Brown Soda Bread

 We recently visited Shonna's family.  Her nine-year-old daughter, Lily, loves to cook and bake.  She got a children's cookbook for Christmas and has made many of the recipes in it.  Probably her favorite recipe is this delicious Brown Soda Bread.  It was really, really good.  Just like the little red hen, she made it start to finish- from grinding the wheat to cleaning up, washing, and putting away every dish.  She is amazing.  She doubled the recipe, making one loaf plain, as in the recipe, and the other loaf as lime/basil.  She is so creative.  In the past, she has made cranberry/nut and other creations.  She says she wants to own a bakery when she grows up.  

Brown Soda Bread

2 cups white flour 

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1/2 cup toasted wheat germ

3 T. sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 3/4 cup buttermilk

2 T. butter, melted

Preheat oven to 400.  Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, whisk the flours, wheat germ, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda until combined.

In a liquid measuring cup, use fork to stir buttermilk and melted butter until the butter forms small clumps.

Add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture.  Use a rubber spatula to stir until the dough comes together.

Sprinkle the counter or pastry sheet with flour.  Transfer the dough to the counter.  Using floured hands, knead the dough until smooth.   Pat and shape the dough into a ball.  Use a paring knife to cut a cross into the top of the loaf.  Transfer to the baking sheet.

Bake for about 45-50 minutes  until a skewer comes out clean.  Cool on a cooling rack for about 5 minutes before transferring to the cooling rack to cool completely.

Try Lily's delicious Brown Soda Bread!!