Annacias North Africa/middle East Apricot And Honey Loaf

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons mixed spice (zany zesty north africa/middle east spice mix #428327, may use less if you like a milder spice flavor)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup chopped dried apricot (softened)
• 1/2 cup liquid honey
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar (i used splenda)
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil, plus
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 cup boiling apricot water (from softening the apricots)

Recipe

• 1 place apricots in a small pan with just enough water to cover. bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer for a couple of minutes set aside to cool enough to be able to handle then drain them saving the apricot water.
• 2 chop when cool enough, you need 1 cup. save 1/2 a cup of the drained water or add enough water to make a 1/2 cup if it's short.
• 3 preheat oven to 350°f . butter and flour a 9 x 5 x 3-inch metal loaf pan.
• 4 stir first 5 ingredients together in medium bowl to blend and make a well.
• 5 add the well drained and chopped apricots and mix to coat the arpicots.
• 6 in another bowl whisk together honey, sugar, oil and eggs in large bowl until blended, about 3 minutes. you can do this with a mixer if you wish but if the honey flows easilt it's very easy by hand and saves getting the mixer out.
• 7 microwave the saved water to bring to a boil.
• 8 pour into the dry ingredients and fold just enough to start getting it mixed.
• 9 add in 1/2 cup boiling water and continue folding until almost fully mixed. it's ok to have some dry flour or some small lumps.
• 10 transfer batter to prepared pan.
• 11 bake until loaf is brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40-45 minutes.
• 12 cool in pan 10 minutes.
• 13 turn out onto rack. wrap warm cake in foil and store at room temperature until used up.