Irish Soda Bread

1 loaf

BREAKFAST

Ina Garten At Home (p. 234)

Ingredients

Orange - 1

All-purpose flour - 4 cups

Sugar - 2 tbl

Baking soda - 1 tsp

Dried currants - 1 cup

Unsalted butter - 12 stick

Buttermilk - 1 34 cups

Egg - 1

Prep

Orange - zest to yield 1 tsp

Unsalted butter - keep cold and dice into 1/2-inch cubes

Buttermilk - shake well

Egg - lightly beat

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

Combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, and 1 12 tsp salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or combine by hand). Add the butter and mix on low speed until the butter is mixed into the flour.

With a fork, lihgtly beat the buttermilk, egg and orange zest together in a measuring cup. With the mixer on low, slowly add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture. Combine the currants with 1 tbl of flour and mix into the dough. It will be very wet.

Dump the dough onto a well-floured board and knead it a few times into a round loaf. Place the loaf on the prepared sheet pan and lighly cut an X into the top of the bread with a serrated knife. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. When you tap the loaf it will have a hollow sound.

Cool on a baking rack. Serve arm or at room temperature.