Hmmm, it’s the middle of the night. The kids are in bed, and Dinesh is far away (in India) …yes, he’s on a one week trip (am I jealous or what!)…but probably I’m missing him more than being envious!
You see, for the last nearly four years, we have been really lucky and, of course, a bit spoilt as well; due to the fact that all four of us have been always together…haven’t been apart for a single day! Now the empty place at the dinner table seems to be a little…well, empty. Although he left just yesterday,and for only a week, the kids too have started asking as to when their dad’s returning home. Can you imagine, they were discussing about his homecoming and Rengoni even suggested that I bake a cake to welcome him back!
So, while Dinesh is in India in the midst of a large number of loved ones (okay, okay! I admit, I’m jealous…and with a capital ‘J’), I’m clicking away on the laptop, rummaging through my pictures and came upon the following prune and nut bread.
I had made it quite some time ago, but had forgotten to post it and the pictures have been gathering dust since. So here it is…
What’s needed-
2 C whole wheat flour
1 C porridge oats +1 tblsp extra for topping
1 and 1/2 C stoned and dried prunes, and chopped
1C cashew nuts, chopped
1 C dark muscovado or other dark brown sugar
2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
2C of hot water
4 and a 1/2 tblsp olive oil
How to-
- Pre heat the oven at 180 deg C and grease and flour an 8 inch loaf pan.
- Place the prunes and the oil together in a bowl and pour the water. Set aside.
- In another bowl, mix together the flour, oats (1C), baking powder, sugar, salt and nuts till well combined.
- Pour the prune mixture into the flour one. Mix well till the dry ingredients are moistened.
- Spoon the mixture into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top.
- Sprinkle the tblsp of oats on the top and bake in the centre of the pre heated oven for approximately an hour or till a skewer inserted comes out clean.
Great for breakfast or for tea times…drizzle with honey or butter it up; have a slice on it’s own or with a cuppa…this tastes great. Figs or dates would also go well with this instead of the prunes.
There! Talking about baking has made me feel better already 
Yaaawwn…now I better get some sleep before the little mites are awake
And oh! Please do not forget to cook up something with cloves for this month’s Think spice…think cloves. This month it is being hosted over at Gretchen’s. The deadline is the 25th of April.
{ 46 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh Sunita, what a strange feeling it must be to be apart if even for a week. I’m sure you would have loved to be there too! I hope you have a very special week with your kids and I am sure whatever cake you make will be a wonderful welcome home for your husband.
This cake looks tasty and I am looking for ways to use some dried figs. Yum!
Sunita, what a delicious and healthy recipe, and I love that it’s vegan. I absolutely love the use of prunes in the bread.
Sunita, that is one beautiful cake and eggless at that
you sure know to whet my appetite late at night 
You must be missing him a lot… Have fun with the kids and before you know it Dinesh will be back with a bag full of goodies…
Delicious looking bread btw…
I can understand what you are feeling…hubby away and that too in India:)Love the cake…bookmarked it…what i love about your bakes are that they are so healthy…you dont use butter at all!
gretchen,
yes it is indeed a strange feeling…one probably gets used to things…do give the bread a try…and yes, figs would be lovely too
vaishali,
Thanks…we liked the prunes too
richa,
Thanks dearie…you’re most welcome to grab a slice
Sig, it does feel a bit strange indeed
..but at least the kids are around because of their spring break…they will be going back to school from tomorrow , though…then, I’ll be missing all three of them 
Saswati,
Glad you noticed..I very, very rarely use butter in the loads of baking that I do.Just trying my bit
Delicious healthy cake. I love prunes used like this.
Wow in 4 years never been apart.
Enjoy the week of fun with the kids.
I too dislike when hubby is not home. Even after all these years when he is out of the country I hate it.
that looks totally delish.
You remind me of my sister – her and her husband didn’t spend one day apart until years after they had been married. I hope your week goes by quickly!
This bread sounds wonderful!
I cannot believe that you and you’re hubby have never been apart! Thats awesome! I wish I Bhatji and I could say that. When we were dating we were doing long distance and after marriage and a brief stint of living together, our jobs have kept us apart again. It sucks!
You’re hubby will be home soon and indulge on that gorgeous bread and never want to leave you ever again. Way to winning a man’s heat ;o)
No eggs? Of course, there are enough prunes to take care of that. I so want to try this.
I have never baked nor cooked with dates, Sunita, and this is mouthwatering!
This lovely bread would make anyone feel better
.
A week would pass by so quick, and before you know, Dinesh ji will be home (and then you all can enjoy another yummy cake together).
hugs,
musical.
Sunita, this looks great! I love prunes and this is going into my TO MAKE folder which is growing day after day:) Thank you for sharing these delicious recipes with us the other foodies:)
Aww … I’m sure Dinesh is sitting in des drooling over what he’s missing
This looks insanely delicious. And I’m already scribbling out my cloves recipe for this month!
Yay!
Looks tempting!
Question – what kind of oats should I use? Instant oats or plain, old-fashioned rolled oats?
happy cook,
Thanks
bee,
thanks…we did love it
deborah,
Ours has been the other way round…unlike your sister, we’ve been apart for most parts of the first 3 and 1/2 years
anu,
We’ve been apart for the most parts of our first 3 and 1/2 years of our married life…continents apart…you will definitely get better…just hold on
Sug,
Do give it a try…hope you’ll love it
Patricia,
Thanks…give it a try
musical,
Thanks for those nice words dear…I do feel cheery already
Farida,
Thanks…the samr goes for you too
Kaykat,
I’m not so sure that D will get enough time to to that though
bonziegal,
Thanks…I used the plain oats
wow looks delicious… is the cake too sweet?…. i dont like it too sweet…. if it comes sweet i can accordingly reduce the sugar naa…. n yaa do check my blog…
Absence makes the heart grow fonder…right?!! In the meantime the cake looks like the perfect thing to have for breakfast or a midnight snack!
Hey Sunita must tell u girl u got patinece and u a wonderful baker. the photos are so tempting.. nice combo of oats..
Hi sunita,I new to ur blog and love the cake u have baked.I have used prunes for baking They turn out to be so moist.I am going try this healthy recipe.The slices look so enticing.
i dont know how u cud let such lovely pics and a great recipe sit idle for so long. and also, next time accompany dinesh
That bread looks so good. The prunes and nuts are so densely packed into it.
shubha,
Thanks…we didn’t think it was too sweet…but then, of course, you can adjust the sweetness accordingly
helen,
Thanks…and you’re right indeed
smn,
Thanks…I just love to bake
pearlsofeast,
welcome to my world…do give this a try
nags,
…well, we probably would have…but a week in India would be too stressful…need more time than that 
kevin,
Thanks…glad you like it…it is indeed a fruity and nutty bread
poor u:) i can imagine hw u and kids must be feeling. hope u get a chance to visit india very soon:) r u planning to visit during summer break?
and that cake is sooooooooo droolworthy suni:) just loved it. i am bookmarking it to try it some day as it has hooked me.
Sunita, I am not a blogger just a reader of few blogs.Prune&Nut bread is your first recipe I tried.Substituted dates instead of Prunes.I was doubtful as it doesn’t have butter or eggs..But it turned out very good the next day. Thanks and this recipe is a keeper for sure.
I’m not even a fan of prunes and that looks wonderful!! I totally understand what you mean about missing each other. Enjoy your special time with the kids and just think that the reunion will be so sweet when he comes back!
Hi Sunita,
I tried your Prune and cashew cake. This is the first time i am baking and i must tell you i could not beleive that it came out sooooo well. Thanks so much for your wonderful recipe.
Thanks
Uthra
sia,Yes, D is missed…literally counting down the days
…we haven’t got any plane for a visit yet…
…as for the bread, do give it a try…hope you’ll like it
vimala, I’m so glad that you tried this out and are happy with the results. I have always believed that it doesn’t need too much butter for something to taste good
kalai, thanks…and yes, we’re just looking forward to having D back
Uthra, I’m really very pleased that your first experience of baking has been a satisfactory one
Oh wow that looks fab. SO moist, sticky, nutty and yummy.
Hi Sunita, guess what? I just made your prune and nut bread! It turned out delicious! The only thing I noticed is that my bred is not as dark inside as yours. I really love the colors in yours. Mine is more yellowish. What do you think might be the problem? Otherwise the taste is great! This is a healthy bread, A KEEPER for us now! Thank you for sharing!
Farida,
Really glad to know that you loved the bread…as for the colour,was your sugar the dark brown one…I used dark muscovado sugar…can’t think of any other reason
hi sunita, thanks for wonderful recipes. one question, i tried to make fig/nut cup cakes and i didn’t use mucovado suga but normal sugar 3 tbsp and it was too little. can you tell me 3 tblsp would be equivalent to how much of normal sugar we get here in states ??
thank you…