Herbed whole wheat soda bread

Instructions

• Set rack just below oven centre so bread will bake in bottom third of oven. This allows bread to bake thoroughly without making top too brown. Preheat oven to 400F (200C). Using a fork, stir flours with baking soda, salt, basil, thyme and oregano. Stir in caraway seeds. Using your fingers, rub in butter until mixture is crumbly but tiny pieces of butter can still be seen. Or use a pastry cutter to cut in butter. Pour in buttermilk and stir just until all ingredients are combined.

• Place dough on a floured surface. With floured hands, shape into a flat round loaf, about 8 inches (20-cm) across. Place loaf on a greased baking sheet and, with a sharp knife, cut a cross into top of loaf, about 1/2 inch (1 cm) deep.

• Bake in preheated oven until a skewer inserted into centre comes out clean and bread is golden brown, about 45 to 55 minutes. Cool on a wire rack, slice into wedges and serve warm. Bread will keep well for at least 2 days at room temperature and can be frozen.