For Saint Patrick's Day - Irish Soda Bread!

3 C flour

3 Tbsp sugar

1 tsp salt

1 Tbsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 Tbsp butter, softened

1 C raisins (optional)

1 Egg

2 C buttermilk

Preheat oven to 325°F, grease bread pan.

Combine flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and soda in a bowl, mix well. Work in butter. Add raisins if desired.

In measuring cup, beat egg. Add enough buttermilk to equal 2 C (this will be about 1 3/4 C buttermilk, depending on the size of the egg), mix well.

Add milk mixture to dry ingredients, mix well. Kneading the dough is not necessary.

Bake in greased bread pan for 1 hour. Let stand for 5 minutes, then remove from pan and cool on wire rack.

Best served warm with LOTS of butter :)