Soda bread

Makes 1 loaf

225g wholemeal flour

225g plain white flour

1½ tsp salt

2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

2 tsp cream of tartar

45g butter

1 tbp caster sugar

290 – 425ml milk

1. Preheat the oven to gas mark 5. Lightly flour a baking sheet.

2. Sift the flours, salt, bicarbonate of soda and cream of tartar 3 times. Cut the butter into small pieces and rub into the flour using your fingertips. Stir in the sugar.

3. Make a well in the centre and stir in enough milk to make a soft dough. Knead lightly to bring together into a round. Place on the baking sheet and sprinkle with the porridge oats. Using a wooden spoon handle, make a deep cross in the centre of the bread nearly all the way to the baking sheet.

4. Bake in the preheated oven for about 40 minutes or until well-risen and browned. The cross in the centre of the bread should not seem damp. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

(Leith’s Cookery Bible)