Bread in Europe They are very light, contain preservatives (e.g. ethyl alcohol) and have a very long shelf life (often more than a month). In Ireland it is traditionally held that the end of a loaf of bread (the "heel" of the loaf) is the best part of the loaf. Other stories and myths surround this piece of the bread in Irish mythology. Irish soda bread, developed to make the most of the soft wheat grown in Ireland, is unusual for a European bread in that it is a quick bread, using the reaction of buttermilk and baking soda rather than yeast to
Stoneground flour Stoneground flour Stoneground flour is a wholemeal flour produced by the traditional process of grinding grain between two millstones, in contrast to mass produced flours which are generally produced using rollers. The process leaves the wheatgerm more intact than roller processes for producing wholemeal flour, the larger pieces of bran and other components of the grain cause it to have a coarser texture but greater flavour. This affects its ability to rise, however it can produce a more satisfying texture for some baked products. The inclusion of more bran and intact wheatgerm in the flour means that it is often