James Martins Fruited Irish Tea Loaf Food

JAMES MARTIN''S FRUITED IRISH TEA LOAF

Steps:

• Put all the dried fruit into a bowl, add the sugar and pour over the hot tea, stir well then cover and leave overnight to infuse.
• Preheat the oven to 170°C/gas mark 3 and lightly grease a 1kg loaf tin, then line it with baking parchment. The butter will help you to do this by making it stick. Roughly chop the walnuts, add them to the fruit and stir well.
• Whisk together the eggs and double cream, then stir in the fruit. Sift the flour into the mixture and stir well with a large wooden spoon until it is well combined.
• Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and spread the top as flat as you can. Bake in the middle of the oven for 70 - -80 minutes, until the top springs back when lightly pressed. Check if the cake is cooked by inserting a clean skewer or knife into the centre - if it comes out clean, the cake is ready. If not, bake for a further 10 minutes and check once more.
• Remove from the oven and allow to cool before removing from the tin and leaving to cool completely on a wire cooling rack. Serve in slices, buttered, on its own and or with some jam, such as strawberry.

IRISH BARM BRACK (FRUIT LOAF)

Steps:

• Soak the raisins and currents in the cold tea overnight.
• Heat oven to 350F and line a 1 lb loaf pan with greased parchment paper.
• Add all the remaining ingredient to the raisins, currents and cold tea.
• Stir well and pour into the prepared loaf pan.
• Bake for apprx 1 1/2 hours or until cooked through.
• Keeps well in a covered tin.
• Serve buttered.

TEA LOAF

Steps:

• Mix the sultanas, raisins and orange zest in a large mixing bowl. Pour over the tea and cover the bowl. Leave to sit for a minimum of 6 hours or ideally overnight to allow the dried fruit to soak up all the liquid.
• Heat the oven to 180C/160 fan/gas 4. Grease and line a 900g loaf tin. Add the eggs, flour and sugar to the soaked fruit, ensuring everything is well combined. Spoon the mixture into the tin and place in the centre of the oven for 1 hour 30 mins or until firm to the touch. Leave to cool in the tin for 15 mins before transferring to a wire rack.
• Cut into thick slices and serve with butter. To store, wrap tightly and keep in an airtight container for up to five days. The loaf will taste even better after a few days.

MY GRANDMOTHER'S FAT FREE ENGLISH TEA LOAF - BREAD

Steps:

• You will need two 1 lb (450 g) loaf tins (6 x 4 x 2 1/2 inches), the bases lined with greaseproof paper (parchment).
• The evening before you want to bake these loaves, place all the fruits, including the candied peel, in a bowl, then dissolve the sugar in the hot tea, pour this over the fruits, cover the bowl and leave it overnight.
• Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 3, 325°F/170°C.
• Beat the egg and add the milk.
• Add the beaten egg & milk mixture to the bowl containing the fruits. Then sift in the flour, and mix them together well.
• Now divide the mixture between the prepared loaf tins and bake them in the centre of the oven for 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours, or until they feel springy in the centre.
• Then straight away, loosen them with a palette knife and turn them out on to a wire rack to cool.
• Store in an airtight tin or cover with extra greaseproof paper and freeze. (For up to 3 months).
• These are great sliced, toasted and served with butter as a tea-time snack.