VPR Cooks: Jean Murphy's Irish Soda Bread

Happy St. Patrick's Day! The holiday is a little more special at the office ever since Membership Associate Jean Murphy started work at VPR. That’s because she brings in a batch of her grandmother-in-law’s famous Irish soda bread for all of us to enjoy: "The recipe came from my husband's grandmother, Nellie Murphy of Dingle, Co. Kerry. She used to make about 20 loaves every St. Patrick's Day for all her dear ones. Mine is never as good as hers*, but I still make it every year."

*Editor's Note: We beg to differ. I'm going back for seconds.

Ingredients:

4 cups flour
1 cup raisins
2 tablespoons caraway seed
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda dissolved in 1 tablespoon water

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine flour, raisins, caraway seed, sugar, baking powder and salt. In separate bowl, beat eggs with buttermilk and melted butter, then stir in cream of tartar and baking soda dissolved in water. Add more buttermilk if mixture is too dry-dough should be wet and sticky. Put in buttered, floured 9 inch baking dish and pat into round. Make a cross on top of the bread, spreading open. Bake 40-60 minutes at 350 until golden brown.

Find more St. Patrick's Day recipes in our VPR Cooks column!