A Forgotten Memory

 I have been experimenting with dairy free cake recipes.  Some have been successful and some not so.My biggest problem is that I do not take note of ingredients I use, telling myself I will remember the next time.  Yes, you may laugh.  As I have a head like a sieve it is most unlikely I would remember a recipe accurately.During the night when sleep once more eluded me I decided to read through some old recipes which I have collected over the years.  Some go back to the 1970’s some even further back.Would you believe there in front of me, decorated with many spillages was a recipe for Sultana Loaf which uses neither dairy nor eggs.It was given to me by my boss in my first "office " job. She had had major surgery. Subsequently she had to adhere to a very strict non dairy diet. This was in 1975 when the alternatives to dairy was very limited. I remember her saying that her sister would send her the oil as she could not purchase it in Ireland.I had totally forgotten about that job and the people who worked there. Sultana Loaf225g/8oz Self Raising Flour75g/3oz Castor Sugar125ml/4fluid ounces Coconut Milk4 tablespoons of Orange Juice100g/4oz Sultanas50g/2oz desiccated Coconut150ml/5fluid ounces Olive Oil or whatever oil you prefer to use Set oven to 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4Grease and line a 900g/2lb Loaf Tin Mix sugar and flour together in a mixing bowl.Beat in milk, followed by orange juice until combined.Beat in oil.Fold in sultanas and coconut.  Mixture should fall off a wooden spoon easily however if the mixture is too moist add in more coconut.Pour into loaf tin.Bake for 45 minutes in oven until loaf is golden in colour.Leave to cool in tin then turn out onto cooling rack. Enjoy warm or cold Enjoy warm or cold.