Monday, September 9, 2013

Bara Brith Recipe, Welsh Teatime Recipes, Fruit Loaf


Look what I got in the mail the other day! Samantha, from At Home With Mrs. H, sent me this cute recipe book all the way from Wales. How fun to get a package in the mail, especially something that won't show up on my credit card statement!

I decided to go with the Bara Brith, and no, I have no idea how to pronounce most of the names in this book, but I love trying. Bara Brith seems pretty straight forward, wouldn't you think?

Here's the recipe, along with the modifications I made:

Bara Brith, Fruit Loaf, Recipe (Evidently 'Bara' means bread. So I'm assuming that Brith means fruit, but I wouldn't guarantee it.)

10 oz. mixed dried fruit (I think I used 12.5 oz)
     I had apricots, golden raisins, and figs on hand, so that's what I used
2/3 pint hot tea (no milk) Milk?? Who puts milk in tea??
3 oz. soft brown sugar.
Grated rind of 1 lemon 

12 oz. self-raising wholemeal flour (I didn't have it, but did happen to have plain self-rising flour, of which I used a little more than called for because I'd used a little more fruit)
1 t. mixed spice*
1 large egg

     *I actually looked this up on Google because I figured there probably was a typical spice mixture, and sure enough, the  mixed spice called for cinnamon, nutmeg, coriander, mace (did not have), allspice (had, but it was eons old, so I threw it out), clove, ginger. AND I found out that allspice is a mixture of a few of those already listed, so I went with what I had. I mixed up 1 T. cinnamon, 1 T. nutmeg, 1 t. cloves, 1 t. coriander, and 1 t. ginger -and then used 1 teaspoon of that mixture. The rest of it will be for future batches of Bara Brith. I'm optimistic at this point, aren't I.

"Soak the mixed dried fruit in the hot tea, cover and leave to stand overnight. Next day, set oven to 350 degrees F. or Mark 4 and grease and line a 2 lb. loaf tin. Strain the fruit and reserve the liquid. Mix together the fruit with the other ingredients in a bowl, adding the reserved liquid a little at a time until a soft, dropping consistency is achieved. Pour the mixture into the tin and bake for 45-55 minutes (mine took 65 minutes) until risen and firm to the touch. (I made sure a knife came out clean when I inserted it to test for doneness). Cool and serve sliced and buttered."

I actually ended up using all the reserved liquid so that the batter looked somewhat a little stiffer than banana bread dough/batter.

Also, after the ingredients were in the bowl, I stirred in 1 c. chopped walnuts. We did not let this stuff cool before eating. I cut it as soon as I could handle the bread, then buttered it and handed out slices to eager customers.


I actually poured the boiling water over the fruit and inserted two teabags into the mix, making sure they were covered - and left it overnight. The next day I squeezed the tea and juice from the teabags. (and yes, I discarded the teabags!)

Ready for the oven
in Grandpa Roy's bread tin
c. 1940?


Still warm!
Bara Brith - Welsh fruit loaf  with
REAL Wisconsin butter
The perfect match


'Family Approved'

Give it a try. It's easier than Stollen and Christmas fruit cake - and just as delicious. And be sure to stop in and see Samantha. You'll love her fun personality!

And yes, I will make this again! I do hope I wait a few weeks, but it is a delicious recipe.

Thank you, Samantha! xo

***


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24 comments:

Muffy's Marks said...

Looks delicious. Thanks for sharing the recipe!!

Unknown said...

What a great gift from Samantha! And I think you picked a pretty darn good recipe to start out with! Looks yummy!!

P.s.. glad to hear your friend is home and on his way to recovery!!

MadSnapper said...

i love the thumbs up shot and this looks really good and not that hard to do. also doesn't have a lot of sugar in it... and i put milk in my tea

NanaDiana said...

That looks really good, Judy. A piece of that would taste pretty good with my coffee this morning- xo Diana

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I would love this! There's nothing better with a cup of coffee...or tea! Enjoy your day my friend! Save me a piece!

Eileen H said...

I could hardly believe it when I saw you had blogged about Bara Brith :-)
How kind of Mrs H to send you the Welsh recipe book.
Bara Brith literally means speckled bread. I'm glad you enjoyed making and eating it.
I love Bara Brith but don't make it myself as husband isn't keen on fruit loaves. My mother used to make it often and her recipe was handed down from my grandmother's brother, my great uncle. It's delicious just as you had it, warm with best butter.

Deanna said...

My friend in England sent me a little recipe book which looks just like that except it's English Teatime Recipes. This looks really good - I might have to try it. And I put milk in my tea. It's actually considered quite "normal" in Britain. :)

TexWisGirl said...

how sweet to get a surprise gift - that brings sweets to others. :)

Terri D said...

I will go visit Samantha! What a great gift for you (especially!). I'm not a fan of dried fruit or fruit cakes, so most likely will let this one go, but it does look delicious! How exciting to get a special and unexpected gift in the mail!

Cherry's Prairie Primitives said...

I can't wait to try this one!! I love bread and tea!!

Samantha said...

How cute, your teabags have strings on them :P

Also, who has tea WITHOUT milk?! Yeuch!

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

HI Judy wow! That looks yummy. Thanks

Yenta Mary said...

What a lovely gift, and what a lovely bread! Perfect for those chillier evenings we're getting. And I'm so glad to read about good news with your son's friend - oh, what a frightening ordeal!

Heide at ApronHistory said...

Yum! I have an old recipe for carrot cake that has you soaking the raisins and carrots for ten minutes in hat water. Love how it softens them up and makes the cake so moist!

Noelle the dreamer said...

Oh Judy! I myself own 15 of those Salmon Ltd cookery books and just love the illustrations by A.R. Quinton!

Ruth Kelly said...

It looks really good. My daughter and I had tea in a little shop in Wales. It is a warm fuzzy memory.

Denise said...

Glad you shared.

Daniela @Frugal Aint Cheap said...

British people do put milk in their tea...which is not common here. I have to say that even my dad does (and he is Italian, of course). I have added milk to tea pleanty of times myself :) you should try. This fruit cake looks really good

Theresa said...

Hi there! I wanted to stop by and say HI and thanks for stopping by and leaving your sweet comment:) Have a blessed day and thanks for sharing recipes with me! NOW... I am hungry! HUGS!

Lynn Blaylock said...

A piece of that fruit loaf and a cup of steaming coffee could be a wonderful thing. I had to pin it!

Karen said...

Ooh this looks good! My daddy especially liked breads and cakes right from the oven with lots of butter!!

Anonymous said...

I love the thumbs up picture! How sweet to receive a cookbook from far away. The recipe sounds delicious. Have a nice afternoon.

Susie said...

Well someone with a happy face and two thumbs up, is approving of this bread. Oh it looks so good with the butter melting on it. I love that old pan...bet some good things have been cooked in it all these years. xoxo,Susie

Magali@TheLittleWhiteHouse said...

It looks yummy, I love anything with fruits and that come from Britain! My grandmother had many of the books you show in her collection!

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