Irish soda bread is a classic St. Patrick’s Day treat but this whole wheat version is healthier than the traditional recipe, and it includes plenty of nuts and seeds, such concentrated little packets of omega-3 oils and nourishment.

Like Irish soda bread, Hearty Seeded Quick Bread is easy and fast to make: That is the joy of non-yeasted breads. This is the season to honor seeds beginning to wake up underground, and a loaf of this tender, toothsome bread can be a celebration of spring’s beginning, all by itself.

INGREDIENTS

1 egg
1 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts
1/3 cup sliced almonds
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup flaxseeds
1/4 cup sesame or poppy seeds
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

1. Preheat oven to 350F. In a large mixing bowl, combine the egg, buttermilk, and oil, mixing thoroughly.

2. Combine all of the dry ingredients in a separate bowl, then add to wet ingredients, stirring thoroughly.

3. Place batter evenly in a greased 9 x 5 inch loaf pan and bake 50 to 60 minutes, until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out on a rack to cool completely.