Like Mum used to make

Today has been rather productive and I'm a tad knackered!  It's a good knackered, though; the kind that gives you an ache in your bones and reminds you that you've actually done something with your day, and the kind that sees a freezer restocked with goodies.

Over on H.A.P.P.Y. last week I talked about why I bake so much and what originally inspired me.  Or rather who inspired me.  To this day I maintain that it was mum who gave me the love of baking that I have now, and with that in mind I wanted to make something from her recipe folder that I would be allowed to eat!

So the first loaf of the day came from her very own hand, and it's a fruit loaf.

I remember mum making this years and years ago.  I used to wonder how it could be that a bowl full of All Bran cereal and milk could create something so moreish, and I do still wonder the same today.  I did make a couple of small adjustments to her recipe.  I halved the sugar because quite frankly it was just way too sweet, and I added cinnamon because I just really, really like it!

This is possibly one of the simplest recipes I've ever used, and it gives fab results.

Fruit Loaf

1 heaped mug All Bran cereal
1 heaped mug mixed fruit (I just used sultanas and raisins)

½ mug caster sugar

1 mug milk (I use skimmed to keep the fat content low so I can still eat it)
1 heaped mug self raising flour
1½ teaspoons cinammon

• Put the All Bran, mixed fruit, sugar and milk in a bowl and mix.  Leave it to stand for 1 hour.
• Add the flour and cinammon, and mix well.
• Bake in a lined and greased loaf tin for 1 1/2 hours at 180°C (160 fan)

 It really is that simple.  This is the one I made today.



Almost me mam's Fruit Loaf

Sometimes I add orange and lemon zest and leave out the cinnamon.  Sometimes I crush some pecans and mix them with demerera sugar and sprinkle it on top of the loaf before baking.  Next time I might add some apple.

The loaf freezes well, and it's bloomin' gorgeous toasted and slathered in butter.  Not quite the healthier option when served like that, but rather good for an occasional treat!

I did say I was busy today, and I did also make bread.  This wasn't one of mum's recipes (I don't remember seeing any bready things in her folder at all, come to think of it), but one of Paul Hollywood's.  It's a seeded bread from his 'How to Bake' book, and it's... ohhhhh... it's so good!

This loaf incorporates pumpkin, sesame, poppy, sunflower and linseed.  There should have been another but I can't remember what it was and can't be bothered going to look!  I just used a little extra of the other seeds instead.  It uses a combination of white, wholemeal and rye flour, and there's some black treacle thrown in there for luck.  Or flavour.  Perhaps it's more for flavour.



Seeded Bread
A bit gashy, but bloody lovely!

In hindsight I may have cut the dough too deeply before it had its second prove, because rather than a nice detail of a bit of a cut down the middle, instead it has a big, gaping gash!  Oh well, at least it proved that it proved!

If you do make this, don't skimp on the mixing.  The recipe suggested using a mixer with a dough hook, and in total the mixing time is around 10 minutes.  I don't have a standalone mixer so I used a hand mixer with small dough hooks.  It worked, but it could have been much better; the loaf is a little closer in texture than it should be (but then, wholemeal flour will do that, too).  This is a wet dough that needs the intense mixing time that hands just won't easily give.

I'm using christmas vouchers to buy myself a mixer.  Yes, I know; I still have christmas vouchers!



Seeded Bread
With actual real butter...

If you love seeded bread, you'll bloody well adore this one!  I've only had one slice but could have so easily eaten half the loaf in one sitting.  As it is, I've frozen most of it and kept some aside for tomorrow's breakfast.  The will power it's taking not to go toast it right now is more than you could know!

So there you are, two loaves for the price of one; fruity and seedy.  No, it doesn't remind me of anyone, either.  Nope.  Not at all.

Anyway...

I did also make cakes and cinder toffee today but that blog entry is for tomorrow because I have more to do, so until then please wish me luck in not devouring what's not in the freezer.  I need all the help I can get!