Baking progress

[noadvertising]

Not much got done today on the baking front. I had to change plans- I wanted to do cookies where I would be able to prepare the dough in advance, so I made Vanillekipferl, Mohnkipferl and Gewürztaler. Doing Kipferl with daughter-in-law is almost as exciting as doing handicraft with my friend. Maybe next time I will do a sketch to show her the correct form and size, so that she won´t have to ask all the time. Cassian did a good job with cookie testing, he loved them, so they have to be okay. I will decorate tomorrow, today it´s off to the bed early. Instead of having a restfull sleep I spent the night sitting in bed reading or on the loo. Sometimes I hate my stomach!
After a rainy day we will be back to snowing tomorrow. Hubby is having his booster, and I will have to do a trip to Oscar´s school and pick the rascal up, because daddy has a meeting and might be late. If not, it´s grocery shopping and back home to the studio, to clean the rest of the mess, because, you might know already, it´s Christmas soon, and I want my house neat and cosy...

Comments

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I find all the different types of baking people do for Christmas fascinating — yesterday I made shortbread and put fruit to soak for fruit loaves which I then added the other ingredients to and baked this morning. I do love the smell of spice the house has now!

[noadvertising.livejournal.com]

Oh dear, fruit loaves! I totally forgot about them until yesterday, when daughter reminded me to do some, because she´ll need fruity sweetness when she´s back. And now the recipe has gone AWOL...

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

If you can't find it I can give you mine.

[noadvertising.livejournal.com]

That would be wonderful, but only if it´s not too much effort!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I have written this down for so many friends that I have it saved to just copy and paste :)

Fruit Loaf

300g dried fruit (whatever mixture is to your taste!)
150ml or so tea (I have used spiced fruit teas, or plain teas — I think any of them work!)
225g SR flour
175g soft brown sugar
1 teaspoon mixed spice
1 large egg, beaten.

Soak the fruit in the tea overnight. There shouldn’t be a lot of liquid left – just a couple of spoonfuls.
Add the dry ingredients, and the egg. Stir well.
Put into a well greased, or lined, 2lb loaf tin, bake for about an hour at 165c Fan. It should be firm to touch.
Leave to cool for about 10 minutes in the tin then put onto a cooling rack.

Keeps for a couple of weeks in a tin.

[noadvertising.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I will be off to get the ingredients, though I have never found self- raising flour here. But I found a recipe as a replacement!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Yes, it occurred to me that SR flour is not as common everywhere as it is in Britain, but I wasn't sure if you used it or not, or if you have the same baking powder (a mixture of bicarbonate of soda and cream of tartar) — if you do use the same baking powder the ratio is about two rounded teaspoons of baking powder for each 150g of flour.

This fruit loaf is nice to eat as it is, but just as good (or better) spread with butter.