Irish Soda Bread

A good thing to do on a rainy day,
make this easy Irish soda bread.
Using baking soda in place of yeast.

Ingredients
3 3/4 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 pound cold unsalted butter, cubed
1 2/3 cups raisins
2 teaspoons caraway seeds
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup buttermilk

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Butter a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour,
sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Cut or rub in the butter until
the mixture is the texture of fine meal.
Stir in the raisins and caraway seeds.
In a medium bowl, whisk two of the eggs
to combine. Whisk in the buttermilk.
Pour the buttermilk mixture into the dry
ingredients and stir until just combined.
Put the dough on a floured work surface,
pat into a loaf, and put into the prepared pan.
Beat the final egg to mix and brush
the top of the loaf with it.
Using a sharp knife, cut a 1/4-inch-deep
lengthwise slash down the middle
of the loaf leaving a 1-inch margin at either end.
Bake the soda bread in the middle
of the oven until well browned and a toothpick
inserted in the center comes out clean,
1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Turn the loaf out onto a rack and let cool.
Serve warm or at room temperature.