This bread is SO simple, which means you can have fresh soda bread at the drop of a hat.
Thank you to the Ballymaloe Cookery School, Shanagarry, Ireland
3&3/4 cups flour
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1&1/2 to 2 cups buttermilk
Preheat the oven to 375F
Sift the dry ingredients. Make a well in the center.
Pour most of the milk in at once. Using one (clean) hand, mix in the flour from the sides of the bowl, add more milk if necessary. The dough should be softish, not too wet and sticky
When it all comes together, turn it out onto a floured board, knead lightly for a few seconds, just enough to tidy it all up.
Pat the dough into a round, about 1.5 inches deep and cut a deep cross on it to let the fairies out!
Let the cuts go over the sides of the bread to make sure.
Bake on a baking sheet in a hot oven (375F) for 45 minutes or until cooked. You can tell that it is done by tapping the bottom of the bread. If it is cooked it will sound hollow.