St. Patrick's Day is an important day at our house. We bake this every year for our dinner. It is one of the few things I still make with shortening. I can't remember where the recipe came from. Actually, it may be a combination of a couple of recipes. Sheila  Western NY
 
Irish Soda Bread
 
2 C flour
1 1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1 T granulated sugar
1/4 C chilled shortening
1/2 to 1 C raisins and/or up to 2 t caraway seed, depending on your taste
1 slightly beaten egg
2/3 C buttermilk
 
Preheat oven to 375`. Sift together in a large bowl, the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar. With a pastry blender(or 2 forks), cut shortening into flour mixture until consistency of coarse cornmeal. Stir in raisins and caraway seed, if using. Mix eggs and buttermilk together and add to dry ingredients; stir well. Knead 4 or 5 times and place in a greased 8" round pan. Press dough so it will fill the pan. Cut a bold cross over the top of bread to prevent cracking. Bake 35-40 minutes.

Sheila  Western NY

* Powdered buttermilk does not have to be mixed separately. I just add the powder with my flour and the water with the my other liquids and let it mix in the batter.
Nancy Rogers

http://www.nancyskitchen.com