Irish Soda Bread

The day I discovered Irish Soda bread was a great day! I bake this rustic, no yeast quick bread to pair with a lot of my recipes. You can add a variety of ingredients to make it unique for the meal you are cooking. Cheese and jalapenos, Italian seasonings, olives and pesto...you can even add cinnamon and raisins and make it a desert bread, use your imagination! Below I have added the Italian seasoning, pesto, garlic, olives and cheese. Simply omit those items and add whatever you want in similar quantities.

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 30 minutes

Servings: 12

Ingredients

4 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/4 cup buttermilk

-optional ingredients-

2 Tbsp dried Italian seasoning

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

3 Tbsp pesto

2 Tbsp minced garlic

1/3 cup olives (I like kalamata)

Instructions

-Preheat oven to 400 degrees

-Line baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with non-stick spray

-Mix flour, baking soda, salt and Italian seasoning in a bowl

-In a separate bowl mix buttermilk and pesto

-Stir into flour mixture

-Add olives, cheese and garlic to mixture

-Mix until dough is soft (add more buttermilk if mixture is to dry)

-Shape dough into an 8 inch round and place on the baking sheet

-Flatten slightly and cut a deep cross in the top

-Brush lightly with buttermilk

-Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean

-Enjoy!