Although time consuming, there is nothing like the smell of freshly baked bread. Due to the high levels of humidity on the island, I have a preference towards dried rather than fresh yeast as the results are more reliable.
Ingredients:
- 2 tsp dried yeast
- 250 ml lukewarm milk
- 60 g sugar
- 2 eggs
- Grated rind of an orange
- 500 g strong white flour
- Pinch of salt
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp mixed spice
- 200 g dried mixed fruit
- 50 g dried apple, cut up into small pieces
- 50 g butter
Instructions:
- Mix the yeast with the milk and 1 teaspoon of sugar. Leave in a warm place for 15 minutes. Add the egg.
- Rub the flour and butter until the mixture looks like breadcrumbs. Mix in the salt, spices and sugar. Make a well in the centre and pour in the milk. Bring the mix together to form a dough.
- Turn it onto a floured surface and knead for 5 minutes. The dough should be sticky. Lightly oil a container and place the dough in it and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Leave it to rise in a warm place until it doubles in size. It usually takes about 2 hours.
- Turn out onto a lightly floured work surface, knead in the dried fruit and apple and transfer to a greased loaf tin. Scatter some flour on the top and cover with the kitchen towel. Leave to prove for an hour or more if necessary until it has doubled in size again.
- Preheat the oven to 190 C. Brush the loaf with some eggwash. Bake for 30 minutes. Leave to cool before serving.
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