Irish Soda Bread - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 cups whole wheat flour
3 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon & salt
1/2 cup cold butter, cut into pieces
2 large eggs, beaten (room temperature)
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
15 ounces raisins (optional)
1 large egg beaten with 1 tablespoon milk
3 tablespoons caraway seeds (optional)
1 1/2 cups extra flour, for dusting
4 ounces extra butter, for serving

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350*F.
2. Pour raisins into medium size bowl,cover with water,and microwave on high for 5 minutes. Remove from microwave and set aside to cool. then drain completely. Leave till ready to use.
3. Lightly spray a jelly roll size pan,baking sheet or 2 cast iron skillets with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
4. Sift flour, sugar,salt, baking powder, baking soda together in a large bowl,& then pour into a food processor that has been fitted with a metal blade. Secure lid of processor.
5. Add the cold butter and pulse 8 to 12 times or until mixture resembles course crumbs.
6. Add the two beaten eggs and buttermilk,and process until dough comes together about a minute or two.
7. Dust work surface with the remaining 1 1/2 cups of flour; turn out the dough onto work surface.
8. Add the plump raisins and optional caraway seeds if using, knead with floured hands till raisins are incorporated into the dough, and then divide the dough into two equal portions, and shape into two round breads.
9. Transfer to prepared baking pan or skillet.Brush loaves with egg wash, till covered completely.Then with a serrated knife cut an X in top of each loaf.
10. Bake in preheated 350*F. oven for 45 to 50 minutes or until top is golden brown and a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. The bread should sound hallow when tapped on the bottom with a knife. Remove from oven and let cool on wire rack for 15 minutes. Slice and serve warm with additional butter.
11. Makes 2 loaves.Just a word of caution if you do not have a large capacity food processor, you may want to make half the recipe at a time, or finish in a mixer with a dough hook. Electric knife works really well for slicing. Plumping the raisins adds moisture to the bread.