Loads of soda bread recipes around, but here is the one I use:
1 lb bread flour (all-white, all-wholemeal or mixture) - some recipes just use plain flour, I prefer bread flour
1 tsp salt
2 tsp cream of tartar
2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
Mix above ingredients together. Then add enough milk to bind it together. I can't remember the original quantity, think it might have been about 1/4 pint, I just add it until it makes a nice dough, not sticky.
Most recipes say use buttermilk. You can use ordinary milk or you can 'sour' it by adding a spoonful or so of lemon juice to the milk. Or use yoghurt.
Once you've brought it together into a dough, spend literally 30-60 seconds kneading it gently and shaping it until you have a nice round shape, about 8 cm diameter.
Put onto a baking tray. Using a large knife make 2 cuts into the bread, almost as if you were going to cut it into quarters but changed your mind so you only cut a bit of the way through!
Bake in pre-heated oven at 190-200 deg C until cooked through and nicely browned. Most recipes say up to 40 mins, but in my oven it never takes longer than 25-30 mins.
You can cut it into slices (although it's best eaten really fresh it is fine for next day's packed lunches), but I usually cut it into 8 wedges, so each piece looks almost like a triangular scone!
Serve on it's own just buttered, or with jam (home-made of course!) or with soup or a ploughman's or, well with anything!
This is a great recipe for when you realise you haven't got anything for lunch in less than an hour's time! Easy for children to make on their own too.