Irish Soda Bread - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 c. unsifted flour
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
3 Tbsp. butter or margarine, softened
1 c. buttermilk (low-fat works fine)
1 Tbsp. butter or margarine, melted
1/2 c. raisins (optional)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375\u00b0.
Lightly grease cookie sheet.
Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder and soda.
Cut in butter with a fork until mixture looks like fine crumbs.
(Add raisins here.) Add buttermilk and mix with fork until dry ingredients are moist. Turn out on lightly floured board and knead gently for one minute until smooth.
Shape into a ball and place on prepared cookie sheet.
Flatten into 7 inch circle, dough will be about 1 1/2 inches thick.
Press a large floured knife into center, almost through to bottom.
Repeat at right angles to divide dough into quarters.
Bake 30 to 40 minutes until top is golden and loaf sounds hollow when tapped.
Remove loaf to wire rack and brush top with melted butter.
Dust with flour if desired.