Bed and Breakfast, Waterford, Ireland in Browns Townhouse

Soda Bread

1 lb / 450g / 3¼ cups	white flour, preferably unbleached
1 level teaspoon / ½ American teaspoon	salt
1 level teaspoon / ½ American teaspoon	bread soda
12-13 fl ozs / 350-375ml approx	sour milk or buttermilk to mix

First, fully preheat your oven to 230 deg C / 450 deg F / regulo 8.

Sieve the dry ingredients into a bowl. Make a well in the centre. Pour most of the milk in at once. Using one hand, mix in the flour from the sides of the bowl, adding more milk if necessary. The dough should be softish, not too wet and sticky. When it all comes together, turn it out onto a floured board, knead lightly for a second, just enough to tidy it up.

Pat the dough into a round about 1.5 inches (2.5cm) deep and cut a cross on it (to let the fairies out!). Let the cuts go over the side of the bread to make sure of this. Bake in a hot oven, 230 deg C / 450 deg F / regulo 8 for 15 minutes, then turn down the oven to 200 deg C / 400 deg F / regulo 6 for 30 minutes or until cooked. If you are in doubt, tap the bottom of the bread; if it is cooked it will sound hollow.