This is probably the last time I'll mention Soda bread (if I can resist), but for the moment, as winter approaches, I still feel as if I'm on a mission.
Home made Soda bread has three great qualities; ease and speed of preparation, delicious taste, and (the one I'm concerned with today) its miniscule cost.
I don't think it's a bread for 'townies'. It's much more for us country folk with our wood burning cookers, and 'ooh-aah' bucolic ways. Those who have easy access to a sophisticated local baker will no doubt be grateful of the fact, and continue with their patronage.
Anyway; about cost. I've now calculated the cost of the 250 gm loaf you see above. It came to a staggering TWENTY TWO CENTIMES. That's about 18 pence UK, or 25 cents US.
Whilst I was at it, I also timed its making. It took all of 10 leisurely minutes to prepare the dough; just enough time for the oven to heat to 200 degrees C. 40 minutes (snoozing time) later I extracted what you see; it was still red hot when I took the photo. Here, once again, are the ingredients.....
200 gms Plain Flour plus 50 gms Oatmeal (blitzed Rolled Oats)
1 tsp Bicarbonate of Soda
½ tsp Salt
1 small pot of plain Yoghurt (125 gms)
Enough milk to form a dough
I also added about half a teaspoon of mixed dried herbs, simply because I like herby bread.
Good morning.;) I am a mess in the kitchen, well used to be, and soda bread was the only bread I could bake when I was single. I agree, it is easy and cheap.;) Maybe I should try to bake some for the kids.;)
ReplyDeleteLove the image.:)
Have a great weekend,
xoxo
I wonder how it would go with gluten free flour. The oats are no problem - may give it a go some time. It looks delicious.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it would work with any flour; try it.
DeleteI'm definitely going to try that! Looks so 'melt-in-your-mouth'!
ReplyDeleteI make bread every week but never think of soda bread - it looks yummy - maybe I should give it a try.
ReplyDeleteThat looks so good. Proper!
ReplyDeleteits does look good... I adore the way you have "arranged" the board.....so HOMES AND GARDENS!!!!
DeleteI do my best; I thought 'Marie Claire Maisons'.
DeleteLiving in the West Country as I do, I must correct you on the spelling of 'Ooh-ahh'. It is actually 'Ooh-arr'. Carry on.
ReplyDeleteNow I am hungry. My mom used to make Irish soda bread frequently and my sister still does. Maybe I will give it a go next week. It is supposed to be rainy and I love to cook and bake on days like that.
ReplyDeleteMmmm, sounds absolutely delicious.
ReplyDeleteTell me, does your wood burning cooker have a timer on it, or do you just rely on the smoke alarm to wake you up when the breads ready ?
I have an amusing tomato shaped timer. The other method is the prerogative of Lady M; Cordon-Noir is her middle name.
DeleteIt looks divine. I must go buy some yoghurt so I can try out your recipe. I make pan 'fried' flatbread with just flour and sourcream, but it'd be lovely to try out something new; does it need much kneading Cro? If it does I'm not sure my arthritic hands will be up to it!
ReplyDeleteNo, you just bring it all together in a bowl, form into a ball, cut the cross in the top, and voila!
DeleteHmmm, I think even I could stretch to that! Going to try it with lots of herbs! Mmmmm! Ta, chuck.
ReplyDeleteI make bread quite often, and always in a machine. This looks almost as easy, and much quicker.
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling that, were I to mention it locally, Cordon-Noir would become my middle name too. My sympathies to the chef.
That really does look good.
ReplyDeleteIt looks perfect. I'm so rubbish at bread making though that everything looks like a housebrick! I really must try to perfect this art - I would give my right arm for a slice of that right now!
ReplyDeleteI made soda bread last night to your recipe and it was lovely - the only problem being that it didn't slice too well, so Mr FD ate about 2/3 of it "because I can't cut it"!! So much for lasting a couple of days, as I'd hoped - all finished in one meal! Not so good for the diet - except it was Mr FD who ate most of it, so he gets the calories not me!!
ReplyDeleteI've made lots of different kinds of bread before, but never soda bread. I'll have to give a try. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWe used to call my friend's Irish grandmother's soda bread "desert loaf". A bit dry, but delicious slathered with butter.
ReplyDeleteShe always added currants. I miss that bread.
Cro, thank you. You inspired me to give this a try and the soda Bread Virgin is no more. It was a revelation.
ReplyDelete