Everyone looks forward to Saint Patrick’s Day at VPR. That's because membership guru Jean Murphy always makes her grandmother-in-law's famous Irish soda bread for everyone at the office. She says, "This soda bread recipe came from my husband's grandmother, Nellie Murphy of Dingle, Co. Kerry.  She used to make about 20 loaves every St. Patrick's Day for all her dear ones. Mine is never as good as hers, but I still make it every year." LaFheile Padraig Happy go leir!

4 cups flour
1 cup raisins
2 tablespoons caraway seed
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda dissolved in 1 tablespoon water

In a large bowl, combine flour, raisins, caraway seed, sugar, baking powder and salt.  In separate bowl, beat eggs with buttermilk and melted butter, then stir in cream of tartar and baking soda dissolved in water. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix well. Add more buttermilk if mixture is too dry - dough should be wet and sticky.  Put in buttered, floured 9-inch baking dish and pat into round (you may want to flour your hands). Make a cross on top of the bread. Bake 40-60 minutes at 350 until golden brown.

Find more St. Patrick's Day recipes here!