Irish Brown Bread

Irish Brown Bread

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 tablespoons cold butter

2 cups whole-wheat flour

1/4 cup regular or quick-cooking rolled oats

1 1/2 cups buttermilk (can substitute w/ plain nonfat yogurt)

Whole Milk

1. In a bowl, mix all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. With a pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture forms fine crumbs. (If you can’t find a pastry blender, mixing it with your fingers is fine.) Stir in whole-wheat flour and oats.
2. Add buttermilk (or yogurt); stir gently. If mixture is too dry to hold together, stir in milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, just until dough holds together; it should not be sticky.
3. Turn dough onto a lightly floured board and knead gently about 5 times to make a ball. Set on a lightly greased baking sheet. Pat into a 7-inch circle. With a floured knife, cut a large X on top of loaf.
4. Bake in a 375° oven until well browned, about 40 minutes. Cool on a rack. Serve warm or cool.