Irish Brown Bread

In honor of my Irish heritage, I wanted to post something on here to go with that theme. I found this recipe in the current Family Fun Magazine (March 2008 issue). It's a homemade bread loaf that the kids can get their hands into! =0) I tell ya what, this version of Irish Soda Bread is so good! I'm so impressed that I already know I'll be making this a lot in the future! No rising time and it's SO simple. This is a great crusty bread to go along with soup! It would also be a great bread for your kids to help make for Easter or St. Patrick's Days.


4 1/2 c whole wheat flour
1 1/2 c old fashioned oats
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp sugar
2 1/2 c buttermilk


Combine everything in a large bowl except the buttermilk. Mix the ingredients together well with your hands. Make a well in the mix and pour in 1 1/2 c of the buttermilk. Continue mixing with your hands, adding the remaining cup of buttermilk as you combine the ingredients. The dough will be wet and very sticky. If the dough is still a little dry, add more buttermilk until it's sticky and wet through and through.


Dusting your hands first with flour, shape the dough into a ball and place it on a floured cookie sheet with a piece of parchment. With a knife, score a deep X in the top of the ball, widening it with the sides of the blade as you cut.


Bake the bread at 400 degrees until it's golden brown, about 50 min. Transfer it to a wire rack and let it cool for at least 10 min before slicing. Makes a crusty dense loaf about 7 inches in diameter.



Variation:
the original recipe called for 2 1/4 c whole wheat flour and 2 1/4 c white flour.