As today is St. Patrick's Day I thought it would be fitting to share with you a recipe for Irish Wheaten Bread. This hearty moist bread is lovely slathered in butter and a few slices of cheddar with a cup of tea to chase it down.
Irish Wheaten Bread
adapted from Judith McLoughlin, the Irish Foodie
1 1/2 cups stone ground whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 cup quick cooking oats (plus 2 tsp to sprinkle on top)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 Tbsp honey
2 Tbsp butter
1 cup buttermilk (plus 2 Tbsp)
1 egg (beaten)
1 tsp flax seeds (to sprinkle on top, optional)
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour an 8 x 4 loaf pan. In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients. Using your fingertips, cut in butter until it resembles coarse meal. Mix together the buttermilk, egg and honey and fold into the dry mixture. Pour into prepared loaf pan and sprinkle with oats and flax seeds (if using). I skipped the flax seeds as my husband doesn't like them. Bake in centre of oven for 50 minutes or until inserted skewer comes out clean.