Jacques Pepin's Excellent Soda Bread

Jacques Pepin is back on Food TV with his "Essential Pepin" Series
He is a wonderful Chef and an excellent teacher
It is so inspiring to watch him cook

I got this recipe off his website after watching his programme on Bread
I love bread and I have friends, who either because of gluten intolerance, or choose not to, don't consume bread.
I hope that never happens to me
It is the Staff of Life after all

Soda bread is one of the simplest and quickest methods to make bread at home
It doesn't have yeast so that cuts the prep time down.

Jacques suggests to how keep this bread light and moist, with a crispy exterior: 

For the first thirty minutes, the bread bakes under an overturned bowl 

that is removed for the second half of the baking time so that the crust can brown.

Yield:

Makes 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon rice bran oil

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 cups milk

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C. 
Check your oven that make be a little hot
Don't let the bread get too brown

Line your baking sheet with a piece of baking paper

Oil it with the rice bran oil.

Combine the flour with the salt and baking powder in a large mixing bowl.

Add the milk, and mix gently and quickly with a wooden spatula,

until the mixture forms a solid mass.

It should be wettish not dry so add more milk if too dry

Place the dough on the prepared baking sheet.

Using a piece of plastic wrap, press and

mold the dough to create a round loaf about 7 inches in diameter and 1 inch thick.

Sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of flour over the top,

Using a serrated knife, cut a large cross, about 1/2 inch deep, across the top of the loaf. 

(Don’t drag the tip of the knife through the dough; keep the length of the blade parallel to the work surface.)

Invert a stainless steel bowl over the bread and bake for 30 minutes.

Remove the bowl and continue to bake the bread for another 20- 30 minutes, until the exterior is golden brown.

Remove the bread to a wire cooling rack and let cool for at least 30 minutes before serving.

We decided to have lunch on the Loggia

I made delicious crisp salads

Red Pepper

Cucumber

Celery

Finely chopped Shallot

Chicken for me Smoked Salmon for Dale

Lightly dressed with delightful dressing

Bought Mayo is fine... about 3 tablespoons

Lemon zest and juice of 1/2 lemon

Sea Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper

A dash Ketchup

A glass of crisp Sauv Blanc and we're sweet

AND this morning we had it for breakfast
Grilled Cheese on Toast

Wonderful
Thank you Jacques