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Melandra loaf

We named this after Melandra Castle, a Roman fort near Glossop in Derbyshire, where we had a brilliant picnic with some great local people. This fruit bread, studded with pineapple, cherries, currants and dates, is an ideal travelling companion, as it’s quite substantial. It also toasts really well.

Ingredients

  • flavourless oil, for the tin
  • 600g/1lb 5oz plain flour, plus extra for dusting
  • 10g/â…“ oz fast-action dried yeast
  • 10g/â…“ oz salt
  • 50²µ/1¾´Ç³ú soft light brown sugar
  • 50²µ/1¾´Ç³ú currants
  • 100²µ/3½´Ç³ú dried pineapple, finely diced
  • 100²µ/3½´Ç³ú glacé cherries, roughly chopped
  • 100²µ/3½´Ç³ú dates, finely chopped
  • 1 orange, grated zest only
  • 350ml/12fl oz whole milk
  • 50²µ/1¾´Ç³ú lard, diced

To decorate