Basic Soda Bread and Variants

This is the first bread I learned to bake, and it is the easiest and most versatile. My first few attempts tasted better than they looked. One time when my Father was visiting shortly after I learned to bake this recipe, he commented, "That bread would go to the bakery thrift shop." Admittedly, soda bread can go a bit lopsided in spite of one's best attempts. Hopefully, your relatives are more polite than mine and will instead marvel over the fact you baked from scratch.

Basic Soda Bread

2 cups unsifted all purpose flour (do not use bread flour for this).

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup buttermilk (if buttermilk is not available, use regular and add one teaspoon cream of tartar).

Mix the dry ingredients. Add the milk slowly to make a soft, but not soggy dough. Depending upon conditions in the room, you might not need all of the milk. If you do over-add, tossing in a bit of flour won't ruin the bread though it is easier to add milk than remove it)!

Knead on a lightly floured board for about a minute. Don't use a stand mixer for this bread as it will become overworked. Soda bread requires little kneading. Shape the dough into a round loaf, aprox. 8 inches in diameter. On top, cut in a cross, which will cause the bread to split when baking,producing the distinctive top. Place it on a greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes. To test the bread, rap the bottom of the bread with your knuckles-if it sounds hollow, it is done. This bread should be thoroughly baked, and a few extra minutes won't harm it-though burning it is nearly always to be avoided.

I have seen recipes that advise cooling soda bread on its side, which I have not found to be more helpful than a cooling rack, as well as wrapping the loaf in a towel to cool for a softer crust. I rather think the crust is part of what makes soda bread so nice, however depending on your taste, it might prove better.

Variants:

You can substitute a cup of whole wheat for one of the cups of white though it will produce a "tougher" loaf.

Dried herbs such as basil or oregano( or any others you prefer) may be added to the dry ingredients to make an herbed loaf.

1/2 cup dried currants make a nice addition.

Some people prefer a sweeter loaf. Sugar, white or brown can be added to taste.

For Cinnamon Bread- Add 1/2 cup raisins or currants, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/4 cup packed brown sugar.



Scones From Same Recipe

Roll dough out thickly and cut into triangles. Brush tops lightly with an egg was (one yolk plus one tablespoon water)for sweet scones, sprinkle with sugar. For savouries, either top with cheese, seeds, or herbs.


Pizza Scones

Prepare basic white soda bread recipe except adding one tablespoon each dried basil and oregano to dry ingredients. After adding milk, toss in about ten oil cured olives that have been finely chopped. Roll out and cut into triangles. Do not overwork the dough.
Brush tops with egg wash and top generously with shredded cheese-about a cup (mozzarella, fontina, Parmesan, etc. it is a matter of personal taste).Bake for about 20 minutes or until tops are deep brown-check frequently. Allow to cool completely before serving Makes 6-8 depending on size.