Chocoholics Deeply Delicious Dark Chocolate Raisin Loaf Abm Food

CHOCOHOLICS DEEPLY DELICIOUS DARK CHOCOLATE RAISIN LOAF (ABM)

Steps:

• Remove pan from bread machine and place on electronic scales and zero them.
• Weigh in the water (243ml water weighs 243g) and the rest of the loaf ingredients and replace pan in the bread machine.
• Select Speciality White / Raisin or similar programme depending on your machine and crust type if required (I use a normal crust setting) and start the machine.
• Into a small bowl weigh the raisins, cocoa powder and oat bran and chocolate chips and mix well with a teaspoon.
• I can't get bitter chocolate chips and used the remains of a bar of bitter (70% Cocoa) chocolate which I chipped up to about 1/4 inch 'cubes' with a small sharp knife. I used 22g total in the bowl putting only the bigger bits into the bowl and retained the tiny bits to sprinkle on my next Cafe latte (I guess you could just sprinkle them on top of the hot fresh-baked loaf). For greater indulgence 30g or so of chocolate would be nice but I'd run out for some reason :). The original Panasonic recipe called for 40g. I recommend staying with bitter or bittersweet chocolate (known as 'Plain Chocolate' in the UK) and avoiding milk chocolate. You could just use bitter or bittersweet chocolate chips if you can get them.
• Add the raisins and chocolate chip mix at the beep or at 4 to 5 minutes before final keading ends. (My machine beeps 9 mins before end of kneading which is too long as it always completely pulverises the fruit. Five minutes of mixing-in time is plenty.
• I glaze after baking with a very thin glaze of icing sugar (1 small Tsp) and 1/2 Tsp dried milk powder mixed with a little warm water. It keeps it a bit moister if you prefer it that way.
• You may need to add a teaspoon-ish of water if the raisins are very dried.
• Bakes approx 1 1/2lb Loaf.
• (Some chopped hazelnuts would really go great in this loaf but I seldom have them as they don't keep. You could perhaps swap all the raisins for about 50g-60g Glace cherries (but do drop the water down to 240ml) and then even perhaps substitute a bit of the water for Kirschwasser (cherry brandy) but haven't tried that combination, yet!).
• This is wonderful topped or sandwiched with Dulce De Leche or squishy banana (or both I imagine). It tastes very much like a dark chocolate Brownie.

DATE & RAISIN LOAF (OLD BLACK JOE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 160 deg Celsius.
• Line an 8 inch cake tin with baking paper.
• Combine chopped dates, raisins and baking soda in a large bowl.
• Pour in the boiling water, stir. Leave to cool for 10 minutes.
• Add the sugar and stir to dissolve.
• Now, fold in the sifted flour and baking powder until just combined. Don't over mix at this point or the loaf will be tough.
• Bake 160 deg C for approximately 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 hours, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
• Leave in tin to cool for 10 minutes before turning out onto a cooling rack.

DENSE & DARK CHOCOLATE LOAF

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5 and make sure there's a shelf ready in the middle of the oven. Butter a large loaf tin (about 20cm long, measured from the top edge), then cut a strip of baking paper a few inches longer than the total length of the base and the two shortest sides. Press it into the tin. (When your cake's ready, you can use the paper 'wings' at either end to help lift it out.)
• Put the butter and chocolate in a large saucepan and heat very gently until melted, stirring now and again. Cool for 5 mins, then use a whisk to mix in the yogurt and vanilla, then the eggs and a pinch of salt.
• Mix the flour, sugar and bicarbonate of soda in a large bowl, squishing any big lumps of sugar with your fingers, then stir into the chocolate mix in the saucepan until even. Pour or spoon into the tin, then bake for 45 mins until risen and shiny (and probably with a nice crack along the length). Test if it's ready by poking a skewer into the middle of the cake (see tip, below). Cool in the tin for 15 mins, then turn out and cool completely on a wire rack.
• Put the cream into a small saucepan, bring to the boil, then add the butter and half the chopped chocolate. Take off the heat and leave to melt. Stir until smooth and shiny, then spoon over the cake. Scatter with the rest of the chopped chocolate and serve.

WALNUT RAISIN LOAF (BREAD MACHINE)

Steps:

• Measure all ingredients except raisins and walnuts into baking pan in the order recommended by the manufacturer.
• Insert pan into the oven.
• Select Sweet Cycle.
• Add raisins and walnuts at the "add ingredient" signal.
• When the baking cycle ends, immediately remove the bread from the pan and place it on a wire rack.
• Let cool to room temperature before slicing.

DELICIOUS DATE LOAF

Steps:

• Simmer chopped dates and orange juice for less than a minute. Remove from heat a let cool down.
• In a separate bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cloves and set aside. In another bowl, whisk egg and oil.
• Add egg mixture and dates to flour mixture and mix until blended. It is very important do not over mix this batter; stir in raisins. Pour batter into greased loaf pan or muffin tin and bake for approximately 45 mins or until tooth pick comes out clean.

CHEESY GLUTEN-FREE LOAF (ABM)

Steps:

• Add milk, olive oil, eggs, honey and cider vinegar to bread pan.
• Mix all remaining ingredients except for yeast in a large bowl to incorporate, then add to the bread pan.
• Add the yeast. Set to the gluten-free cycle or whichever cycle in your machine that is closest to the time shown above.
• While bread is kneading, scrape down sides with a rubber spatula to make sure all ingredients are incorporated.
• After cycle is completed, remove and allow bread to cool completely before slicing, for best results.

DELICIOUS LENTIL LOAF

Steps:

• In a saucepan, heat oil and sauté onion and carrot until tender. Add lentils and enough boiling water to cover the contents. You may need to add some more water while boiling. Add spices, bullion, and yeast extract. Boil about 30 - 40 minutes. (This time varies depending on the type of lentils you use). The lentils should be soft and the mixture should be thick but still have some water in it -almost like cake mix. Take off heat and stir in grated cheese and eggs. Pour into a loaf pan and bake 35 - 45 minutes at 350F until firm. Serve warm as a main dish or put it on bread for a sandwich.
• You can vary the texture by using different varieties of lentils and can even add pinto or another bean to the mix.
• **It can be made without the yeast extract, but this really adds a flavorful zip.