Soda bread

This is really nice just out of the oven - and goes especially well with soup on a snowy day after lots of sledging.

You'll need:

450g plain flour (not strong)
1 teaspoon bicarb of soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
350ml buttermilk (I used full cream milk, with a squeeze of lemon)

Stick the oven on at about 220 degrees C.

Sling the flour/salt/sugar/soda in a large bowl and mix. Make a well in the middle, and pour in the buttermilk. Bring the dough together (it should be soft, but not too sticky), and tip out onto a floured worktop. Don't overmix it or knead it - just shape it gently into a round, about 4cm deep. Cut a cross in the top to let out the fairies (you loved this bit), and place on a baking tray.

Bake in the oven for 15 minutes, then turn the heat down to 200 degrees C, and bake for another 20-30 minutes. It's ready when it's turned golden brown - to check, tap the base, and if it sounds hollow, you're good to go.

Cool slightly, then slice and slather in butter.