Irish Soda Bread with Blueberries & Orange Zest

My Irish friend Mark made this for us for St. Patrick's Day. It is so wonderfully scrumptous; freshly crusty on the outside and deliciously warm and soft on the inside.


3/4 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 cup golden raisins
1 orange

In a large bowl combine:
3 cups organic unbleached flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 T baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda


Grate the orange peel of one orange (about 1 Tablespoon) and add the raisins (soaked in a tsp of lemon juice or irish whiskey) to the mixture. Blend in 1 -1/3 cup of fresh buttermilk and 4 Tbs of melted butter. Fold in the blueberries, saving a few for the top.

Turn into a greased 2 quart casserole. cut an X on top of the batter. top with remaining blueberries.

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Serve warm with butter and blueberry jelly or jam.
Serves 8