When I was 19, a group of 10 of us travelled to Canada and lived in a small townhouse together in the snow for 3 months. We all had jobs of some description but mostly it was one big holiday and the jobs were to fund our, I'll admit it, mostly drinking. None of us had all that much money given we were being paid minimum wage which was about $7 an hour.
Luckily we'd paid for our accommodation upfront so we never had to worry about a roof over our heads but we did get rather stingy when it came to buying food. To save any household arguments over whose carrot was whose, each week we put in an amount each and then a few of us (always me, even though I was fussy I still loved food!) headed off and did a big shop.
We ate a lot of things like spag bol that you could make in big batches but when it came to baked goodies, sadly our oven only had a grill so there wasn't much baking to be done. Apart from working and eating we did get in a fair bit of skiing but one of the best things to do was Fresh Tracks.
For $10 per head you got to start the day with a full buffet breakfast and then be the first on the mountain before it opened for the day. Admittedly you had to get up and get to the lifts in the dark but it was totally worth it. They had the most amazing chocolate chip banana bread that we all loved. We loved it so much that - don't judge the poor 19 year olds - we used to take zip-lock bags in our ski jackets and load them up with banana bread to see us through a few days. Terrible I know but those are the lengths I used to go to for good banana bread.
I still can't get enough of the stuff but I try to experiment with different types of loaves to expand my repertoire and one I'd never tried was soda bread. I always assumed that soda bread had soda water in it but the soda in walnut soda bread comes from the bicarb soda. This recipe is unlike any I've ever seen or tasted. Mixing it up, I couldn't understand how anything with just one tablespoon of sugar could be any good.
On first bite I thought it was a little bland but before I knew it I was going back for more and the slice quickly disappeared. Once you realise it's not meant to be sweet it's really quite delicious. I couldn't decide if I preferred it with honey or just plain butter.
I imagine it would be really good with a thick spread of your favourite jam. It would make the perfect addition to a breakfast buffet as something a little more exciting than toast. Serve it with a selection of spreads and tell me which one you like the best. Enjoy!
So tell me, have you ever taken a few extra items from a buffet 'for later?' I promise I won't dob you in.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 450 g 1lb plain (AP) flour
- 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
- 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 tablespoon caster sugar
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 4 tablespoon chopped walnuts
- 2 tablespoon melted butter
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 180C (390F) fan-forced.
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, bicarb, cream of tartar, sugar and salt.
- Make a well in the middle then gently stir through the buttermilk.
- Fold in the walnuts.
- Brush the melted butter over the insides of a 21x10cm (8 ¼ x 4in) loaf tin.
- Spread the batter into the tin and smooth out the top.
- Pour the remaining butter over the batter.
- Bake for 30 minutes then reduce the temperature to 130C (290F) fan-forced and bake for another 30 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- Transfer the bread to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Serve sliced and toasted and spread with butter, jam, honey or fresh ricotta cheese.
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
Taking home extra bread is always acceptable ;). Love the walnuts!
Claire says
Ok good! I'm sure it just goes to waste otherwise.
The Café Sucre Farine says
Hi Claire, this looks so good, I have to laugh at you because I had such a similar experience. I worked in Sweden one summer during college then spent a few weeks traveling through Europe with some friends. We were dirt-poor and would always save any extra breakfast rolls for dinner that night. We'd just buy some thin sliced meat and thin, very thin, sliced cheese and that was dinner. And it was good too! Sometimes now days I feel so spoiled! :)
Claire says
Oh yes I can also remember making myself vegemite sandwiches at the buffet!
My Kitchen Stories says
Guilty as charged of course for steeling....... Wow you girls were really organised. My son is 19 today and I can't imagine him doing that. They sure aren't made like that anymore!
Claire says
Haha you might be right. We were pretty organised when I think about it.
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
hehe you guys are so funny! I've never taken anything or seen anyone take anything but to be honest I probably wouldn't notice if someone else was slipping something in their ziplock :P
Claire says
I once saw a woman fill a flask with orange juice. She kept going back for more glasses until it was filled!
Jess says
Oh what fun. I've never been to Canada but you sort of make me want to round up some girlfriends and go for a ski weekend (three months is probably out of the question in my grown-up married days, eh?).
Claire says
Yes possibly Jess. You really have no excuse for never having been! Book it now!
Lisa the Gormet Wog says
Yep, guilty! I'd take the occasional vegemite or peanut butter packet, or an apple, or orange or crossaint or even once the salt and paper shaker (hangs head in shame)
I was very very young and the temptation was just too strong!
I'm highly impressed at how little sugar there is in your bread! Looks fab :)
Claire says
We've all done it Lisa!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
When I was in university back in the dark ages, I remember taking ketchup packets to make spaghetti sauce with - such were the poor students.
I like your bread!
Claire says
Totally acceptable!