Friday 20 January 2012

Friday Feast - Sultana and Almond Loaf

Surprise this week - not a savoury dish! We have a two-legged mouse in this house (I'll call him 'Leonardo') who is partial to cake - although I don't bake really regularly as Leonardo can't leave baked goodies alone :) But, earlier this week, on a dull and quite cold day, I decided that we needed the smell of home baking wafting around the house. Some kind bloggy friend did remark that she thought you baked to eat the results, not for the smell - err, good point there:)
Sultana and Almond Loaf

175g butter, softened
100g caster sugar
Zest of 1 lemon
2 medium eggs, beaten
100g sultanas
100g chopped or flaked almonds
200g self-raising flour, sifted
100ml semi-skimmed milk
Juice of half a lemon

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees, Gas Mark 4.

Grease a 12 x 22cm (2lb) loaf tin and line with parchment paper.

Cream the butter, sugar and lemon zest together until fluffy. Gradually add the eggs. Stir in the sultanas and half the almonds. Fold in the sifted flour.

Pour in the milk and lemon juice, stirring gently until a dropping consistency is achieved. Spoon the mixture into the tin and smooth with a wet spoon.

Top with the remaining almonds and bake in the oven for 50 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.

Allow to cool in the tin slightly then turn out onto a cooling rack and remove paper. This is also delicious served with custard or creme fraiche.

Things I do: even though I use non-stick bake ware I would still line the tin for this recipe, mostly as it makes for less washing up. Lakeland Limited sell some loaf tin liners in both 1lb and 2lb sizes, amongst all sort of other cake tin liners and they're great. They come in packs of 40 and I expect other places also sell them.

This is the first time I'd come across the tip to smooth the top of a cake with a wet (metal) spoon, and it worked a treat! Where have I been all this time?

I used large eggs and fully skimmed milk 'cos that's what was to hand. It's the first time I've tried this particular recipe and another time I might change it slightly. A few more sultanas might be good and I'd put more of the almonds actually into the mixture (two thirds to three quarters, reserving the rest for the top.  You can see from the photo how the top of the loaf is quite loaded with half the almonds.

I also hide the thing in a secret place if it isn't to disappear in double quick time - but I can't tell you where, just in case Leonardo hops in here for a look :)

Enjoy!

Di
x

17 comments:

  1. Hello Di

    My mouth is watering as I write. I can smell your cooking up North. Your loaf looks, and I bet tastes fabulous.

    luv
    irene
    xxxx

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  2. Oh Di I can smell that from here. yum yum.
    I might just pinch a small slice to have with my morning coffee if you don't mind :-)
    Hugs,
    A x

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  3. Looks scrumptious . . . I adore almonds . . . I'll be round later for a slice and a cuppa if Leonardo hasn't scoffed it all by now! xxx

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  4. Hello Di, this looks delicious and I do believe I have most of the ingredients in the cupboard so I might just give this a whirl over the weekend. I will replace some of the sugar with a substitute , otherwise I couldn't possibly eat any :( and add more sultanas and almonds to the mixture as you suggest. I have a two-legged mouse too but there's no hiding place he hasn't discovered yet! Elizabeth x

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  5. Oops! Forgot to mention your curry is on the menu for tomorrow and looking forward to it.

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  6. Yummy this looks mouth watering!!! Thanks for sharing the recipe I have all this ingredience in so I might bake one of these later this afternoon.
    Thanks again,
    Diane xx

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  7. You've got two of my favourite flavours right there Di, almonds and citrus, so I might be tempted by a bit of home baking myself this weekend. I will definitely put more of the almonds inside and I think I'd add a bit of almond extract too. Love it when the house smells of home baking too!

    Hugs
    Brenda

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  8. That looks lovely, I love almonds!

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  9. Lol, have I got you on the run!! I saw that post on Sarn's blog, very useful stuff! I just thought it was really funny and a good way of enhancing my trouble making reputation in the playground! Tee hee!

    Hugs
    Brenda

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  10. Wicked girl Brenda! I've said elsewhere on the 'offending post' that this weeks roll call will be staid and serious for fear of causing offence. Snort, snort!

    Signed

    Princess Tippy Toes :)

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  11. Yum! As I sit at my computer I'm wishing I had a slice - would be wonderful with my morning coffee!!!

    Hugs,
    Kay

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  12. That loaf looks so tempting, Di, but I am the only one in our house who really likes almonds, so it would not be good for the diet. However, I do have the smell of fresh bread wafting round at the moment (the loaf just came out of the oven), so I shall have to be content with that for today. Afters at tea time today will be pink splodge. Have fun with the rosettes. If you want very big ones, hen you need to extend your strips longer than an A4 sheet. xx Maggie

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  13. Afternoon Di, This looks and sounds delicious! l do would you believe have all the ingredients in and will try this on Sunday when the family are round for Sunday lunch and watching the Football l normally make a coconut cake but l think a chance is in order this weekend and this looks the perfect chance! l always copy and paste your recipes Di so this one has been added to my recipe book :) Sandra H

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  14. This looks Yummy! I'll have to ry it. I have my own Leonardo here so I'll have to hide it as well. The man has burnt himself because he can't wait for things to cool.
    Hugs
    Bernie

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  15. Looks very nutty, a bit like someone I know, lol.

    Kath x

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  16. Mmm, that looks so good!!

    love Mags B x

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  17. Yum.... Found your blog via Sandra's. This looks like a bread I want to try. I will have to see about converting the measurements.
    thanks for the recipe.
    hugs
    Peggy--------I LOVE to cook! (and eat) haha

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