Whole Wheat Irish Soda Bread

3 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup all purpose flour
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. butter
1 3/4 cups buttermilk or sour milk

Combine dry ingredients.
Cut in butter until crumbly.
Add buttermilk or sour milk and stir to make a soft dough.
Knead about 10 times until smooth.
Place dough on a greased baking sheet. Flatten into a circle about 2 1/2" thick. Alternatively, divide dough into 2 smaller rounds.
Use a sharp knife and slash a 1/4" deep cross on the top.
Bake at 350 degrees F for about 1 hour for large loaf or 45 minutes for small loaves, until a toothpick comes out clean.

Makes 8 to 10 side servings

Variations:
Rosemary Pepper Soda Bread: Add 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh rosemary and 3/4 tsp. freshly cracked black pepper to dry ingredients.

Raisin Soda Bread: Add 1 tsp. grated orange rind and 1 cup golden or sultana raisins (soaked in water or alcohol to plump them up!) to dry ingredients.

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