Soda Bread Rolls

Recipe originally by James Martin

but tweaked and deliciously made by No.1 Son -

Ingredients:
6 ozs. (170g) self-raising wholemeal flour
6 ozs. (170g) plain flour (plus extra if dough is too wet)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. bicarbonate of soda
1/2pt. buttermilk or ordinary milk+a tablespoon of red wine vinegar
Italian dried herbs and small amount of dried corriander

Oven 400F / 200C / Gas 6
Tip the flours, salt and bicarb into a large mixing bowl and stir together.

Make a well in the centre and pour in the liquid, mixing quickly with a fork to form a soft dough - adding a little more milk or flour depending on the stickiness of the dough. It should be slightly tacky.

Turn on to a floured surface and knead briefly.

Form into 1 large or four round rolls, flatten the dough slightly and brush with melted butter. Place on to a greased/lightly floured baking tray.

Cut a cross on the top of each roll and bake for approx. 30 mins until the loaf or rolls sound hollow when the base is tapped.

Cool on a wire rack.

These are just delicious while still warm - enjoy! :)

James Martin

Check out James Martin's website - includes recipes and a current blog.

I tend to rewatch his tv cookery programmes - (lots of recipes on this link). I love his style and find his recipes very do-able. I particularly enjoyed his veggie growing series - James Martin Digs Deep - plus the recipes that went with the programme.
(Mind you, I do like watching all his programmes.)

Books available at Amazon

James Martin's Brittany; Britain's Best Dish and Masterchef ..... TV Cookery Programmes

There are (as usual) tons of cookery programmes on tv and two of the nicest, I've found currently are - 'James Martin's Brittany' on UKTVFood and 'Britain's Best Dish' on itv.

'James Martin's Brittany' is a bit of a boy's romp through Brittany with some of his friends. It's very watchable with some super cooking and scenic views and showing us just wonderful local French markets -- (drool!)

'Britain's Best Dish' is also great to watch. It has an excellent panel of judges (not at all 'pseudy'), is well presented, and seems to have taken on board all the annoying points of cookery competitions and done away with them. The actual judging doesn't dwell for an endless amount of dramatic time on the poor contestants waiting to find out whether they've got through or not. I like that, and there's not any unecessary prattle by the presenter. The standard of good home-cooked food from the winning contestants, is also good to watch, and I shall certainly be trying a few of the recipes.

The 'well seasoned' "Masterchef" on BBC has become very boring - - the chefs and the recipes. I like Michel Roux very much, and feel he could probably do this programme on his own, but I think the format with John Torode and Gregg Wallace worked very well - despite the over-dramatic bits!