Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9 inch cast-iron pan with fat or butter.

Step 2

In a large bowl, mix flour, raisins, sugar, caraway seeds, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir in 2½ cups buttermilk. If it's moistened enough (dough coming together but not super sticky wet), then you don't need any more buttermilk. If it seems too dry, add a little more buttermilk until it looks good.

Step 3

Scrape the batter into the pan and spread to the sides to even it out. Add more raisins to the top if you want. Bake 45 to 60 minutes, or until the bread tests done when a toothpick or knife is stuck into the middle. You'll need to cover the bread loosely with foil about 20 minutes or so into cooking to avoid burning the raisins on top and to avoid the top getting too browned. EAT!