When I was a freshman in college, my friend across the hall would get care packages from her mom with loaves of homemade quick breads-zucchini bread, pound cake, and a legendary Irish Soda bread. Katie always shared them generously with me and her roommate Betsy. In fact, she didn’t seem to like the breads as much as we did-perhaps she was bored of them after all those years. Or perhaps Betsy and I were simply bigger eaters.

One afternoon a package delivered before Katie got home from class. It was a couple of hours before dinner time, but Betsy and I were hungry. “She won’t mind if we have just a slice” we’d agreed. Katie walked in about 30 minutes later to find her two best friends sheepishly standing over less than half a loaf of Irish Soda bread. It is a testament to the good nature of Katherine Mary Callahan that she just burst out laughing. This recipe, provided by Katie’s sister Meghan, is a testament to their wonderful mother Mary Lee.

Mary Lee’s Soda Bread

Ingredients

3 cups flour, sifted
2/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups raisins or currants
2 eggs, beaten
2 cups buttermilk
2 tablespoons melted shortening

Instructions

Mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl. Mix in raisins.
In a separate bowl, combine eggs, milk and shortening. Mix well, then pour into flour mixture.
Butter a loaf pan, then pour in the batter.
Bake one hour at 350F.