Karen Wright: My simple soda bread recipe

For me I try to just focus on one day at a time. I have slowed down my pace, deliberately taking longer to do my tasks and having a good old relax with a cup of tea at regular intervals. I have also added my name to the list of volunteers that thousands and thousands of others have subscribed to, the one the NHS and the Royal Voluntary Service have started. I am now waiting to be deployed in some way.

In the meantime, I have been making cooking videos in my kitchen, conservatory and garden, you can watch them on my Facebook, Instagram or Twitter feeds, I go by karenwrightbake, I have also got a YouTube channel and I would love it if you ticked the subscribe button, it’s all free!

Lots of people have shown interest in making bread (including my 88-year-old uncle Graham), so much so that it has been impossible to buy bread flour or yeast. I am sharing with you this week my simple soda bread recipe that needs neither of these two things and does not need to be left to rise. It has a scone like texture inside and has a very crusty exterior.

Ingredients:

500g plain flour

2 tsps bicarbonate of soda

1 tsp salt

300ml milk

Juice half a lemon or a tbs vinegar

Method: Pre-heat the oven to 200 degrees. Add the lemon juice or vinegar to the milk, this will curdle the milk a little and is a makeshift buttermilk. The combination of the acid in the milk and the soda in the flour reacts and causes the bread to rise in the oven. Add the salt and soda to the flour and stir through. Add the milk mixture to the flour mixture and stir it in with a large spoon. Turn the dough out onto the worktop and knead for a couple of minutes until it comes together in a ball. Place on a greased baking tray. Score a large cross into the top of the dough with a large knife. Dust with flour. Bake for about 30 minutes until golden brown. If desired extra things can be added to the mixture for example, sundried tomatoes, olives, spices or cheese.

I think that we should all try our hardest to eat healthily now, we need to keep our bodies and souls in the best condition possible. It's tempting to snack on treats when we are housebound but how about making some healthy snacks. Dips like hummus, guacamole and tzatziki are all very easy to make at home with good old carrot sticks and celery to dip in them, it would be like having a mini party at home. Fresh fruit is plentiful in the supermarkets now so we can indulge ourselves without the guilt.

Readers, #stayhome #staysafe we can beat this! Until next week, adios!

For more tips and recipes go to http://www.karenwrightbakes.co.uk