Happy St. Patrick's Day

Irish soda bread gets its name from the fact that baking soda, rather than yeast, is used for leavening. This is not the traditional recipe, but I am absolutely in love with it. Bill found this hearty version on the epicurious website: "Noreen Kinney's Irish Soda Bread." Below I posted the recipe ingredients too.

1 3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour or graham flour, plus more for shaping

3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into tablespoon-sized pieces

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 3/4 teaspoons salt

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1/4 cup wheat bran

1/4 cup oat bran

1/4 cup untoasted wheat germ

2 tablespoons flaxseed

1/3 cup raw sunflower seeds

1 large egg

About 1 3/4 cups buttermilk 

DELICIOUS. This bread accompanied by wild Irish stew was the perfect way to celebrate the day.