Irish Soda Bread

2 cups flour
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup soft butter
1 cup buttermilk (or 1 cup milk with a bit of vinegar)
1 tablespoon melted butter


Preheat oven to 375 F. Lightly grease a small baking sheet or dust with coarse cornmeal.

In a large bowl, sift flour, sugar, baking powder, soda and salt. Cut in the softened butter with pastry blender or fork until mixture looks like fine crumbs. Add buttermilk. Mix with a fork until dry ingredients are moistened. Turn out on a lightly floured board and knead gently until smooth - about 1 minute. Shape into a ball. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Flatten into a 7 inch circle. Dough will be about 1.5 inches thick. Press a large floured knife into the loaf (almost cutting through to the bottom) making quarters.

Bake 30 to 40 minutes, or until the top is golden and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped. Remove to wire rack to cool. Brush top with melted butter. Can be dusted with flour at this point if you wish (authentic, but not to everyone's taste).