the Irish use buttermilk in a lot of their baking such as Irish Soda breads, however, I like to use it to make the Irish Farmer's Sunday cake. It is not difficult to make.
Here are the ingredients:
6 1/2 cups of white flour
1 Tsp baking soda
1 Tsp of cream of Tartar
1 cup of sugar
3/4 cups of butter soften and cut into cubes
1 cup of golden raisins
1 cup of dried currants
1 TBSP of candied orange or lemon peels or a combination thereof (I use what I have on hand to include dried cherries etc)
grated zest of 1 lemon
2 Eggs beaten
2 1/2 to 3 cups of buttermilk
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees
Sift the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and sugar in a large bowl and mix well
Rub the butter into the flour mixture with either your hands or a cutter ( I prefer my hands) until the mixture resemble course bread crumbs.. Add the raisins, currants and candies oranges and mis well
Make a well in the center of the mixture and add the eggs and buttermilk. Stir into the mixture (add more buttermilk if required) to make a moist and cohesive batter. Do not overmix.
Pour into 2 lightly greases loaf Pans (I use three) bake for 15 minutes and then dry the temp to 400 degrees and bake for 20 to 30 minutes longer or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Let cool and eat warm or freeze one for later.
