Saint Patrick vs. Arm & Hammer

I remember the first time I had ever heard of soda bread I was a teenager and my mom had made it for St. Patrick's Day. When she said "soda bread" I imagined a whole loaf of bread that tasted like baking soda. But after the first taste I was won over!

Soda bread is incredibly easy to make. You can add raisins or not.
Or (heavens!) caraway seeds if you like them. I don't.  I think it's best slathered with rich, creamery butter. MMmmm!

This recipe is supposedly from someone's wee Irish Gran called Rosie. It has a really nice light texture and rises high and soft. Perfect to go with some corned beef, cabbage and anything else you've decided to dye an unearthly green colour.

Rosie's Irish Soda Bread

3 and 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 to 1 cup sugar (depending on how sweet you like your bread)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 pint sour cream
2 large eggs
3/4 cup raisins (optional)
2 tablespoons caraway seeds (also optional)

-Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
-Grease a 9 inch springform pan.

-Combine dry ingredients together in a large mixing bowl.
-In a smaller bowl beat eggs and stir in the sour cream.
-Add the egg and sour cream mixture to the dry ingredients and stir well with a wooden spoon. The dough will be very thick.
-Add the raisins and caraway seeds (optional) and stir well with wooden spoon or knead in with your hands.
-Place the dough in your pan.
-Dust the top with enough flour that you can pat it down evenly into the pan without it sticking to your hands.
-With a sharp knife cut an X on the top. 
-Bake for 50 minutes or until a rich golden brown.