Low fat fruit tea loaf

At the moment I am going through a phase of really looking at what I have stashed away in my kitchen and trying to use it.  At some point this year we are going to have a new kitchen fitted, which means the less that is squirrelled away in the cupboards the better. So the other night I had a yearning for an old fashioned sultana loaf like we used to have when younger.  I have no idea who made it as it wasn't my Mum but I do remember fruit soaking in strong tea and I made these before.  The recipe? who knows? So I did my classic hunt the Internet via google, Look up at least 5 recipes and cobbled together a recipe with what I actually have.

So I started Tuesday night taking 250 g of dried mixed fruit with peel and soaking it with  250 ml of tea made with 2 tea bags, a LARGE glug or 2 of Malibu and a splosh of orange blossom water.  The Malibu and blossom water didn't end up being tasted so I think it's a case of either the tea or the booze in future.

So this murky unpromising looking bowl was left overnight in the microwave (saved cling filming it) until the next morning where it then started to look more plump and luscious than blurgh

Into the fruit mix I cracked into and beat in 2 medium eggs.  In a bigger bowl I added 

250g self raising flour 

100g caster sugar 

1 teaspoon mixed spice

Stirred these together to combine then poured in the fruit with all its liquid into the flour mix and stirred until combined and no white spots of flour were visible in the bowl.  Placed it all into a 2lb lined loaf tin and in the oven at gas mark 4/180 for 50-60 minutes.  

Mine caught a little on top but not enough to interfere with the taste

The outside was slightly chewy but crispy to.  Strange  but good.  Inside was moist and very light. On day 2 it is still moist and same textured despite having no fat in it other than the egg yolks.  

It may be low fat, but do you know what? It is really really good with a good slathering of butter.  But at least you won't feel so guilty ;o)

My son is already suggesting using dried apricots and dried pineapple in this so it is one we will play with again as it is going down well.  And anyway to get extra fruit into the kids has to be good I think. Much better snack than a chocolate biscuit