Irish Soda Bread

My nana used to make this quite often. She would tell us as kids, don't run through the house and don't make loud noise or my bread won't rise! So we had to tiptoe around while the bread was rising for an hour. It always turned out great. She also used this same recipe but made them into rolls. Either way is good. Best served straight from the oven or eaten the next day as toast.

4 cups flour
2 tbsp sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
4 tbsp butter
1 cup raisins
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 cups buttermilk

Rinse the raisins and dry with a paper towel. Preheat oven to 425°. Add flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda in a large mixing bowl. Cut butter into flour mixture, then stir in raisins. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture. Add beaten egg and buttermilk to well and mix in with a wooden spoon until dough is too stiff to stir. Dust hands with a little flour, then gently knead dough in the bowl just long enough to form a rough ball. Do not over-knead. Shape dough into a bread loaf pan (or muffin tin). Cut a cross in the top of the dough. Bake for 35 minutes or until golden brown.