Irish Soda Bread

Directions

• Combine dry ingredients with a whisk.

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• Cut butter into 1/2-inch cubes.

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• With a pastry blender or your fingers, incorporate butter into the flour mixture. The result does not have to be smooth — different size pieces are okay.
• Whisk together egg, milk kefir or a mixture of yogurt and milk. Using a fork, blend until everything is just barely incorporated.

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• Turn out onto a floured surface and knead very lightly, just about six times.
• Pat into a round about 8 inches across and transfer to a buttered cookie sheet.
• Score into four or six pieces.

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• Let dough rest for 10 minutes while preheating the oven to 400 F.

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• Bake for 35 minutes, until golden brown at the edges.

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