Irish Soda Bread

This is Rebecca's favorite food in the whole world.  Ever.


Ingredients:
4 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) butter
1 large egg, beaten
1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and grease and flour a 9-inch round baking dish.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, salt, and sugar.  Rub in the butter with your fingertips until it is completely rubbed in.  The mixture will still be floury because of the much higher proportion of flour.  With a wooden spoon stir or fold in the egg and buttermilk until a dough begins to form.  Turn the dough onto a flour-dusted work surface and knead briefly just until dough comes together.  Form the dough into a round and dust the top with the extra flour.  Place the dough into the prepared pan and score an X about 1/2-inch deep on the top of the dough.
3. Bake for 15 minutes; reduce heat to 350 degrees F and bake another 40 minutes until the bottom is dark golden brown.
4. Cool completely on a wire rack before serving.  Irish soda bread tastes best the day it is made but makes the best toast ever after the first day.  Serve with soup or stew.