Mother Mulligan's Irish Soda Bread

Actually, it's not mean Soda Bread at all. In fact, it's great soda bread. Here's the recipe that's been handed down for generations (well, two, anyway).

• 4 cups flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 4 tbsp granulated sugar
• 2 1/2 tbsp caraway seeds
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 1/2 cup raisins
• 1 egg
• 1 1/3 cup buttermilk (or plain yogurt; buttermilk is better)
• 1 tsp baking soda

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 2 quart casserole.

Sift together flour, salt, baking powder, granulated sugar. Stir in caraway seeds.

Cut butter into dry ingredients until mixture looks like coarse meal; stir in raisins.

In separate container, combine eggs, buttermilk (or yogurt) and baking soda; beat well.

Stir wet ingredients into flour mixture. Knead lightly until smooth on a lightly floured board.

Shape into a ball, place in greased casserole. Slash a cross into top of dough (about 1/2" deep). Optional: brush with beaten egg yolk or buttermilk.

Bake about 70 minutes or until knife placed in center comes out clean.

Makes one loaf that is excellent with butter.