2 ½ cups buttermilk may substitute 2 ½ cups water and 10 tablespoons buttermilk powder
½ cup raisins or sultanas
Directions
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Add all of the dry ingredients in a large bowl and mix very well. (If making spotted dog variant, then add raisins.)
Pour all of the buttermilk into the bowl at once and stir, using a wooden spoon, just until a soft dough is formed. Do not try to make this soft at this point.
Pour the contents of the bowl put onto a plastic counter and knead for a minute or so until everything comes together. You may need to add a little bit more flout depending on humidity. The dough should be smooth, not sticky.
Divide the dough into two portions and shape each into round loaf, pressing the top down a bit just to barely flatten it.
Place the loaves on a large ungreased baking sheet. Sprinkle some additional flour on the top of each loaf and using a sharp paring knife, make the sign of the cross in slashes on the top of each.
Allow the loaves to rest for 10 minutes and then bake on the middle rack of the oven for 40 minutes or until the loaves are golden brown and done to taste. cool on racks.
