Quick ‘n Easy Irish Soda Bread

Makes 1 large loaf (6-8 servings)

A traditional Irish breakfast “fry up” includes eggs, rashers (Irish bacon), bangers (sausages), grilled tomatoes, and brown bread with Irish butter and marmalade. It’s also traditional to include black and white breakfast puddings. (in case you’re wondering, black pudding is a type of sausage made of pig’s blood mixed with oats, salt, onions and spices. White pudding is a variety made without the blood, but using minced liver instead.)

Now that’s a heavy breakfast plate! Worse, it’s loaded with saturated fat. But you can make a modified version and still enjoy the spirit of Ireland. Try this instead: scrambled eggs (made with Egg Beaters or egg whites only if you’re concerned about cholesterol), grilled tomato halves, and a slice of Irish soda bread or brown bread with marmalade or honey. Here’s a quick and easy recipe for soda bread.

• 2 cups light rye flour (or whole-wheat flour)
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons double-acting baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 2 cups buttermilk
• Oatmeal

Directions
Combine the flours, baking powder, salt, baking soda, and brown sugar in a large bowl. Mix the egg with the buttermilk and stir into the dry ingredients just to blend. Dust the countertop with oatmeal flakes.  Turn out dough onto flakes and knead about 10 times to cover with oatmeal and form a round ball. Place on cookie sheet sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.  Cut a cross lightly on top of loaf and bake at 375 degrees for 45-50 minutes or until it sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.