This is an extremely easy bread to make especially if you are not a bread maker. Also great as you don’t need yeast, if you like you could add fresh or dried herbs like Thyme or Rosemary, or you could even sprinkle the top with herbs, salt or seeds before placing it in the oven.

Soda Bread is best eaten the day it is made or toasted the next day.

450gms of Plain White Flour

1tsp of Bicarbonate of Soda

1tsp of Sea Salt Flakes or normal salt if you prefer

400mls of Buttermilk

Heat the oven to 240c, 475f, gas 9

Sift the dry ingredients together in a bowl, make a well in the centre and pour in the buttermilk, using your hand stir the milk into the mixture starting at the centre.

You want a soft but not to sticky or wet dough.

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured worktop and gently knead the dough the bring it together and gently pat into a round shape.

Cut a cross into the top with a sharp knife about 2.5cms deep.

Bake for 15 minutes on a lower oven shelf, then reduce the oven to 200c, 400f, gas6 for about 30minutes or until the bottom of the soda bread sounds hollow when tapped.

Any leftovers can be toasted in the morning and spread with marmalade, marmite, peanut butter, strawberry jam………. this list is endless!