Simply Nutritious Brown Bread

THIS is a more modern version of Soda Bread, couldn’t be simpler, just mix and pour into a well-greased tin. This bread keeps very well for several days and is also great toasted.

Makes 1 loaf or 3 small loaves

400g (14ozs) stone ground wholemeal flour

75g (3ozs) white flour, preferably unbleached

1 tsp salt

1 level tsp bread soda, sieved (Bicarbonate of Soda/Baking Soda)

1 egg, preferably free range

1 tbsp arachide or sunflower oil, unscented

1 tsp honey

425ml (15fl ozs) buttermilk or sour milk approx. (put all the milk in)

Sunflower or sesame seeds — optional

Loaf tin 23x12.5x5cm (9x5x2in)

Preheat oven to 200C/400F/gas mark 6.

Put all the dry ingredients including the sieved bread soda into a large bowl, mix well. Whisk the egg, add the oil and honey most of the buttermilk. Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and pour in all the liquid, mix well and add more buttermilk if necessary. The mixture should be soft and slightly sloppy, pour into an oiled tin or tins. Sprinkle some sunflower or sesame seeds on the top. Bake for 60 minutes approx, or until the bread is nice and crusty and sounds hollow when tapped. Cool on a wire rack.

Health Bread: Add to the dry ingredients the following:

1 tbsp of sunflower seeds1 tbsp of sesame seeds1 tbsp of pumpkin seeds1 tbsp of kibbled wheat

Keep a mixture to scatter over the top.