This is my Dad’s very own recipe for brown bread and I almost feel guilty for sharing it because it’s very special to us. It’s actually more of a white soda with a bit of brown as opposed to the traditional brown bread. He makes it every day, and it’s always been a bit of a ritual in our home. He has modified and tried so many recipes for brown bread, honed them and perfected them and finally came up with this one. For me, it is the best brown bread ever. I should point out that the loaf pictured was made by Donal Mc himself and not me.
It takes about fifteen minutes to make which is exactly the time it takes to pre-heat the oven. He is very particular about the wooden spoon he uses, and will only ever use his favourite whittled down, worn out ancient old wooden spoon to mix the dough. The spoon part is so over used, it’s almost as slender as the spoon handle and it often reminds me of a wooden stick. For years we have tried to buy him a new spoon but nothing has ever been good enough. He also uses the same bowl and tin. Bread making really is a ritual and a labour of love. However, once you start making bread you soon realise how quick and easy it is. And of course it goes without saying it always tastes a lot better than anything you’ll ever buy. So please, try this simple and delicious bread and let me know what you think.
Here’s how:
– 13oz of white self raising flour – Hearts Delight brand if possible
– 3oz of wheatmeal flour
– 2 teaspoons of bread soda (recently my dad has changed this 1 teaspoon of bread soda)
– 1 teaspoon salt
– little over 1/2 a pint of buttermilk
– knob of 1/4 oz of butter, melted
Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Line a rectangular tin with parchment/baking paper. Sieve the white flour, bread soda and the salt. Add the wheatmeal flour. Stir together and then add the buttermilk and melted butter. The mixture should come together and clean all traces of dough from the side of the bowl. It’s a slightly wet dough. Pour the dough into the lined baking tin, making sure it’s pressed in well at the corners. Place in the pre-heated oven and bake for 50 minutes. Once cooked, remove and place on a wire rack to cool. Serve with a thick spread of real butter.
