Ina Garten's Irish Soda Bread

Combine the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt in a mixing bowl, with the pedal attachment.

Add the cold butter

In a medium bowl slightly combine the cold buttermilk, egg and orange zest.  

Slowly add the liquid mixture to the dry ingredients in the mixture while the paddle is in motion

In a small combine a tablespoon of flour to the cup of currants

Per Ina, this prevents the currants from falling to the bottom

Add the currants to the dough, mix just until combined

Remove the dough onto a well floured surface.  Knead just a couple of times and shape into a ball

With a serrated knife, make a small cross at the top (I went a little too deep :\  but it didn't hurt it.  Bake for 45-55 minutes.  To test the bread to see if it's done,  thump it and it should sound hollow

Let cool or serve warm.

Look how wonderful the currants are distributed throughout the bread?

I used to hate to make anything from scratch, can you imagine that?  If it came in a box, it must be good, right??  My hubby has always liked his birthday cake from scratch, he only asked for it once a year and being the good wife that I am, I made it even though I still grumbled about it.  It just took too much time to put together and to bake.  But now that I'm older and wiser, I rarely and I really mean that, I RARELY make anything from a box anymore, can't even remember the last time I made cake or bread from the box.  I vow to never do it again, anywho.....

This recipe is so simple and the results are marvelous.  Homemade breads and cakes come out thicker, heavier and tastier.  What a perfect sidekick to our morning coffee. 

I'm savoring the weekend, how about you?