My Mum's Bran Loaf

One of my mum's old recipes that is always a favourite with any family member or visitor is Bran Loaf.  My wife loves to make it; in fact she'll be making some to sell at our daughter's school fair!

This really easy method uses a handful of wholesome ingredients that won't cost the earth or take hours to prepare.  It's so easy a child could make it.  Ours often help their mum!  What a fun way to get the kids involved too.

This is basically a fruit loaf that is best thickly sliced and covered in the butter of your choice.  It's simply delicious and healthy too.

Ingredients:

5 oz dark brown sugar
2 oz bran
8 oz dried fruit - raisins, sultanas, currants, dates (even dried apricots, chopped)
1 heaped tablespoon tangy marmalade
1/2 pint semi-skimmed milk
6 oz self raising flour

- Mix the first three ingredients a large bowl.
- Add the milk, then the flour and mix really well.
- Pour mixture into a greased loaf tin.  Don't worry about the mixture being too runny.
- Bake for about 75 minutes at 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4.
- Leave to cool in tin for a few minutes then turn out onto a cooling tray.

Serve thickly sliced with butter and enjoy.  For even greater pleasure serve slightly warm.

These measurements are for a 1 lb loaf tin.  For a larger size just double up the ingredients, being careful not to add too much milk.  (Add the extra liquid gradually.)

This loaf can be kept for quite a few days in an airtight container wrapped in cooking foil to keep in the moisture.