Fruit Bread

This recipe was adapted by Damon from one in the Australian Women's Weekly Home Library book Vegetarian Cooking.

Ingredients:

• 2 ¹/₂ cups whole wheat flour
• 2 ¹/₂ cups unbleached white flour
• 2 cups oat bran
• 5 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 ¹/₂ teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• ¹/₂ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¹/₂ teaspoon ground allspice
• 2 teaspoons vegan margarine
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• ³/₄ cup water
• 1 ¹/₂ cups soymilk
• 1 ¹/₂ cups glazed fruit pieces
• ¹/₂ cup sultanas

NOTE: May substitute 2 cups of favourite mixed, chopped dried fruit for glazed fruit and sultanas.

Grease 2 large loaf pans (cooking spray or margarine).

Mix flours, oat bran, baking powder and soda, and spices in a large bowl. Make a well in centre.

Combine margarine, syrup, water and fruit in a saucepan, and stir over low heat until margarine is melted. Remove from heat and stir in soymilk.

Stir liquid into dry ingredients and mix to form a firm dough, adding a little soymilk or flour if needed. Divide dough in half, and knead each half on a lightly floured surface until smooth.

Place both halves side by side in one of the greased pans. Place the second pan upside-down over the first so that dough is enclosed. Use two clips (heavy office paper clips work) to hold the pans together, or weight the top pan down with a brick.

Bake in 350°F oven for 1 ¹/₄ hours, remove top pan and bake for about 20 minutes more until well browned. Allow to cool.

Makes 1 large loaf (or 2 medium loaves if broken apart after cooking).