Grandma’s healthy baking options

Mens sana in corpore sano

There’s no way that I would claim to be a healthy eating expert but Grandma did leave us sound advice about eating healthily.  I did a talk the other week for a Patients’ Participation group at a local GPs practice. Since using less sugar is the advice today, it’s worth remembering that Grandma often enhanced the flavour of her baking with natural spices. She would use much less sugar than many modern recipes. Here’s a recipe where you could leave the sugar out altogether as the dried fruit and spices create a tasty cake.

Wholemeal Farmhouse Loaf

4 oz/110g self raising flour

4 oz/110g wholemeal flour

1 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp cinnamon

2 oz/50g soft brown sugar (optional)

4 oz/110g butter

2 eggs

5 tbsps milk

12 oz/340g mixed dried fruit (e.g. sultanas, raisins, currants)

Sift the flours into a bowl with the spices.  Add the sugar (optional). Rub in the fat until the mixture has a crumbly consistency. You can do this in a food mixer. Beat the eggs and milk together, add to the bowl and mix well. Then add the dried fruit, using a little more milk if necessary to give a fairly soft consistency. Put into a well greased 1lb/450g loaf tin. Bake in a preheated moderate oven at 180C (Fan Oven 160C), Mark 4, 350F for approximately 1 to 1¼ hours.

Meryl’s tip : This is a very easy recipe which can be served on its own or as a teabread with butter. It makes a great snack and keeps well.

Back at the  Patients’ group, I talked about how Grandma had baked in times of shortage. I showed them food charts from times of rationing and the poster campaigns to Dig for Victory when foods were often hard to come by. Grandma always used gluts of fruit and vegetables in season to make succulent jams and chutneys as well as fruit pies (no added sugar) and puddings. 

I’ve been trying out more recipes for cakes and biscuits with reduced sugar content. Here are some ideas :

 Kathleen's Apple and Nut Tealoaf

Spiced Lemon and WalnutBake

 Home made mincemeat

Be sweetwithout the sugar

And, as the Latin poet Juvenal said ‘mens sana in corpore sano’ – sharing a cup of tea and a piece of homemade cake is therapy itself. The group agreed we should enjoy a homemade treat now and again - it's the portion size which matters! What do you think?

You never know what's around the corner

The saying ‘you never know what’s around the corner’ has proved to be quite true for me. I’ve just spent 3 days in hospital undergoing unexpected major surgery. Pleased to say that I am now progressing well at home.

When the anaesthetist and the team were getting me ready for the ‘big sleep’, I started a discussion about the appeal of traditional baking - the simple recipes, the flavour of spices such as cinnamon and ginger together with reduced sugar, as Grandma did in times of austerity and rationing. I soon discovered the team’s favourite cakes.

Chocolate Cake

Victoria Sandwich

Coffee Cake

All this cake certainly took my mind off things as I drifted off into a world of baking bliss.

Back home, I’ve been having lots of  R 'n' R. In fact I’m only allowed to lift no more than a cup of tea. Luckily, a good friend brought me some scrummy homemade scones. It just reminds me how putting the kettle on for a cup of tea and a piece of cake helps deal with all manner of life’s difficulties. And it's so much better if it’s lovingly homemade.

Here's Grandma’s recipe for perfect Scones. I like different varieties but my favourites are fruit scones. Which are your favourites - apple and cinnamon, cherry, cheese.... so many to choose from?