Irish Soda Bread

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Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar -- packed
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup buttermilk -- room temperature
• 2 tablespoons buttermilk -- room temperature
• 1/2 cup Laura Lynn raisins

Directions:

-In medium-sized bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt with wire whisk, stirring just to blend. Cut in butter with pastry cutter until mixture has texture of cornmeal (skip this step if not using butter). Stir in buttermilk and mix thoroughly into a soft dough. Add raisins or currants, incorporating into dough.

-Turn dough out on lightly floured surface and knead gently until smooth, about 3 minutes. Form dough into 7 inch diameter flattened round loaf and place in lightly oiled 9-inch round, 2 inch deep cake pan.

-With kitchen shears or sharp knife, cut a cross shape about 1/2 inch deep in center of round of dough. Bake at 375 degrees about 40 minutes, until a medium golden brown. Remove from pan; place flat side down on wire rack and let cool at least an hour. To store bread, wrap with foil or plastic.

-Makes 1 loaf.