FRUIT BRAN LOAF

I do love a good simple easy and quick recipe that can be conjoured up withing minutes and then thrown in the oven with little or no preparation involved, but what comes out of the oven after baking could be seen as something that took a lot of hard work, time and effort, when in reality it was probably one of the most easiest recipes I've ever created. 

So this is just that. 

A easy, quick and very versatile recipe for a fruit bran loaf, that...wait for it...Has only 4 ingredients! 

But that doesn't mean it's going to taste bland and dry, this loaf is so soft, squishy and moist and can be topped with almost anything that takes your fancy. 

So let's get into the ingredients, as I mentioned before, there is only 4 (but this doesn't mean you can't add extras if you like...cinnamon, nutmeg, peanut butter, banana, the possibilities are endless)

Today, I'm going to give you the simple recipe that can be adapted to suit your taste buds. 

Ingredients:

1 cup (250g) bran 

1 cup (175g) dried mixed fruit

1 1/2 cup (375ml) milk

1 cup (175g) self rasing flour 

Method:

STEP 1:

Preheat oven to 180 degrees 

STEP 2:

Combine bran , fruit and milk in a bowl & leave to stand for 15 mins until the bran has softened 

STEP 3:

Add flour and mix well until combined, (the mixture should be lumpy but that is compleatly normal don't worry)

STEP 4:

Spoon the mixture into a paper lined loaf tin and bake for 40 mins or until cooked through. 

(Do the toothpick test after 30 minutes)

STEP 5:

Cool on a wire rack and serve sliced with butter, jam, marmalade, peanut butter, sliced bananas....or anything else you like.

VIDEO RECIPE:

HAPPY BAKING,

Rachel Ward

CINNAMON & RAISIN BREAD

The first time I ever tasted cinnamon and raisin bread was when I went traveling across America, we were camping near the Grand Canyon and breakfast was being served, I grabbed a slice from the food container and so my breakfast was simple, but one that I have never forgotten. I remember how I had never tasted bread so sweet or delicious before, and before I knew it I had taken another slice. I told myself there and then that this was defiantly something I needed to learn to bake myself, as I couldn't possibly consider the thought of going back home never to experience this wonderful bread again. 

So nearly two years later, I've finally gotten round to forming a recipe and created my own version of that delectable loaf I sampled all the way from the USA. 

This is a very simple recipe I have conjured up, and to be honest I really don't know why its taken me that long, but better late than never I always say, so here it is...

Ingredients:

1 tbsp butter

1 cup (200g) caster sugar 

1 cup (170g) raisins 

2 cups (350g) self raising flour

2 tsp cinnamon

1 cup water 

Method:

STEP 1:

Preheat oven to 180 degrees

STEP 2:

Place butter, sugar, raisins, and water in a saucepan and bring to the boil, then simmer for 5 minutes.

STEP 3:

Set aside and allow to cool 

STEP 4:

Once cooled, add flour and cinnamon and stir until everything is combined together

STEP 5:

Bake in a lined loaf tin for 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean

STEP 6:

Allow to cool, then slice, serve and enjoy. 

VIDEO RECIPE:

So there you have it, my very easy, simple and quick take on a cinnamon and raisin loaf. If you want to give this recipe a go then don't forget to tweet me your finished masterpieces! 

Baking Twitter: 

https://twitter.com/Rachelscakeco

Personal Twitter:

https://twitter.com/Rachelward303

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/user/catalow333

HAPPY BAKING! 

Rachel Ward

GIANT JAFFA CAKE

I was recently inspired by a tv show on food network (I can't remember the name of it sorry, it was similar to diners, drive-ins and dives) where the presenter would go around the USA and sample all the delights of what America had to offer which only meant one thing....SUPERSIZE FOODS!

From a three course meal breakfast to a whooper of a lunch menu everything on This show was crazy big! (Even the presenter was on the large side to put it nicely), anyway a lightbulb went of in my head  whilst watching this and I thought, if they can do it why not me.

That's when it hit me..

...I could create a mini web series making, baking and creating all things SUPERSIZE! From snacks and biscuits to everything in between. So I sat down and started to brainstorm ideas, and visualise how I would transform a basic afternoon snack time treat into something of an enormous and epic proportion.

To start with I had to decide what snacks to supersize and I came up with a few, the first being the British Classic: A Jaffa Cake !

So I went to my local Tesco and bought a packet of McVities Jaffa cakes (other Jaffa cakes are available) and started to deconstruct it. Turns out it's a pretty simple cake...or biscuit...or cake?

There were only three layers which I could easily replicate and supersize. Firstly there was the vanilla cake base, orange jelly middle and chocolate top. Simple right?

So that's when I donned on my apron and started to get to work. If you want to see what happened

then I made a little video showing you all my steps. Feel free to give it a watch below;

Also, if you have any other suggestions or snacks you want me to supersize then please leave me a comment as I would love to hear what you have in mind ! 

Thank you, until next time,

Rachel Ward