This is really good toasted too!!!

**********The Toast of Ireland****************
This is a 'quick' bread using baking powder and soda instead of yeast. this version is tender like cornbread. This is a very quick and easy reciepe with few ingredients!
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Sweet Irish Soda Bread

Makes 1 loaf
Preheat Oven to 375 degrees
lightly grease 9"X5" loaf ( I like to use Butter flavor Crisco )

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 TBLEspn baking powder
1/4 teaspn baking soda
1/4 teaspn salt
heaping 1/2 cup sugar ( measure 1/2cup container until it overflows )
1 cup golden raisens( or use dried cherries, cranberries, currants,or all three combined)
1 Lrg egg
1 3/4 cup buttermilk( IF you don't have butter milk you can do this--> , put 1 TBLspn plus 2 teaspn of white vinegar in a 2-cup measuring cup, then fill with milk to the 1 3/4 mark, let sit 5 minutes to thicken before using .)
4TBLspns Butter, Melted
~~ For Glaze ~~
1 TBLspn regular Milk
1 TBLspn coarse decorating sugar ( Green is cool ) for topping

In a Large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt sugar and dried fruit,

In a separate bowl whisk together egg, buttermilk, and melted butter

Quickly and gently stir the wet ingredients, into the dry ingredients, until moisten , DO NOT over mix!!
pour into the loaf pan and drizzle the milk atop the batter and sprinkle with the course sugar

Bake 45 minutes to an hour or until toothpick comes out clean.
Let cool for 5 minutes on rack then carefully remove the loaf --Careful It will still Be hot then let loaf completely cool on wire rack before slicing, Wrap in plastic or foil the keep the bread fresh for several days!!.

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Sorrow looks back, Worry looks around, Faith looks up!
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