Lincolnshire Plum Bread – A Random Recipe
For this month’s Random Recipe Challenge Dom of Belleau Kitchen has asked us to delve into the store cupboard and find an ingredient that we've so thoughtlessly neglected and then select a recipe that finally gets round to using it. Well, I chose my worst kept shelf. It’s the shelf where I pile up general cake-related stuff – dried fruits, sugar strands, stem ginger and that sort of thing. So without looking, I reached to the back of the shelf and pulled out a large pack of Agen prunes. Now, I like prunes and I use them in a number of recipes but this was clearly an accidental over purchase and now was the perfect time to put them to good use.
Locating recipes containing prunes proved surprisingly difficult. I decided to try the pile of books that I've bought in the last year from charity shops. Roughly 23 books later I came to ‘The Hairy Bikers’ Food Tour Of Britain’ and in it was ‘Lincolnshire Plum Bread’. Since Dom is the master and commander of this challenge I felt a bit uneasy about entering a recipe from his own part of the world, but rules are rules. You can find the recipe here on the BBC site. I don’t really know how authentic this particular bread might be but it’s very tasty and great with cheese – Lincolnshire Poacher would be ideal.
I have to be honest and say that, lovely though this bread turned out to be, my favourite plum bread was actually made by an Italian quite a few years ago. She claimed that it was made to a traditional British recipe but it was more like a brioche than a conventional bread and I suspect that there was some alcohol involved somewhere. I didn't manage to get the recipe but if I ever get a spare few days I really must try to recreate it.
Locating recipes containing prunes proved surprisingly difficult. I decided to try the pile of books that I've bought in the last year from charity shops. Roughly 23 books later I came to ‘The Hairy Bikers’ Food Tour Of Britain’ and in it was ‘Lincolnshire Plum Bread’. Since Dom is the master and commander of this challenge I felt a bit uneasy about entering a recipe from his own part of the world, but rules are rules. You can find the recipe here on the BBC site. I don’t really know how authentic this particular bread might be but it’s very tasty and great with cheese – Lincolnshire Poacher would be ideal.
I have to be honest and say that, lovely though this bread turned out to be, my favourite plum bread was actually made by an Italian quite a few years ago. She claimed that it was made to a traditional British recipe but it was more like a brioche than a conventional bread and I suspect that there was some alcohol involved somewhere. I didn't manage to get the recipe but if I ever get a spare few days I really must try to recreate it.
OH how bizarre! I was just looking at this recipe earlier tonight, as I am holding a bread making class in November, in France, and the people who are coming want me to teach them seasonal and festive bakes, and this is one of my favourites. I make at least two loaves every Christmas, and now having seen yours, I am thinking of bringing my baking forward! MY recipe by the way, is also more like a brioche bread recipe.....maybe there are various regional styles, a lovely looking loaf though Phil! Karen
ReplyDeleteIt looks really lovely, I do enjoy a loaf with dried fruit in it, although prunes are perhaps not my favourites, I tend to lean towards cranberries, raisins and dried apricots. I haven't made a fruit loaf for a while - thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeletehow VERY dare you!!!!.... There are lot's of variants to the Lincolnshire Plum Bread and every one you eat is different, yours looks bloody amazing and quite like the traditional type we eat here... I do like the brioche type too but what you've made is more authentic as a Lincolnshire Plum Loaf... very nice... good old Hairy Bikers and well done those prunes!... thanks so much for taking part Phil - always look forward to what you're going to come up with and I appreciate your honesty whilst playing the game!
ReplyDeletemay I add, gorgeous sunny photo too... great shot!
ReplyDeleteI love prunes but my husband does not, that reminds me I have a huge packet of them hidden at the back on one of the shelves in my kitchen - a hunting I will go! Diane
ReplyDeleteYummy :) your baking always make me go back to kitchen and start baking: )
ReplyDeleteYummy :) your baking always make me go back to kitchen and start baking: )
ReplyDeleteI have made this very recipe, it is a wee gem isn't it. Your loaf turned out perfectly too.
ReplyDeleteYour bread has risen very well. A good baker you are and I love the idea of the plums.
ReplyDeleteI think this is such an interesting recipe. And, I must say, it looks fabulous.
ReplyDeleteGreat looking loaf, and I have some prunes to use up, so thanks for the idea, Phil.
ReplyDeleteif you ever do get that Italian lady's recipe, please do share! I'm in search of a good fruit bread recipe! As it is, your lincolnshire plum bread looks really quite delicious x
ReplyDeleteLooks gorgeous! For a good prune recipe, try the little sticky prune puddings from Jamie Oliver's 30 minute book: they're like sticky toffee puddings with prunes at the bottom (and therefore a health food, yes?!)
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a fantastic fruity loaf - yum! Will bear it in mind next time I clear out the baking cupboard and find some lurking prunes!
ReplyDeleteThis is nice! My little girl loves sultana bread and I know she will devour this. The girl can eat a whole loaf if I let her lol! :)
ReplyDeleteMmmm prunes - I love them - and they're full of fibre - yay! :-)
ReplyDeleteLovely photo too.
I would adore this bread toasted with my morning cup of coffee ... in fact, I beliee this will be the next loaf I make! Thanks, Phil! I even have a neglected bag of prunes just waiting on the shelf!
ReplyDeleteWhat a stunning loaf - the texture is perfect and the fruit evenly distributed, perfect! I love prunes too so this is definitely getting bookmarked. I loook forward to seeing the Italian plum bread on your blog soon - it sounds intriguing and delicious!
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