Gingerbread

This is something I cannot live without, at least once a month this needs baking.

Ingredients:

• 6oz plain flour
• 1 level tsp baking soda
• 1 level tsp ground ginger
• 1 rounded tsp mixed spice
• 2oz brown sugar
• 2oz margarine
• 2oz treacle
• 1oz syrup
• 1 beaten egg
• 1/4 pint milk

Melt the margarine, treacle and syrup together. 

Add these to the beaten egg with the milk. 

Next add this mixture to the dry ingredients.

Bake in the oven for 45-60 minutes at 350d/180/gas 4. Check after 45 minutes as cooking time varies from oven to oven.

Cool and enjoy with real butter only.

Freezes well.

Fruit Loaf

Another easy to bake family recipe. Great for your tea-break or nice when out for a walk and need some nutrition.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 4oz margarine
• 10oz sultanas
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp mixed spice

Put all the ingredients in a pan and simmer gently for 5 minutes.

Take off the heat and when cool add:

• 1 cup self raising flour
• 1 cup plain flour
• Add 1 beaten egg

Put into 2 x 1lb loaf tins.

Bake for 45-60 mins at 180. Check after 45 minutes as depends on your oven.

Cool and enjoy.

Freezes well.

Date & Walnut Loaf

An old tried and trusted family recipe, you can't go wrong. Brilliant comfort food and ideal for a snack when out in the great outdoors. Very moist and really tasty. As always with baking timings vary slightly from oven to oven.
Put into a bowl and soak for 15 minutes at least:

• 4oz dates
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon coffee
• 1 cup boiling water

In another bowl:

• 6oz plain flour

Gently with fingers only rub in 2oz of soft margerine.

Now add;

•  pinch of salt
• 4oz sugar
• 2oz broken/chopped walnuts
• 1 egg

Now add all this to the date mix. Stir well, put in a 1lb loaf tin.

Bake for 45/60 minutes in the oven at 180/gas mark 4. Check after 45 minutes.

Allow to cool then eat. Freezes well.