Irish Soda Bread, errr "Railway Cake"

Since it's St. Patrick's week, it's time to begin the celebrating, baking & cooking while Patrick's out swooshing away the snakes.

OK, so this Irish-American girl has made many a soda bread recipes & I found this one to be the best I've tasted. OK it's from Crisco. And OK, it's really more of an Irish soda "cake" because it has shortening & baking powder but it's NOT dry & it's yummy. So good!!!

Crisco® Recipes: Irish Soda Bread

• Crisco® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
• 5 cups Pillsbury BEST® All Purpose Flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup Crisco® Butter Shortening
• OR 1/2 stick Crisco® Butter Flavor All-Vegetable Shortening Sticks, cut into cubes, room temperature
• 2 1/2 cups raisins (I Omit)
• 2 - 3 tablespoons caraway seeds (I Omit)
• 2 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 1 large egg

1. 
   
   1. 1.
      HEAT oven to 350ºF. Generously spray a 10-inch round, heavy ovenproof skillet with no-stick cooking spray.
   
   
   2. 2.
      WHISK together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda in an extra-large bowl. Cut in shortening with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in raisins and caraway seeds.
   
   
   3. 3.
      WHISK buttermilk and egg in medium bowl until blended. Using a wooden spoon, stir into flour mixture just until incorporated (dough will be very sticky).
   
   
   4. 4.
      TRANSFER dough to prepared skillet. Smooth top, mounding slightly in center. Using small sharp knife dipped into flour, cut 1-inch deep "X" in top center of dough.
   
   
   5. 5.
      BAKE 1 hour 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.
   
   
   6. 6.
      COOL bread in skillet 10 minutes. Remove from skillet and cool completely on wire rack. Store tightly wrapped in foil at room temperature.
      
      

      

      Can't sea the cross "X" on top to create a 4-Leaf Clover but it's there!

      
      

      

      "Not dry" soda bread-y goodness

      
      

      

      Ready for wrapping & travel!

      *Lishie tips- Make sure you use an Oven-SAFE skillet! And be careful taking it out of the oven- it is HOT indeed. Oven Mitts!!!!
      
      
      The dough yields a large loaf. I only omit the caraway seeds because they are not good for ME. But they are yummy. Have some with jam. Or make a sandwich with it. But this recipe is delicious enough & rich enough to eat plain.  
      
      
      *Lishie facts- The cross on top is to create a "4-Leaf clover". Traditional Irish Soda Bread does not contain raisins, baking powder, eggs or shortening. This is more of a combo Railway Cake/Soda Bread.