Whote Wheat Irish Soda Bread

Yesterday I baked this yummy Irish Soda Bread, and since then Jeremy's eaten a tuna sandwich sliced from it, we both had toast for breakfast this morning, and had peanut butter sandwiches on it for lunch. I think it would be a great bread to serve with a pot of soup or stew, especially if some garlic and/ or herbs were mixed into the batter.

Whole Wheat Irish Soda Bread

-4 cups whole wheat flour

-1 teaspoon baking soda

-1 teaspoon salt

-2 1/4 cups low fat buttermilk

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Coat a baking sheet with oil and flour. Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center and pour in buttermilk. Using one hand, stir in circles until all of the flour is incorporated. When it all comes together, turn it out onto a well-floured surface. Clean dough off of your hand.

Pat and roll the dough with floury hands, just enough to give it a round shape. Flip over and flatten to about 2 inches. Transfer the loaf to the prepared pan. Mark a deep cross in the center of the loaf.

Bake the bread for 20 minutes. Lower the oven to 400, and bake for 30-35 more minutes, until it is brown and the top sounds hollow when tapped. Transfer to a wire rack and cool for 20 minutes.

Shannon