Traditional Irish Soda Bread
4 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 3/4 cup buttermilk
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Sift the dry ingredients together. Stir in the buttermilk. Blend well. The dough should be sticky. If not, add more buttermilk. Turn out on a lightly floured surface. Knead just a little bit...not much or you will break the gas bubbles forming as a result of the combination of buttermilk and baking soda. Pat into a circle. With a serrated knife, cut a deep cross on top of the loaf. Place in a lightly greased and floured pan. Cover with another pan or lid. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove cover and bake another 15 minutes.
I don't think I've ever baked a simpler bread.