Fat Free Cake

I thought that might get your attention.

As the weather has been pretty miserable over the last few weeks, I thought it might be a good time to share a recipe. And lovely comfort food it is too - Speckled Bread, or Bara Brith, as I believe they call it in Wales.

Technically it's not totally fat-free as the recipe calls for one egg, although my point is that there's no added fat, in the shape of margarine, butter or oil.

You do some prep the night before;

450g/1lb Mixed Dried Fruit
250g/9oz Brown Sugar
300ml/half-pint Strong Black Tea

1. Soak all the above ingredients in a large bowl overnight. This re-hydrates the fruit.

2. The next day, whack the oven on to 160C/320F and line a 2lb loaf tin with baking paper

450g/1lb Self-Raising Flour 
3tsp Mixed Spice
1 Egg

3. Mix all of the above ingredients into the fruit mixture and combine well.

4. Transfer the mixture to the prepared loaf tin and bake. In my oven it takes 1hr 15mins, check with the usual skewer coming out clean, routine.

Don't worry if it feels a bit like a house brick when you remove it from the tin - that's how it is. Slice and enjoy with a cup of tea. After a day or two it's nice with a spread of butter on. I know that defeats the object of a no-added fat cake, but hey, winter's coming and it'll do you no harm. Promise.

If you do try it and enjoy it, head back here and let me know :)

Quick-Quick, Sloe-Sloe!

Ah yes, it's that time of year to plunder the hedgerows in search of sloe berries for this year's Sole Gin.

A recent report in the Telegraph suggested this year's harvest may be scarce. Fortunate enough to have blackthorn trees among those in the hedgerow at the bottom of our garden, and if the numbers here are any guide, the rumors appear to be true.

While it's traditional to wait until the first frost, with a possible shortage on our hands, it's a case of 'needs must' and foraging started early - before the birds take the lion's share, not to mention the other foragers...

Although we live in a built up area, a two minute walk takes you into the hedgerows of the countryside.

Early signs were disheartening. Either poor yields, or fruits which were held aloft, twelve foot from the ground and completely inaccessible.

But it wasn't long before we came across a tree willing to give up its fruit. And it was laden with berries. We collected 3lb from that one tree, no bother at all, and there were still more to give.

This year's sloes

I can't believe I was only introduced to this drink a few years ago, but it's immediately become a regular in our household. If I get organised a bit earlier next year, blackberry brandy might be the next one to try.