Foodie Fridays: Irish Soda Bread

From sheknows.com

St. Patrick's Day is next Thursday, so my easy bread recipe for today is Irish Soda Bread.  This is basically a variation on the bannock recipe from last week, with added ingredients for a more complex and flavorful bread.  I love the raisins and caraway seeds, but if these are not to your liking leave them out.  This would be great with butter for breakfast or afternoon tea, on St. Patrick's Day or any day of the week!

Irish Soda Bread

2 C. whole wheat flour

1 C. flour

1/4 C. wheat germ

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1/4 C. cold butter

1 C. raisins

1 T. caraway seeds

1 1/4 C. buttermilk

Combine dry ingredients.  Cut in butter with pastry blender or two knives until crumbly (or just rub into dry mixture with your fingers).  Add raisins and caraway seeds, then stir in buttermilk just until moistened.  Knead on lightly floured surface about 10 times.  Shape into flattened round loaf and place in greased pie plate.  Cut a deep cross on top of the loaf.  Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes, then reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake another 30 minutes.  Cool on rack.