Soda bread

Preheat the oven to 220 &degC.
Sprinkle a baking sheet with flour.
Sift flour, salt, bicarbonate of soda and cream of tartar into a large bowl, tipping in any residue of bran left in the sieve from the wholewheat flour.
Add butter and rub it into the flour with your fingertips until you cannot see any flecks of butter.
Add buttermilk to the flour mixture and mix into a dough with your hands.
It needs to be a soft mixture that leaves the sides of the bowl clean; add a little milk if necessary – a soft mixture makes a light loaf.
Turn mixture out onto a lightly floured board and knead gently for a few seconds until the dough is smooth.
Then shape it into a round with your hands and put it on the floured baking sheet.
Make a cross-shaped cut on the top (this will help it to rise), then bake in the centre of the oven for about 30 minutes until crisp and golden brown.
Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack – or eat while the loaf is still deliciously warm, dripping with butter and honey!
Makes 1 loaf.