I spotted
this recipe today on the epicurious website... Both our new chef and one of the girls in the kitchen are Irish, so I figured I'd try it out on them.
2 cups all purpose flour 5 tablespoons sugar, divided 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 3 tablespoons butter, chilled, cut into cubes 1 cup buttermilk 2/3 cup raisins - 2 cups all purpose flour
- 5 tablespoons sugar, divided
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 3 tablespoons butter, chilled, cut into cubes
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2/3 cup raisins
I made 1.5 recipes so that I could make 2 loafs. I accidentally forgot to use the butter. Soaked the raisins in rum (and heated in the microwave), used 1 cup of buttermilk, 1/4 cup of rum (leftover from soaking). Mixed it all up, folded it over a few times adding flour as necessary, put the balls of dough seem-side down, dusted with flour, and cut a "+" shaped cross into the top. Baked for 25 minutes at 400F... cracked one loaf open and noticed it was still somewhat raw, so I baked the second for a further 15 minutes.
As this is a quick bread without yeast, it is intentionally dense. The flavors from the buttermilk and rum worked well together. A few of the people who commented on Epicurious thew in caraway seeds, so that might be worth trying out. I took the second loaf into work to get feedback. The Irish folks seemed to enjoy it, and I think it brought back homely memories. I tried to find complaints/ feedback, but everybody seemed to think it was good... consensus had it that this bread is best toasted with butter.
2 cups all purpose flour 5 tablespoons sugar, divided 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 3 tablespoons butter, chilled, cut into cubes 1 cup buttermilk 2/3 cup raisins2 cups all purpose flour 5 tablespoons sugar, divided 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 3 tablespoons butter, chilled, cut into cubes 1 cup buttermilk 2/3 cup raisins 2 cups all purpose flour 5 tablespoons sugar, divided 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 3 tablespoons butter, chilled, cut into cubes 1 cup buttermilk 2/3 cup raisins