rosemary thyme dubliner soda bread + bread pudding

ast month Kerrygold contacted me to see if I'd be interested in doing some recipe posts with their cheese and butter and seeing as Kerrygold's Dubliner is one of my favorite cheeses, I was pretty stoked to make delicious recipes with their cheese.  In the coming months I'll be posting a few fun recipes with their cheese, so cheese-lovers, get excited! I'm a little belated in posting this recipe, since it was inspired by all things Irish due to St. Patrick's day, but I was on the road during St. Paddy's day, and besides, this recipe is great for any time of year, not just for when we're all decked out in green!  
Dan was really into baking bread for a few months last year and one of his great staples was Irish soda bread, so for this recipe I enlisted his help in taking his soda bread to the next level!  We added cheese and fresh herbs and then used the soda bread to make a savory bread pudding that is divine!

(recipe adapted from epicurious)

Irish Soda Bread Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary

1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme

1/2 cup Kerrygold Dubliner cheese

1 cup buttermilk

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

To make soda bread:

Preheat oven to 375°F.  Whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cheese, and herbs in a large bowl. Add buttermilk and butter. Stir just until dough is evenly moistened but still lumpy.

Transfer the dough to a well-floured surface and turn dough to coat with flour. Gently knead with floured hands about 8 times to form a soft but slightly less sticky dough.

Form into a loaf, appx. 6-inch round and put on an ungreased baking sheet. Cut a 1/2-inch-deep "X" across top of the loaf with a sharp knife. Dust 1 tablespoon of additional flour over the loaf.

Bake in middle of oven until golden brown and bottom sounds hollow when tapped, 35 to 40 minutes. Transfer loaf to a rack and cool completely.

Bread Pudding Ingredients:
1 1/4 cup grated Kerrygold Skellig sweet cheddar cheese
1/4 cup grated Kerrygold Dubliner cheese
4 large eggs
2 1/2 cups whole milk
Loaf of Irish Soda Bread

To make bread pudding:
Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Butter ramekins or baking dish.

Cut enough bread into 1-inch cubes to measure 3 3/4 cups. Divide bread among ramekins (or spread in larger baking dish).

Whisk together eggs, milk, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Stir in cheese and spoon over bread in ramekins or baking dish. Let stand 10 minutes.

Put ramekins or baking dish in a larger baking pan and add enough hot water to come halfway up sides of ramekins or dish.

Bake until just set and a knife inserted in center comes out clean, about 35 minutes.

Transfer ramekins or dish from hot water bath to a rack and cool 10 minutes before serving.