I attended the classiest, most upstanding DC event of the year this past weekend: Shamrock Fest.

The thing that is so incredibly strange is everyone keeps on trying to act like we are a bunch of drunk bad asses. Do not take this bait: we were all stone cold sober and have nothing to blame but our raging insecurities and personal demons for our behavior. Not one beer consumed. I love pointing and laughing at drunk people and feeling superior.

Arjewtino and Lemmonex, drinking water and smoking candy cigarettes

Instead, I got home at a very reasonable hour and prepared this delicious soda bread (an Irish Lebowski family recipe! it is not too late to make this tonight!) for the Food Blogger Potluck. Anyone who says otherwise is a liar and not to be trusted. I would never behave irresponsibly and have to scramble last minute to pull my shit together.

Oh, yeah, the bread is pictured below in the Food Blogger recap. It likes to be photographed with friends.

Irish Soda Bread

2 c flour
3 T sugar
3 T butter
1/2 t baking soda
1 1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t salt (opt)
3/4 to 1 c raisins or currants (I used a combo of both)
flour raisins first
3/4 to 1 c buttermilk

In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, sugar, baking powder, soda. With a fork, cut in butter until it looks like meal. Stir in raisins and then add buttermilk, stirring only until ingredients are moist. Add more buttermilk if needed to make a soft dough.

Turn dough onto floured board and knead until very smooth, about 2-3 minutes. Flatten to a 6 inch circle. With a sharp knife, make a cross on top of bread. Bake at 300 degrees for 40 minutes or until golden brown and bread sounds hollow when tapped. Remove and cool. Serve hot or cold with butter.