Quick Irish Soda Bread

This recipe was from a friend who worked with me up in NY at the library years and years ago. CF made this for an employee lunch and by the end of the day, every last crumb of it was gone. It became one of the library staff's favorite recipes, and every time I make it, I think of CF.

3 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 tblsp. baking powder, 1 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. baking soda.

2 cups buttermilk, 2 tblsp. vegetable oil, 2 eggs (beaten), 1 cup raisins, 2 tblsp. caraway seeds.

-- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Use a 10" tube pan: spray with Pam (or coat tube pan with butter and a bit of flour).

-- In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and baking soda.

-- In smaller bowl, combine beaten eggs with buttermilk and oil. Pour this mixture into dry ingredients. Use an electric mixer on low speed and mix till batter is smooth and well-blended. (Batter will be very thick.)

-- Add raisins and caraway seeds, and use a spatula to fold these into the batter.

-- Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 60 minutes, give or take, depending on your oven. Use a thin knife to test for doneness.


Totally easy, totally delicious. I have to admit that I never add in the caraway seeds--- I don't like the taste or the smell of those seeds, and I've never missed them in this soda bread.

For tomorrow's St. Patty's lunch, I intend to slice up this bread and place it on a beautiful vintage green glass plate that is sitting on top of a gold pedestal---- it will be the centerpiece on the dining room table, surrounded by green glass shamrock tea-lights.

This year's Irish soda bread is for you, CF.... wherever you are.