Ellie Mae's Not-So-Irish Soda Bread
"The original recipe was on a Blue Bonnet Margarine box. I've modified it to suit my preferences, the main change being the addition of cardamom. Be sure your cardamom is fresh -- if you can't remember how long ago you got it, you won't get the wonderful fragrance and flavor that sets this bread apart. I took a loaf with a stick of butter to a St. Paddy's Party and people scarfed it down!"
photo by Divaconviva
- Ready In:
- 50mins
- Ingredients:
- 11
- Yields:
-
2 Loaves
- Serves:
- 24
ingredients
- 4 cups unsifted flour
- 1⁄3 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground cardamom
- 1⁄3 cup butter or 1/3 cup margarine
- 2 cups dark seedless raisins
- 1 1⁄2 tablespoons caraway seeds
- 1 1⁄2 cups buttermilk or 1 1/2 cups sour milk
- 1 egg, Beaten
directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- You'll need two 8-inch round greased cake pans.
- Blend together in a large bowl flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, baking soda and cardamom.
- Cut in butter or margarine until mixture resembles coarse meal. A pastry cutter works really well for this.
- Add raisins, caraway seeds, milk and egg and stir until blended. Dough will be stiff.
- Turn out dough from bowl and knead on floured board or counter for about one minute, until smooth.
- Divide dough into two balls. I weigh the dough on my kitchen scale to get two loaves of equal weight/size.
- Place in two greased 8-inch round cake pans. Flatten dough to fill pans. Cut a cross in top of each loaf.
- Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes, or until inserted toothpick comes out clean.
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Reviews
-
Oh, this is such a wonderful bread. I had to contact the chef to ask how much it was supposed to rise, as mine did not puff up alot. But Chef Divaconviva said I did it right! This bread has a wonderfully tasty scone-like consistency, and the fragrance and taste of the cardamon makes it delicious. I will definitely be making this again. Very quick to put together and baked in 30 minutes. Delicious with breakfast or afternoon and evening tea. Loved it! Made for Fall 2008 PAC.
RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
Divaconviva
United States
Hi, everyone! My name is Ellen. I was born in the town so nice, they named it twice - New York, New York! I grew up in Ossining, NY, just minutes outside of Manhattan. My grandma immigrated to New York from Austria, and owned a delicatessen for years right near the original Yankee Stadium. She was a fabulous cook and baker, as was my mother, and I learned a lot about food preparation from both of them. I could cook a complete meal for eight people by the time I was in the third grade. I always loved to cook, and with two such great teachers, how could I not?! I am a born-again Christian, and I have enjoyed serving on different ministries at my church, the most recent one being data-entering the info and prayer requests handed in every week on the Care & Communication Cards, and then I follow up with phone calls & emails to welcome, answer any questions, and assist, if needed. I also work with Community Caregivers, an organization providing all kinds of assitance to people who have need, including delivering prescriptions, providing transportation to doctor appointments, helping the visually disabled with paperwork, etc. It has been a great growing experience for me. This is Jeff, my husband and most appreciative gourmand. This is Cricket, our American Eskimo. He is pure energy! This is Daphne, our Bluetick Hound. She is a sweetheart! Here's a video of a youth drama/dance from GodTube that is absolutely one of my favorites! http://youtu.be/cyheJ480LYA Thank you, SusieQusie! Thank you, Susie D! Thank you, FloridaNative! This four-pound lobstah is our idea of a perfect picnic supper! Here are several photos I've taken of our yard from mid-Spring to late-Summer
