• 1 pound flour
• 1 generous dessertspoon sugar
• 1 level teaspoon salt
• 1 level teaspoon baking soda, finely sieved
• 3-4 ounces sultanas, raisins or currants
• 12-15 ounces buttermilk
• 1 egg (optional, you will not need all the milk if you use the egg)
  
  

First fully preheat your oven to 450 degrees.

Sieve the dry ingredients, add the fruit and mix well. Break the egg into a measuring jug and pour in the buttermilk up to 12 ounces level, whisk the egg with the buttermilk. Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and pour most of the milk in at once. Using one hand, mix in the flour from the sides of the bowl, adding more milk if necessary. The dough should be softish, not too wet and sticky. When it all comes together, turn it out onto a floured board, roll around gently, just enough to tidy it up. Pat the dough into a round about 1 inch high and cut a deep cross on it to let the fairies out! Let the cuts go over the side of the bread to make sure of this.

Bake in a hot oven, 450 degrees, 8 for 15 minutes, then turn down the oven to 400 degrees, for 30 minutes or until cooked. If you are in doubt, tap the bottom, if it is cooked it will sound hollow. Serve freshly baked, cut into thick slices smeared with butter. Simply Delicious!