Irish Soda Bread (Makes 1 Loaf)

Here is a wonderful recipe for the bread traditionally served on St. Patrick’s Day with a Corned Beef Dinner. Raisins and caraway seeds give this loaf its interesting old world flavor.

1. Sift flour, sugar, salt and baking powder into mixing     bowl; stir in caraway seeds.

2. Cut in butter until mixture looks like coarse meal; stir in     raisins.

3. Combine buttermilk, 1 egg, and baking soda; stir into     flour mixture just enough to moisten dry ingredients.

4. Turn dough onto floured board and knead lightly until     dough is smooth. Shape in a ball and place in a greased     2-quart casserole.

5. With sharp knife, cut a 4-inch cross about 1/2-inch deep     in center of dough to make a decorative top.

6. Brush with egg yolk.

7. Bake in preheated 375 degree oven about 1 hour or until     a wooden pick inserted in center of loaf comes out     clean.

8. Cool bread in casserole 10 minutes; remove.

9. Cool on wire rack before cutting.

10. To serve, cut down through loaf to divide in quarters;      thinly slice each quarter.