour mixture and mix to a soft dough.
3. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and shape it into a ball. Place the dough onto the floured baking tray and flatten slightly.  Cut a deep cross on the top, cutting almost halfway through, but not completely.
4. Bake for 23-30 minutes until the loaf has risen and sounds hollow when tapped underneath. Transfer to a wire rack and serve warm or cold.
5. Its best eaten the day it’s made, or you can freeze.