Recipe By Margaret Amos

This recipe, it seems, is laced with nostalgia and for many people evokes memories from the past. It’s as popular now as it was when it was derived from store cupboard ingredients in order to fill a hungry family.

However it can have a healthy slant, If brown bread is used. Also if the dried fruit is increased then the amount of sugar can be decreased. Semi skimmed or even skimmed milk can be used and before you know it there’s a healthy snack for the kids lunch boxes.

Here is a tasty recipe. You can’t ruin it by adding or cutting back on any of the ingredients and unlike a cake it will not collapse when you open the oven door.

½lb (250g) Stale bread
2oz (50g) Sugar (white or brown)
1 egg
2oz (50g) Butter or margarine (melted)
2oz (50g) Currants
2oz (50g) Sultanas or any other dried fruit
½ pint (10 fl oz) Milk
a little Grated lemon rind or mixed spice.

Soak the bread for 1 hour, squeeze out the water and mix with all other ingredients. Pour into a greased tin and bake on 180oC gas 4 for 1¼ to 1 ½ hours.