1. Cover mixed dried fruit and apples with boiling water in saucepan and soak overnight. 2. Next morning, cook until fruit is quite soft, about 15 minutes, then drain well in a colander. 3. Chop or cut up fruit. 4. Soften yeast in lukewarm water, add 1 Tbsp sugar and let stand 10 minutes. 5. Add milk. 6. Add 1 ½ C flour to make a sponge and set aside until bubbles break on top. 7. Cream butter in a large mixing bowl. 8. Add 1 C sugar and cream well. 9. Mix in beaten eggs. 10. Add the sponge, chopped fruits, salt, cinnamon, raisins, currants and nuts. 11. Beat in 3 cups flour. 12. Divide dough into fourths. 13. Take out ¼ of the dough and knead on a floured pastry cloth or board adding enough flour to keep the dough soft but not sticky. 14. Continue doing this 3 more times until all the dough has been worked up, then knead it all together. 15. Lightly oil a clean bowl, take dough and run the top around the inside of the bowl, place it in the bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place until double in bulk. 16. Knead lightly, divide into 4 portions and shape each into a loaf, place in greased loaf pans. 17. Cover and let rise until double. 18. Bake at 400° for 10 minutes, reduce heat to 350° and bake 45 minutes longer or until done. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nutrition
Ingredients
