Irish Soda Bread

Directions

1. 1
   Preheat oven to 400 F.
2. 2
   Mix flour, baking soda, parsnip, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
3. 3
   Mix in buttermilk.
4. 4
   Mix in raisins.Use your hands to gently knead the mixture together to form a dough. It's a rustic bread, so don't expect a smooth elastic dough like you might have seen with other types of bread.
5. 5
   Place dough into a lightly greased deep 8" skillet or shape into a round loaf on a lightly greased cookie sheet,
6. 6
   Cut a cross into the loaf, going about halfway into the dough. This is not just decorative; it helps the bread bake evenly.
7. 7
   Bake for 40 minutes or until crusty. When you flip the loaf out to cool, it should sound hollow when you tap the bottom.