clipped from: www.bettycrocker.com 
| 3 |
| tablespoons butter or margarine, softened |
| 2 1/2 |
| cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour |
| 2 |
| tablespoons sugar |
| 1 |
| teaspoon baking soda |
| 1 |
| teaspoon baking powder |
| 1/2 |
| teaspoon salt |
| 1/3 |
| cup raisins, if desired |
| 3/4 |
| cup buttermilk |
| Heat oven to 375ºF. Grease cookie sheet. |
| Cut butter into flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt in large bowl, using pastry blender or crisscrossing 2 knives, until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Stir in raisins and just enough buttermilk so dough leaves side of bowl. |
| Turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead 1 to 2 minutes or until smooth. Shape into round loaf, about 6 1/2 inches in diameter. Place on cookie sheet. Cut an X shape about 1/2 inch deep through loaf with floured knife. |
| Bake 35 to 45 minutes or until golden brown. Brush with butter or margarine, softened, if desired. |
| Why the "X" on top of Irish soda bread? Legend tells us that this cross is meant to scare away evil spirits. Spooky! |