Irish Soda Bread
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Ingredients (Makes 1 big loaf)
3 cups Flour
1 cup Whole-wheat flour
4 tbsp. Sugar (I used caster)
1 tsp. Baking soda
1 tsp. Baking powder
½ tsp. Salt
113 gm. Butter (melted)
1 cup Buttermilk
Note: Take 1 ¼ cup of milk and put 2 tbsp. of vinegar, mix and set aside)
1 egg
¼ cup Buttermilk (For brushing)
Method
Take a large mixing bowl and add in all the powders, flours, sugar, baking soda and powder and salt. Mix well with a wooden spoon
In another measuring jug pour in the melted butter, 1-cup buttermilk and 1 egg and mix well.
Now make a well in the flours bowl and tip in the mixed liquids. Stir around with the wooden spoon until dough is formed. Take out the dough on a floured surface, knead for a couple of times and place the rounded dough on a baking sheet.
Using a sharp knife make a cross on the top of the mound and brush with buttermilk.
Bake in a pre-heated oven 180 C (350 F) for about 45 minutes. Halfway through you can take out the bread and brush with more buttermilk and put it back to bake again. Check the doneness by inserting a toothpick, which should come out clean when the bread is done.
The bread is best eaten warm. Stays well for 3-4 days in the refrigerator, if tightly wrapped in plastic. Slice, toast, slather with butter and eat!
French Vanilla Toast
Ingredients (Serves 2)
4 Slices French Bread (1” thick, I used French bread from Pie in the Sky)
2 eggs
¼ Cup Milk
3 tbsp. Brown sugar
½ tsp. Vanilla Essence
Extra butter for brushing the pan
Toffee Sauce
2 tbsp. Brown sugar
2 tbsp. Maple syrup
¾ Cup Cream
Method
Cut the bread slices, about an inch thick and put them aside.
Take a medium sized bowl and whip together the eggs, milk, sugar and vanilla. Now carefully lay down the bread pieces, so that all of them are soaked evenly.
Let the bread soak in the custard for about twenty minutes. In the mean time make the sauce by taking a small pan and tip in the sugar, maple syrup and cream. Mix on low heat for about 4-5 minutes until all the sugar has dissolved and the mixture in bubbling slightly.
Next put another pan on low to medium heat, brush with butter and carefully put in the bread pieces. You are aiming to look for a caramelized, golden crust, about a minute on each side. Brush the pan with butter every time you put in another slice.
Once done, pat the bread with some toffee sauce and enjoy!