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Irish Soda Bread - HSPD!

This morning my friend, Mike, sent me the text message, "HSPD". It took me a minute to come up with Happy St. Patrick's Day. Really, not having an drop of Irish in me, my people focused on St. Joseph - an Italian Hero!

This morning I took out my favorite Soda Bread recipe in honor of my Irish friends and made it a bit healthier, but retained the great flavor. At 3 points for a hardy slice - I think you will find it is well worth it!

The only problem is that it taste so good I want more than one serving! I think I will be giving 1/2 of the loaf away!

IRISH SODA BREAD

2 cups white flour
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoom baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup Splenda (the granulated kind)
1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup golden raisins
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup walnuts, chopped and toasted
1 - 2 teaspoons carraway seeds (optional)

1 to 1 1/3 cups buttermilk
1/4 egg white or egg beaters
5 tablespoons butter, melted (perferrably unsalted)

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 10 in skillet.

Combine flower powder, soda, salt and sugar. Mix in fruit, nuts and carraway. Make a well in center. Combine wet ingredients. Mix in wet ingredients. Form a soft dough. Knead just a bit.

Transfer to the skillet sprayed with cooking spray, shaping into a ball. Flatten the ball because it will rise. Slash an X across the top.

Bake until set, 50 - 60 minutes. Cool completely.

This makes 16 servings with a points value of 3 each. It is really a good bread and even makes a good dessert after your meal or it is really great toasted!

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