Weekend recipes: Irish Soda Bread

I made an Irish Soda Bread this past weekend.  I think it turned out ok, but I'm not sure I like soda breads when compared to yeast breads.  The folks at work did not prefer it over the Struan alternative.

This recipe comes from "Bernard Clayton's New Complete Book of Breads".  It's his Royal Hibernian Brown Loaf.

2-1/2 Cups whole wheat flour
1 Cup all purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1-1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 Cup butter, room temperature
1 egg
1-1/4 Cups buttermilk

Preheat oven to 400F

Mix all of the dry ingredients together in a bowl.  Work the butter in until you get something that looks like breadcrumbs.

In a well in the center of the mixture, pour in a mixture of the egg and buttermilk.  Mix until you get a stiff dough.

Lift the dough from the bowl and place on a lightly floured work surface.  Mix with hands and dough knife until thoroughly blended.  Do not knead.

Shape into a plump round ball.  Pat the top down slightly and with a knife or razor blade, cut a 1/2" deep cross on the top.

Please the loaf on a greased baking sheet and bake until brown, about 45 minutes.