Died and Gone to Heaven Irish Soda Bread

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Put raisins in a bowl and cover with boiling water.

Sift dry ingredients into a large bowl.

Cut butter into small pieces and mix into the flour mixture with a pastry blender or your fingers until it is course.

Beat the egg until very frothy.

Beat in the honey until well blended, then add the buttermilk.

Drain the raisins well and add raisins and walnuts to flour.

Toss to distribute evenly.

Gradually pour the liquids in and mix with a large metal spoon so mixture is evenly moistened and you have a heavy, moist batter. Don't use too much liquid; you don't want a wet batter.

Don't try to mix completely; it should be rough and lumpy.

Grease a heavy loaf pan (original recipe calls for a large cast iron frying pan which also works well).

Spoon batter into pan in clumps.

Leave the top lumpy.

Bake about an hour until the middle is set.

If using a fry pan it will not take as long to bake.