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Sunday 25 November 2012

SODA BREAD


Good Morning to you,

On Wednesday, I shared with you my recipe for Chickpea Soup, see here for the recipe. So today, I thought it would be a good idea to show you a recipe for  soda bread.
Soda bread reminds me of the rustic Cypriot  bread which we used to buy at our local village bakery. I find this soda bread,   is the perfect accompaniment to any winter soup. It can be cut into neat slices or it can be pulled apart, ready to "dunk" into your soup.


Recipe adapted from 500 Fabulous Cakes and Bakes
from The Book People

I thought I would share this "warts and all" photo and   explain why the bread looks a little mis-shapen.

I had finished mixing the bread and was ready to start the  kneading process, when George returned from having a sauna.  We were chatting away and he was telling me about his morning, who he had met, family he had bumped into and finished by saying how hungry he was.

I said he would not have to wait long for his lunch as the bread was almost ready to go into the oven. As I was kneading the bread, I  started telling him about my morning. 
I continued kneading and was almost ready to cut a cross in the dough, when George started telling me another story. I was so busy listening to what George had to say, that when it came  to cutting the cross in the dough,  I did not notice that I had inserted the knife far too deeply.   It wasn't until I took the bread  out of the oven that I realised what I had done... hence the look of the bread.  Please don't let this put you off as it is a delicious bread! That will teach me to concentrate, but then, I was having fun listening to George. The bread tastes delicious, no matter how it looks, so I thought it really didn't matter, after all it is home baking! As a  home baker, I think it is important to highlight  what can go wrong. By doing this, you can avoid the same pitfalls.


INGREDIENTS
Makes one loaf
275g/10oz/2 1/2 cups plain flour
150g/5oz/1 cup wholemeal flour
(I used Country Grain flour)
5ml/1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
5ml/1 tsp salt
25g/1oz/2 tbsp butter at room temperature
300ml/1/2 pint/1 1/4 cups buttermilk
Pre-heat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6
Butter a baking sheet



Sift together the flours, bicarbonate of soda
and salt.
  
Make a well in the centre and add the
butter and buttermilk.
 

Working from the centre, stir to combine
the ingredients until a soft dough is formed.


 With floured hands, gather the dough into a ball.
Knead for 3 minutes.
Shape the dough into a round.


Place on a baking sheet.
Cut a cross in the top with a sharp knife.
(Notice how far I cut my cross,
remember I made the cross too big,
so cut yours smaller)



Bake until brown, about 40-50 minutes
I found my bread took 50 minutes to bake.



Now this is the naughty bit.
Remember earlier, I said the soda bread was a perfect accompaniment to soup, well, that still stands true, but, do you ever have a "sweet" moment, where nothing but something sweet will satisfy you. I'm afraid to say that happened to me. We cut the bread. I was supposed to sit down with George and eat Chicken and Vegetable soup see here for the recipe, but instead, I sat down, sliced the soda bread,                    


......and I ate a slice, slathered in butter and with a lovely layer of homemade  jam.....oops!

....and I was a very happy lady!

Don't worry, I ate the soup for my supper!

This week I will be joining,

Have a lovely day and I will see you later in the week.



39 comments:

  1. Oh Daphne, this bread looks divine, I will be trying it this afternoon. Thank you so much for the recipe! Have a lovely Sunday!

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  2. Good Afternoon Debbie, I am thrilled you are going to try this recipe. It is so easy to make....well apart from cutting a cross too deeply in the dough! but that isn't anything major. Enjoy the recipe. Best Wishes Daphne

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  3. Nothing nicer than home made bread
    and yours sounds delicious.

    Thanks for the recipe.

    I hope that you are not near the floods we have
    been reading about and that you are safe and well.

    Take care and have a good week.

    Fiona


    ps that jam looks yummy too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Fiona, I agree, I love the smell of home baked bread. The rain has just poured from the skies and there seems no let up at the moment. We are in a good position as we live on a slight hill, but having said that, my neighbours garden seems to be filling with water, I think that is because we have clay in our soil. Fingers crossed we escape any floods. Have a lovely week Fiona, Best Wishes Daphne

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  4. Oh yum! I will most certainly be making this; I love making homemade bread.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good Afternoon Jacqueline, This is such a quick and easy bread to make, I know you will enjoy it when you make it. Mine was perfect buttered and with jam added, whereas George enjoyed his "dunked" in his soup. Let me know what you think when you make the soda bread. Have a lovely day. Best Wishes Daphne

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  5. I will try it. I have never made it before, so thanks for sharing the recipe. Have a lovely day. I am glad you smiled by my silly elf....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Linda, Your elf isn't silly, it is lovely and made me smile with happiness. You will be surprised how quick and easy this bread is to make. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do. Take care and have a lovely day. Best Wishes Daphne

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  6. Hallo dear Daphne!This is a very good recipe !!I'll try to make it!!I enjoyed reading your post!Thank you for your kind comment!Wishing you a lovely week!!
    Dimi..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kalispara Dimi, How wonderful, I am thrilled you are going to make soda bread....I really think you will enjoy it. Let me know how you get on with the recipe. Have a lovely week and best wishes to you, Daphne

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  7. This looks devine! I love bread and can eat the whole thing but have had to go off wheat, bread and stuff like that. I do miss the fragrance of bread baking in the kitchen, nothing smells like home when bread is baking.

    I LOVE your tablecloth!!! BEAUTIFUL~~

    Hope you have a blessed week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good Afternoon Tammy, Oh, I'm sorry you have a wheat intolerance, that must be frustrating when you enjoy bread. I'm so pleased you like the tablecloth, I bought it a few years ago when I visited Goa in India. As you know, I love colour and was immediately drawn to the tablecloth. I love colour in my life as it makes my so happy. Have a lovely week, Best Wishes Daphne

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  8. This looks wonderful ... and easy! Love the smell of bread baking.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good Afternoon Snap, Oh yes, it really is an easy bread to make. I make it when we have soup as it fits the bill for us.... and like you, I absolutely love the smell of bread baking....problem is, I eat a little too much! Never mind, at least I enjoy it. Have a lovely day. Best Wishes Daphne

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  9. Morning Daphne!

    Yummy BREAD! That looks delicious. Thank you for your nice compliment. Feels good. Thanks so much.

    nice to see your blog growing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good Afternoon Renae, I am glad you liked the recipe. Yes my blog is growing. I find it wonderful when people take the time to read by blog and like it enough to become a follower....it makes me so happy! Have a lovely week. Best Wishes Daphne

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  10. Good Morning Daphne-
    This bread recipe came just in time, as today I am making a big pot of turkey & noodles. I'll be making this Soda Bread to go along with our evening meal. I'll let you know how it turns out.
    Have a wonderful day.
    Becka

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good Evening Becka, Oh, how lovely, you are making the soda bread today! I hope you enjoy it. George loves it and funnily enough finished the last of it today. It certainly beats shop bought bread as when you make your own bread you can regulate the salt, which is a good thing. Enjoy your day. Best Wishes Daphne

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  11. Oh Daphne, it looks yummy!
    It's difficult visiting your beautiful blog while trying to keep on a diet...I can't stop watching your chocolate lime cheesecake....haha.
    Besos!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good Evening Silvina, Oh dear, the chocolate lime cheesecake is delicious...a weakness of mine I'm afraid. I should not tease you with it.....it's very remiss of me! Thank you for stopping by, have a lovely day, Best Wishes Daphne

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  12. Daphne, you are a wonderful cook. The bread looks charming no matter about the cross. Remind George of this if he ever says you do not listen to him! xo, Olive

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good Afternoon Olive, Bless you, thank you so much. Actually that is a good idea about reminding George if he says I don't listen to him. Have a lovely day, Best Wishes Daphne

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  13. One of these days I will make bread. This looks good even with the flaw.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good Afternoon Kim, It's kind of you to say so, but you know what it's like, when you make something yourself, the flaw just seems to glare at you! I have to say it certainly didn't affect the taste. Have a lovely day. Best Wishes Daphne

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  14. Daphne,

    I love homemade bread! This look is delicious.
    Have a wonderful day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good Afternoon Lucinha, I agree, there is nothing tastier, than home made bread. It fills the house with the most wonderful aroma! Have a lovely day today. Best Wishes Daphne

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  15. This looks delicious, Daphne, and would be a wonderful complement to your soup. I used to love eating a nice hunk of bread like this with soup in the winter months {until I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease}. Bread is one of the hardest things I had to replace with gluten free bread. It just doesn't taste the same, especially when you compare it to home made bread.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good Afternoon Kathy, I'm so sorry to hear you have Celiac Disease. It must be difficult for you as we eat bread with so many different types of meals. Do you manage to get a range of bread, such as rolls and wraps which are gluten free? I'm sorry this recipe was not for you, maybe I will try a gluten free bread recipe in the future. Have a lovely weekend. Best Wishes Daphne

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  16. Hi Daphne,

    Your soda bread looks fantastic! I laughed reading about your "naughty" bit... I reckon whether you eat this with soup or butter and jam, this freshly baked bread is always good :D

    Nice to know you via blogging. Like you, I love to bake and cook. Your blog is fantastic and hope to be back again for more. I'm now your latest follower.

    Zoe

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good Afternoon Zoe, It is lovely to meet you. I am sorry it has taken me so long to reply, but I have had a busy week and just haven't found the time to answer comments until today. Do you have weeks like that when life takes over? I will pop across to visit you later today. Thank you so much for becoming a follower, I really appreciate that. Have a lovely day today, Best Wishes Daphne

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  17. I am such a bread-a-holic. This looks beautiful and so fun and easy. It is so gorgeous on your plate too. Makes me wish I had some homemade bread to munch on right now.

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    Replies
    1. Good Afternoon Jacqueline.....Ooooh, me too, I love bread aswell, especially when it is warm and just out of the oven and dare I say it, covered in butter! How delicious, but how fattening. Have a lovely day, Best Wishes Daphne

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  18. Hi Daphne,

    I was not sure if my previous comment has gone thru. Nice to know you via blogging and here I am being your latest follower :D

    Zoe

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  19. Hi Daphne

    It's Carla from http://MyLifeAlittlethisalittleofthat.blogspot.com
    Thanks for stopping by my blog. My Alamo picture wasn't the greatest with all the people but it documented that we were there. ;o) I'm gonna check out your blog now. By the way did you know you are a 'no reply blogger'.
    Anyway thought I'd come by your blog and check it out. Oh that bread, butter and jam looked really yummy. Bread and potatoes are my downfalls when it comes to dieting. I'm your newest follower,

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good Afternoon Carla, I did not realise I was a no replay blogger, I thought I had changed my settings...I will investigate.
      Me to, I love bread and I love potatoes in any form, mashed, roasted, chipped oooh I could go on and on. Thank you for becoming a new follower, that was very kind of you. Have a lovely day. Best Wishes Daphne

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  20. I love anything bread and carbs...getting hungry just looking at it

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Daniela, Ooops, sorry I've made you feel hungry with my bread. Do you know, my husband loves protein, but me, give me carbs anyday! Have a lovely day. Best Wishes Daphne

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  21. Daphne, it look delicious. We have been baking a variety of breads this week, trying to findjust the right one. Maybe this will be it.

    Take care,

    Connie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good Afternoon Connie, This is a good bread to eat with soup, to toast and to make a sandwich, but I would say an open sandwich, unless you enjoy chunky sandwiches, which I have to say George does. I hope you find your perfect bread recipe. You will have to let me know. Have a lovely day. Best Wishes Daphne

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Dear Friends,

It is so wonderful to know you enjoy reading Ivy, Phyllis and Me! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave me a comment. I really do appreciate it.

Best wishes to you.

Daphne

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