Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Skillet Irish Soda Bread.

Photo by smitten on flickr.

~

Recipe: Skillet Irish Soda Bread Served With Cheddar and Apples
Published: March 14, 2007, in The New York Times
Time: 1 1/2 hours

Butter for greasing pan plus 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

3 cups all-purpose flour

2/3 cup sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 3/4 cups buttermilk

2 eggs, well beaten

1 1/2 cups raisins or currants

1 tablespoon caraway seeds

Good aged Cheddar cheese, for serving

Tart apples, cut into slices, for serving.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 10-inch oven-proof skillet and line with parchment or waxed paper.
2. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda. In a separate bowl, combine the buttermilk, eggs and 2 tablespoons melted butter. Add wet ingredients to dry and stir until just combined. Do not overmix. Stir in the raisins or currants and caraway seeds.

3. Pour batter into skillet. Brush top with remaining butter. Bake until golden and firm to touch, about 1 hour. Cool 10 minutes before slicing and serving with Cheddar and apples.

Yield: 1 10-inch loaf.