A Savory Irish Soda Bread

My mother made Irish soda bread anytime of the year; it's one of those quick breads that takes little time to make and very few ingredients.  I came across this recipe while visiting Ireland in 1993 during our 25th Anniversary trip.  We had taken a bus to Waterford and ate at a little restaurant before going to a play.  The soda bread that came with our dinner was so unusual...it was savory and had no raisins in it, like the one I had made from my mother's recipe.  This one had cheddar cheese and chives which accompanied our entree so perfectly.  Slathered with Irish butter, it truly was something to remember.

When I make Irish soda bread, there are two ingredients I always use; buttermilk and KerryGold Pure Irish Butter and this recipe is no different.
Preheat oven to 350Fdegrees.  Spray a 1 1/2 quart baking dish with vegetable oil spray.
4 cups all purpose flour
1 T baking powder
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
6 T unsalted butter, cold

Place all of these ingredients in a bowl of a food processor and pulse until the butter is incorporated.  Transfer mixture to a large bowl.

1 1/2 cups buttermilk
2 eggs
Whisk these ingredients together and then, pour over the dry ingredients.

 I use my dough whisk to blend the wet and dry ingredients.  Next, I add 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese and 2 Tablespoons chopped chives. (Note: I didn't have any fresh chives today...they're just starting to come up outside and I didn't want to use dried) Mix well, then knead a few times to form a ball.

I mix my dough in this wooden bowl my mother gave me when I got married.  She believed all I'd need was a wooden bowl and an iron skillet!  Once the dough is shaped, I place it in the prepared casserole dish and slash the top with a serrated knife.  Brush the top with a little buttermilk and egg to give it a golden color and place in the oven.  Bake for 75 minutes or until a wooden skewer poked in the center comes out clean.

Let cool completely before slicing.  Have extra KerryGold butter to slather on and let it melt in your mouth.  Enjoy!