fig and walnut bread

this is something between a bread and a cake. not sweet enough to be the latter but definitely sweeter than a normal loaf. nice though - both as a snack, and to eat with some very strong cheddar cheese.

FIG AND WALNUT BREAD

3oz of figs - i used those ready-to-eat ones that come in sealed bags. otherwise use dried and soak them in water until they plump up
2oz walnut halves
6oz ground almonds
3 large eggs
80ml walnut oil (or any other oil)
1tsp bicarbonate of soda
1tsp cider vinegar

grease and line an 8 inch tin - i used a square one. preheat the oven to 160C.

put the figs in a food processor and process until you have a paste. add the almonds, and pulse until the mix resembles breadcrumbs - don't overdo it. add the walnuts and pulse again until they are coarsely chopped. always nice to have a bit of crunch in these things.

in a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs with an electric whisk until they are frothy, then pour in the oil in a thin stream, still whisking, until the whole thing has increased in volume and turned pale.

sprinkle on the bicarb of soda and the vinegar and whisk until combined.

put the nut&fig mix into the eggs and mix in with a metal spoon. tip the whole thing into the prepared tin and bake in the oven for twenty minutes or until the skewer comes out clean.

the recipe comes from a blog straight into bed cake free and dried (http://milkforthemorningcake.blogspot.com/) - no, i don't know why either.