What's the worst part of going on holidays for a week? Apart from the suitcase full of dirty laundry, no food in the house and a car full of grumpy people moaning something suspiciously like "I don't want to go home", it's gotta be the knowledge that the lazy days of ice-cream, chocolate, red wine and take-aways have come to an end. Someone once told me that none of these foods contain calories when consumed on holidays and I've used this advice as my mantra ever since - although my jeans probably dispute the theory!
Once home, time to cheer everyone up (there's only so much of the grumbling you can take before it wears you down). I decided on something semi-healthy as a way to break us into the normality of being home. This Oatmeal Bread is more a loaf cake than an actual bread. The recipe takes a leaf out of Nigella's book by substituting applesauce for some of the sugar and butter. I wouldn't dare call it super healthy but its a step in the right direction. Don't feel the need to add the sugary, nutty topping, the cake is sweet enough and doesn't necessarily need it but it's an delicious bonus.
This cake is moist and full of flavour. Maybe I'll have a slice or two for breakfast in the morning - it's gotta be as good as a bowl of porridge. Yeah I know, I'm totally in denial and intend to stay that way for another few days until I ease myself gently back into the swing of things. Now, which of you ate my King Size Snickers?
Oatmeal Bread, adapted from Dorie Greenspan, "Baking From My Home to Yours"
Ingredients
For the topping
50g light brown sugar
30g chopped pecans
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
For the bread
2 large eggs
300g apple sauce *
80ml vegetable oil
60ml buttermilk
150g wholewheat flour
150g sugar
11/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
75g dried apricots or any dried fruits of your choice
100g rolled oats
* I just stew some chopped eating apples in a little water until soft, blitz them in the processor then put into ice cube trays and freeze until needed.
Method
Pre-heat the oven to 180C (350F) and grease a 2 lb (900g) loaf tin.
First make the topping by combining all the ingredients together in a small bowl and set aside.
Whisk the eggs, apple sauce, vegetable oil and buttermilk together in a bowl or jug.
In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, bicarb and spices together. Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until combined. Fold in the apricots and oats until just mixed.
Pour the batter into the prepared tin and sprinkle with the topping. Press down slightly with your fingers so that it sticks to the bread.
Bake for 55-65 minutes until golden brown and a skewer comes out clean.