6 c All Purpose Flour 1/2 c Raisins Or Sultanas
2 ts Baking Soda 2 ts Sugar
2 ts Baking Powder 1 ts Salt
3 tb Cornstarch 2 1/2 c Buttermilk ***
*** may substitute 2 1/2 cup water and 10 tablespoons buttermilk
powder. Preheat Oven to 375 degrees. Add all of the dry ingredients
in a large bowl and mix very well. (If making Spotted Dog variant,
then add raisins.) Pour all of the buttermilk into the bowl at once
and stir, using a wooden spoon, just until a soft dough is formed. Do
not try to make it smooth at this point. Pour the contents of the
bowl out onto a plastic counter and knead for a minute or so until
everything comes together. You may need to add a bit more flour
depending on humidity. The dough should be smooth, not sticky. Divide
the dough into two portions and shape each into a round loaf,
pressing the top down a bit to just barely flatten it. Place the
loaves on a large ungreased baking sheet. Sprinkle some additional
flour on the top of each loaf and, using a sharp paring knife, make
the sign of the Cross in slashes on the top of each. Allow the loaves
to rest for 10 minutes and then bake on the middle rack of the oven
for 40 minutes, or until the loaves are golden brown and done to
taste. Cool on racks.
Yields
2 servings
