Spicy Apricot Loaf Food

SIMPLE APRICOT-GLAZED MEATLOAF

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Combine ground beef, bread crumbs, onion, egg, garlic, apricot preserves, salt, and pepper for the loaf in a large mixing bowl; mix well until thoroughly combined. Transfer to a 9x5-inch loaf pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, mix ketchup, apricot preserves, brown sugar, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and apple cider vinegar for the glaze together in a medium bowl.
• Remove meatloaf from the oven and pour glaze over top. Continue cooking until no longer pink in the center, about 15 minutes longer. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C). Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

APRICOT LOAF

Steps:

• Grease a 7'x3'x2' loaf tin.
• Pour a (250ml) cup of boiling water over fruit, sugar and butter.
• Add the eggs and flour.
• Pour into the loaf tin and bake in a moderate oven for about 45 minutes.

APRICOT NUT BREAD

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, cook the apricots in water until soft; drain.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Generously grease and lightly flour two 7x3x2-inch loaf pans.
• In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt; mix well.
• Stir in butter, milk, orange juice, and egg; mix well.
• Fold in dried apricots, nuts, and orange peel.
• Spoon into prepared pans.
• Bake 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Cool on rack 15 minutes.
• Remove from pan.
• Cool completely.

SPICED FRUIT LOAF

Steps:

• Soak the dried fruits in the orange juice for about 30 mins, then sieve, reserving the juice.
• Put the flour, yeast, caster sugar and 1 tsp salt into a large mixing bowl with the spices and soaked fruit and mix well. Make a well in the centre and pour in the warm milk, reserved orange juice, the beaten egg and the melted butter. Mix everything together to form a dough - start with a wooden spoon and finish with your hands. If the dough is too dry, add a little more warm water; if it's too wet, add more flour.
• Knead in the bowl or on a floured surface until the dough becomes smooth and springy. Transfer to a clean, lightly greased bowl and cover loosely with a clean, damp tea towel. Leave in a warm place to rise until roughly doubled in size - this will take about 1 hr depending on how warm the room is.
• Knock the dough back by kneading for a few secs. Dust 2 x 2lb loaf tins with flour. Halve the dough. Use a little flour to help you shape each half into a smooth oval, then pop them into the tins. Cover both loosely with a clean, damp tea towel and leave to prove in a warm place for about 20 mins. Meanwhile, heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
• Bake for 20 mins, then cool in the tins before turning out and slicing.

ORANGE & APRICOT LOAF CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Grease and line a 900g loaf tin with baking parchment. In a saucepan, heat the apricots with the orange zest and all but 1 tbsp of the juice. Simmer gently for 5 mins until the apricots have absorbed all the juice. Set aside to cool.
• Beat the butter and sugar in a bowl until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs, then fold in the flour. Stir in the cooled apricots. If the mixture is dry at this stage, add a drop of milk.
• Scrape the batter into the tin and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake for 50 mins-1 hr until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Cool in the tin for 10 mins before removing, then leave on a wire rack to cool completely.
• Gradually add the reserved orange juice to the icing sugar, stirring until smooth and slightly runny. Drizzle the icing in a zigzag pattern over the top of the cake and leave to set.