Irish Soda Bread

3 cups flour
2/3 cup sugar
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups currants or dark, seedless raisins
2 eggs, beaten
1 3/4 - 2 cups buttermilk
2 Tbsp. melted shortening

Sift together into a large bowl, flour, sugar, baking powder, soda and salt. Stir in currants or raisins. Combine eggs, buttermilk and shortening. Add liquid mixture to dry ingredients and mix just until flour is moistened. Turn batter into greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hour. Remove from pan immediately. Allow to cool thoroughly before slicing.