Thursday, May 26, 2011

Date and nut loaf

Hello :) Monday afternoon is the one day I get home from uni at a reasonable hour (around 4pm!). I can get home, relax for a bit by finishing the Sunday papers (our neighbour gets a different newspaper and gives us theirs a day late- haha!), call a friend, read a magazine but most importantly: bake!

So this Monday I had planned (yes, planned) to make a 'date and nut loaf'. I feel like I do actually have to start planning to make/bake things now as I'm becoming busier. Or then it won't actually happen! Hence my post of recipes to make in May :)

This recipe is another treat that comes from Frankie magazines book 'afternoon tea'. Speaking of Frankie magazine, did anyone happen to get to Finders Keepers at Carriage works this year? I missed out, so sad! It's always so fun walking around looking at all the arty crafty stalls and getting some inspiration. (And checking out the arty hipsters walking around with their glasses of wine...)

Anyway! Here's it is...

Recipe: Date and nut loaf
Ingredients-
1 cup chopped dates
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
60g butter
2/3 cup caster sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 cups plain flour
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 drops vanilla essence
Method-
1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Grease or line a loaf tin with baking paper.

2. Combine dates and bicarbonate of soda with 3/4 cup boiling water.

3. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light, white and fluffy. Mix in beaten egg, dates, sifted flour, walnuts and vanilla essence. Pour into prepared tin and bake for 1 hour or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the loaf comes out clean.

4. Leave cake in tin to cool for 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack.




yum yum! I don't think my photos quite do it justice, but believe me, it was divine! Moist, nutty, warm and lots of date-y goodness :) 

What have you been baking lately? Do you find you have to plan your cooking when you get busy?

And on a side note, I've just discovered my new favourite combination: vegemite and avocado on toast! This morning I had that topped with a soft boiled egg. Mmmmm

Have a lovely weekend :)

Hannah x

8 comments:

  1. Hannah this looks so good! really moist looking. I can't wait to try this recipe thanks ;)

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  2. I love vegemite and Avocado and don't know why I haven't paired them before. Thanks!

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  3. Hannah this looks so tasty! I will definitely have to make this recipe myself sometime. Personally i dislike both avocado and vegemite so the thought of the two together is a bit disheveling. I hope you have a lovely weekend too!

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  4. Leah- thanks :) yes, do try! It's really simple too!

    sassy- yes! the combination sounds weird, but it works really well...might go have some on toast now actually ;)

    Adrian- you don't like avocado!? Impossible! hehe. Have a nice weekend :)

    Hannah x

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  5. I LOVE marmite and avocado on toast! (vegemite is too salty for me) Will have to try it topped with a poached egg, sounds delish.
    The loaf looks fantastic - I am the same as you, I find it necessary to schedule in baking time or it never happens! xx

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  6. awesome, imma do this soon

    http://thelittlemuffin.blogspot.com/

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  7. mmm, what a lovely idea m'dear
    x

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  8. KittyCate- Thanks :) Oh I just realised we have marmite too (my mum grew up on that stuff!). Vegemite is pretty salty, I'll have to try with marmite too!

    The Little Muffin- definitely try it! :)

    Spence- oh thankyou :)

    Hannah x

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