There might be nothing as warm and wonderful as the scent of freshly baked goodies wafting from the family kitchen. Enjoy our recipe for Irish Brown Bread!

Ingredients

4 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups white flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
2 cups buttermilk or sour milk
2 tbsp butter

Instructions

Mix the whole wheat flour thoroughly with the white flour. Rub the butter into the flour. Add the salt and soda. Make a well in the center and gradually mix in the liquid. Stir with a wooden spoon. You may need less or more liquid, it depends on the absorbent quality of the flour. The dough should be soft but manageable. Knead the dough into a ball in the mixing bowl with your floured hands. Put in on a lightly floured baking sheet and with the palm of your hand flatten out into a circle 1 1/2 inches thick. With a knife dipped in flour, make a cross through the center of the bread so that it will easily break into quarters when it is baked. Bake at 425 degrees for 25 minutes, reduce the heat to 350 degrees and bake a further 15 minutes. If the crust seems too hard, wrap the baked bread in a damp tea cloth. Leave the loaf standing upright until it is cool.