Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Lemon and Blueberry Loaf


If your anything like me, you would be sick of this summer weather that is not summery at all, but hey, its a good excuse to get yourself into your kitchen and get baking. I had bought a huge 1kg bag of blueberries from woolies the other day and really didn't know what I was going to do with them apart from adding them to a smoothie, so I hit google and came up with this fab recipe. Try it...it is really easy and tastes really really great. You can make a gluten free version to as it has almond meal in it and just substitute the plain flour with some GF flour and wallah!

recipe adapted from fresh living

Ingredients

170g butter, softened
3/4 cup caster sugar
1 lemon, rind grated finely
3 eggs
3/4 cup plain flour sifted
1 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp milk
a few good handfuls of fresh or frozen blueberries

This recipe also has optional icing, but I think that it tastes way better without, but if you like icing, add 3/4 cup icing sugar and 2 tbsp lemon juice and pour over the loaf when finished.


Method

preheat oven to 160 deg

In a mixer (mine is a vintage one that my grandmother (Lil) gave me and it brings a tear to my eye everytime I use it...I remember the sound of the hum it made in her kitchen and I can almost sense her near me....)....anyway, in your mixer....add the butter, caster sugar and lemon rind and mix on high until pale and creamy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time and mix mix mix.

If you are like me, you would like to make your own fresh almond meal. I use my foodprocessor and process up about half a large packet of almonds on high.......soooo easy....


Once they are processed into almond meal, fold the almond meal and the flour into the butter mixture, fold through the baking powder and milk. {note: if you want to make it gluten free, substitute the flour for GF flour and maybe add another tsp of baking powder}. Fold in the blueberries whilst trying to resist popping those babies into your mouth...they are a bit of antioxidant heaven for you :)

In a greased and lined loaf tin, add the mixture and smooth the top.

Pop into the preheated oven and bake away...your kitchen will have a fresh aroma that will get those tastebuds ready to delve into this loaf when its done! Add the icing if you wish, or serve it without with some fresh double cream or icecream..it is so moist and delicious and you will want to share this with your family and friends.


Nic xxxxx

2 comments:

  1. Yum, that looks amazing. And I love the old mixer!

    ReplyDelete