White Soda Bread Or Scones With Herbs Food

WHITE SODA BREAD AND SCONES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• In a mixing bowl sift together 1 pound flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon baking soda. Make a well in the center. Pour most of the milk into the well. Using one hand, mix in the flour from sides of the bowl, adding more milk if necessary. The dough should be softish, not too wet and sticky. When it all comes together, turn the dough onto a well-floured counter. Wash and dry hands. Knead lightly for 1 second, just to tidy it up, flip over. Pat dough into a round about 1 1/2 inches deep and cut a cross into dough over the sides of the bread to let the fairies out. Bake in preheated 450 degree oven for 15 minutes, then turn down the oven to 400 degrees for another 30 minutes or until cooked. If in doubt, tap the bottom of the bread, it should sound hollow.

HERB AND CHEESE SCONES

Steps:

• Make the White Soda Bread with Herbs dough. Stamp into scones, brush with egg wash and dip into grated cheddar cheese. Bake for 20 minutes in a 450 degree oven.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• In a mixing bowl sift together 1 pound flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon baking soda. Make a well in the center. Pour most of the milk into the well. Using one hand, mix in the flour from sides of the bowl, adding more milk if necessary. The dough should be softish, not too wet and sticky. When it all comes together, turn the dough onto a well-floured counter. Wash and dry hands. Knead lightly for 1 second, just to tidy it up, flip over. Pat dough into a round about 11/2 inches deep and cut a cross into dough over the sides of the bread to let the fairies out. Bake in preheated 450 degree oven for 15 minutes, then turn down the oven to 400 degrees for another 30 minutes or until cooked. If in doubt, tap the bottom of the bread, it should sound hollow.
• Add fresh herbs to dry ingredients of white soda bread dough and proceed making dough as above. Shape into loaf or scones and bake as for soda bread. If making scones bake for 20 minutes in a 450 degree oven.

HERBED WHITE SODA BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Mix all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl, make a well in the center and pour all of the buttermilk in at once. Using 1 hand, stir in a full circle starting in the center of the bowl working towards the outside of the bowl until all the flour is incorporated. The dough should be soft but not too wet and sticky. When it all comes together, a matter of seconds, turn it out onto a well-floured board. WASH AND DRY YOUR HANDS. Roll dough around gently with floured hands for a second, just enough to tidy it up, flip the dough over. Pat the dough into a round about 1 1/2-inches deep. Sprinkle a little flour onto the center of a baking sheet and place the loaf on top of the flour. Cut a deep cross on it with a sharp knife, prick the four sections to let the fairies out. Let the cuts go over the sides of the bread to make sure of this.
• Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, then reduce the heat to 400 degrees for 20 minutes, or until just cooked. If you are in doubt, tap the bottom of the bread: if it is cooked it will sound hollow. Cool on a wire rack.

WHITE SODA BREAD

Steps:

• First fully preheat your oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Sift the dry ingredients. Make a well in the center. Pour all of the milk in at once. Using 1 hand, mix in the flour from the sides of the bowl, adding more milk if necessary. The dough should be softish, not too wet and sticky. When it all comes together, turn it out onto a well floured board.
• Wash and dry your hands.
• Knead lightly for a second, just enough to tidy it up, flip over. Pat the dough into a round about 12 inches (2.5 centimeters) and cut a cross on it to let the fairies out! Let the cuts go over the sides of the bread to make sure of this. Bake in a hot oven for 15 minutes, then turn down the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) for 30 minutes, or until cooked. If you are in doubt, tap the bottom of the bread: if it is cooked it will sound hollow.
• Soda bread only takes 2 or 3 minutes to make and 20 to 30 minutes to bake. It is certainly another of my 'great convertibles'. We have had the greatest fun experimenting with different variations and uses. It's also great with olives, sun-dried tomatoes or caramelized onions added, so the possibilities are endless for the hitherto humble soda bread.

IRISH AND SCOTTISH GAELIC SODA BREAD SCONES

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to 220C/450F.
• Mix all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Make a well in the centre and add the smaller quantity of buttermilk, 400ml or 14 fluid ozs.
• Mix by hand, adding more buttermilk if necessary, until you have a soft but not sticky dough.
• Turn out on to a floured surface and knead lightly - just enough to shape the dough into a round. Flatten it to about 2.5cm/1in thick and cut out 8-10 scones, using a 7.5cm/3in plain cutter.
• Put on to a floured baking tray and bake for about 20 minutes, until well risen and golden. Leave to cool slightly on a wire rack.
• Serve with soup, stews or traditional breakfasts.

HERB IRISH SODA BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F degrees.
• Put vinegar in 2 cup measuring cup and add enough milk to make 14 oz; set aside for 5 minutes.
• In a large bowl mix together dry ingredients.
• Add liquid and mix together slowly by hand until dough forms.
• Turn onto floured surface.
• Gently knead dough to form an 8-inch circle (this should only take about two minutes) dough should be soft and about 2-3 inches thick.
• Place in a baking pan (your option).
• Cut a cross pattern in dough+ (it should go at least halfway into and be entire length and width).
• Place in oven and bake for 20 minutes.
• Reduce oven to 400°F and bake 15-20 minutes longer.
• Remove from oven when golden brown.