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Irish soda bread

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. Ingredients

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• . 250 g (8½ oz) plain white flour
• . 250 g (8½ oz) plain wholemeal flour, plus a little extra to sprinkle
• . 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• . 2 tsp of cream of tartar
• . ½ tsp salt
• . 300 ml (10 fl oz) buttermilk or arian or plain yogurt and water

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. Preparation method

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. 1.   Preheat the oven to 200ºC (400ºF, gas mark 6). Sift the white and wholemeal flours, bicarbonate of soda, cream of tartar and salt into a bowl, tipping in any bran left in the sieve.

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. 2.   Make a well in the centre and pour in the buttermilk. With a wooden spoon, gradually stir the flour into the buttermilk to form a soft dough. Bring the dough together with your hands, then turn it out onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead lightly and briefly until it forms a smooth ball.

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. 3.   Place the dough on a greased baking sheet and flatten it slightly to make a domed round loaf about 19 cm (7 1/2 in) in diameter. Using a sharp knife, cut a deep cross in the top of the loaf, cutting about halfway down into the dough. Sprinkle a little extra wholemeal flour over the top.

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. 4.   Bake for about 30 minutes or until well risen and browned, and the bread sounds hollow when tapped on the base. (If it sounds moist and heavy, bake for a further 3-5 minutes and then test it again.)

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. 5.   Transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool completely. Serve the loaf on the day it is baked, as it becomes stale quickly, or toast it the following day.

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.Enjoy.