Hm (big doubt)...: when you know how fast (2 or 3 minutes !) it takes to mix the ingredients just with a knife or hands, I really don't see the interest of using a bread machine (and having to wash it afterwards).
And above all, in addition to this : the Irish soda bread dough has to be VERY FEW kneaded : once the ingredients mixed in a bowl, you just "work" them about 30 seconds. Overwork makes the gluten be very present, then the consistency of the bread is not at all the Irish one.
The bread machine kneads the bread much too long. And the time tou ohave to wait for, to get your bread cooked, is also very long, wben in the oven you just wait 50 minutes !
So really, where is the advantage of using the bread machine for this fabulous and so quick and easy bread to to by hand (and not to mention the pleasure of "feeling" the dough into your hands...).
So... better go and see the (numerous) recipes of Irish soda bread WITHOUT bread machine (Gemma Stafford, Trish Deseire...) :-)
MC
