Soda Bread

submitted by Joan Johnston
country of origin: USA

Ingredients
4 cup unsifted flour
1 tsp salt
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup sugar (optional)
1/8 tsp cardamom or coriander (optional)
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 egg
1 3/4 cups buttermilk

Directions
Combine in a large bowl the flour, salt, baking powder, soda, sugar, and spice, if used. Add butter or margarine, and cut in with a pastry blender or two knives until crumbly. Beat egg slightly and mix with buttermilk; add to dry ingredients and stir until blended. Turn out on a floured board and knead until smooth, 2-3 minutes.
Divide dough in half, and shape each into a round loaf; place each loaf on an 8 inch cake or pie pan. Press down until dough fills pans. With a sharp knife, cut crosses on top of loaves, about 1/2 inch deep in the middle. Bake in a moderately hot oven (375 ̊F) for 35 to 40 minutes.

• preparation time: 1 hour
• makes: 2 loaves