Bara Brith

Traditionally eaten in Wales. It keeps well in the freezer. (Do you like my tea cosy?)

Ingredients

1 lb self-raising flour
1/2 lb soft brown sugar
1/4 lb butter
1/2 lb currants or sultanas
1 egg
1 lemon
Pinch of salt
1 teaspoon mixed spice
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 tbsp treacle
1/2 pint buttermilk
Cold black tea (for soaking the dried fruit)

Method

1. Soak the currants or sultanas in black tea for several hours.
2. Mix the flour, sugar, spice, and bicarb.
3. Strain the fruit and add to the dry ingredients and start to mix.
4. Add the egg, and mix.
5. Add the juice of the lemon and the treacle, and mix.
6. Add the buttermilk bit by bit until the mixture is quite runny.
7. Pour the mixture into a greased baking tin, and bake at 190°C for approximately 90 mins. (Loosely cover the top with baking foil for the first hour, to avoid burning.)
8. Once cooked, turn out the loaf and leave to cool.

(Serve sliced with butter and a cup of tea.)

Definitions:-

To mix: To beat or stir food ingredients together until they are combined.

To pour: To transfer a liquid from one container to another.