Apple, Date and Pecan Tea Bread

Those that follow my Year of Living Gratefully, would know that I promised to share this recipe.  It's raining today and I don't feel like doing anything but writing.  Perfect time to blog, huh?

So here it is -

300 g organic plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
125g organic raw sugar
1 green apple cored and sliced
150g pitted dates, chopped
100g pecans, chopped
2  eggs, lightly beaten
60ml olive oil
60ml organic honey
1 tsp vanilla essence

* Don't let the 'organic' put you off making this!  I prefer organic where possible, but I'm sure it would taste just as good with non-organic produce.

Preheat your oven to 180 degrees celsius and lightly grease a 22cm x 11cm loaf tin.  Sift the flour, baking powder and spices in a large bowl and add the sugar.  Fold the apple, dates and pecans into the dry ingredients. Combine the eggs, olive oil, honey and vanilla, and slowly stir into the dry ingredients. Place the mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 50 - 60 minutes or until cooked.  Turn onto a wire rack to cool.

Once cooled, spread thickly with butter - yum! - and eat.