Barb'S Irish Soda Bread - cooking recipe

Ingredients

3 c. flour
1/4 c. white sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 c. unsalted butter
1 1/4 to 1 1/2 c. buttermilk (can substitute with 1 c. yogurt)
1/2 c. currants
1/4 c. orange zest
granulated sugar

Preparation

Preheat oven to 425\u00b0.
Put flour, white sugar, soda and salt in a large bowl.
Chop cold butter into small pieces and put in the bowl of dry ingredients.
Using a pastry cutter, work ingredients into a crumbly mixture.
Add the orange zest and currants and mix until thoroughly covered.
Add buttermilk, mixing until you get a wet dough.
Turn dough out onto a floured board. Knead until a ball forms.
Turn onto an ungreased cookie sheet, forming a loaf almost 7 inches across; flatten slightly.
Sprinkle granulated sugar on top liberally.
Cut halfway through into 4 sections.
Bake in a preheated oven at 425\u00b0 on a low rack for 30 minutes.
Cool on rack.
Cover with a cloth.
Cut into 4 sections and slice.
Freezes well.