Irish Boyfriend Soda Bread

OK, so my boyfriend isn’t from Ireland, but his family originally is, and I’m a lucky duck, because he veganized an old family recipe for me, and it was super yummy. This is a lovely, lightly sweet loaf of bread that is wonderful toasted with some earth balance. I even have a full recipe to go along with my photo. I know it’s way past St. Patrick’s day, but this bread makes a fab breakfast or snack any time of year.

4 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

2 Tbsp sugar1 tsp salt

1/4 cup Earth Balance (preferably sticks)

2/3 cup raisins or currants

2 tsp caraway seeds

1 cup (soy) milk

1/2 cup white or apple cider vinegar

Pre heat oven to 375 degrees.
Soak raisins or currents in hot water to plump.

Mix flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and caraway seeds together and cut in EB until it resembles coarse crumbs.

Drain raisins and add to flour mixture.

Mix milk and vinegar (let sit for a min until it gets thicker), and add to dry mix until just blended.

Put on floured surface and kneed gently (Not long).

Shape into round and cut an X in the top.

Put into greased pie plate or on greased cookie sheet.

Bake for 40 min. Cool on wire rack.
Easy peasy, right? For pairing, I think this would go best with a nice herbal tea. It would be just delicious with an orange blossom tea or perhaps plain old lemon zinger. If you wanted to pair it with wine, you might try a Viognier with a light bit of residual sugar or a Riesling.