Irene's Irish Soda Bread

Every year I run this post because so many people want my mother's Irish Soda Bread recipe. Here it is again, in time for tomorrow's breakfast in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. Keep in mind that this bread must be slathered in butter. Not butter substitute, but real, artery-clogging butter. Enjoy!

4 cups flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 cup seedless raisins
1 Tbs. caraway seeds (optional)
1 1/3 cups buttermilk (more if it feels too dry)
1/4 cup Crisco (I've experimented with other shortening but came back to this)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Sift flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda into bowl.
Stir in raisins and caraway seeds, if using.
Add buttermilk and Crisco. Mix. Knead just enough to moisten dry ingredients. Shape into two mounds and place on a greased cookie sheet. Cut an X into the top of each loaf. Makes two loaves.
Bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into wedges to serve.

Hint: Do not try “adapting” this recipe. I have tried bread flour. I have tried whole wheat flour. Nothing comes close to the real deal.

'What if your blessings come through raindrops?'

I love this song by Laura Story. (If you're my Facebook friend, you've probably seen me post it over there at least once in recent months.) I needed to hear it again today, during this Lent that feels particularly desert-like to me for so many reasons, none of them earth-shattering. And still it feels awfully dark. This song reminds me to look for light there anyway.