Raisin Tip!

Have you ever bitten into bread or a muffin with raisins and hit the raisin masquerading as a rock! Yikes! This is not only an unpleasant sweet or savory experience but could be a dental breaking bite and noone wants that to happen. I'm not sure where I ran into this tip (am I the last to know?), but the key to moist raisins is soaking the raisins.

Prior to the beginning of any recipe with raisins measure out the raisins and soak the raisins in a bowl. Ideally I like to soak the raisins for at least an hour, but just a 1/2 hour will help keep the raisins moist.

Soak the raisins.

Don't forget to drain the raisins. I use a trusty piece of papertowel. Simply lay the papertowel on top of the bowl with the soaked raisins and invert the bowl over the sink. Voila! The raisins are ready to use.

Grandma's Irish Soda Bread Recipe

Directions

Mix the dry ingredients together.

Mix the wet ingredients together.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

Fold in the drained raisins.

Grease a round baking dish. Gently spoon bread into the baking dish. I used an Irish Soda Bread baking dish received as a gift, but any size solid baking dish will work.  I might add I absolutely love this baking dish whether for many dishes not just Irish Soda Bread.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes ish. I know ish! again with the baking. With confidence the bread can be baked for 40 minutes before checking. My oven runs hot so when I checked the Grandma's Irish Soda Bread at 40 minutes the top was nicely browned and it appeared the bread could be done.