For FamilyFun staffer Moira Greto and her kids, baking this Irish brown bread is a cherished family tradition. Like the simple recipe, the old-fashioned method they use -- measuring and mixing ingredients with their bare hands -- has been passed down through the generations. The resulting bread is rustic and hearty, delicious whether served with butter or a favorite jam.

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 1/2 cups buttermilk

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 400°. Combine everything but the buttermilk in a large bowl and stir the ingredients with your hands. Make a well in the mixture and pour in 1 1/2 cups of the buttermilk.

2. Continue mixing with your hands, adding the remaining cup of buttermilk as you combine the ingredients. The resulting dough will be wet and very sticky.

3. Dust your hands with flour, shape the dough into a ball, and place it on a floured cookie sheet (we used a nonstick baking mat). With a knife, score a deep X in the top of the ball, widening it with the sides of the blade as you cut.

4. Bake the bread until it's golden brown, about 50 minutes. Transfer it to a wire rack and let it cool for at least 10 minutes before slicing. Makes a crusty, dense loaf about 7 inches in diameter.
   
   

Nutritional Information:

Per serving (12 per loaf):
Calories 233
Carbohydrates 44.5g (15% DV)
Total Fat 1.85g (3% DV)
Sodium 355mg (15% DV)
Iron (14% DV)
Folate (15% DV)
Fiber (18% DV)
Iodine (22% DV)
Protein 8.4g (17% DV)
Percent daily values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

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Find more about:

• Buttermilk |
• Easter |
• Loaves |
• St. Patrick's Day

Related Categories:

• Bread Recipes |
• Loaves |
• March 2008 |
• St. Patrick's Day Dinners