Nutri Loaf

What is that? Well, it is just about any loaf of bread I make that is full of grains nutritous healthy things in it. I picked up the term from my dear Aunt who lives in Trinidad (where my mother comes from).

I have a family with several cousins and Aunts and Uncles and whenever I used to visit Trinidad as a child, we would all have a grand time. I spent most of my time with my cousins, as they were all around my age, so “one-on-.one” talks with the elder members of the family were, until I became much older rather scarce.

The first “one-on-one” conversation I shared with my Aunt, was in her kitchen. She was entertaining and was going back and forth from the dining room to the kitchen. I decided to follower her into the kitchen on one of her trips and noticed a loaf of bread on the kitchen counter. I asked her what it was and she mentioned that is a Nutriloaf- basically, a loaf packed with nutrition.

My curiosity was piqued and I immediately asked her how she made it. From there, we began talking about other things. We actually really shared stories for the first time that day, and it is one I shall never forget.

Since that day, I have made many a Nutri-loaf and each time I think fondly of my Aunt, think about our first talk and smile!

My doctor recently gave me a recipe for a bread with quinoa and I tweaked it heavily to create my own Nutri-loaf.

So, each time I eat a nutri-loaf, I feel really good about myself somehow. Not only because of all of the wonderfully nutritious things in it, but also because it reminds of the relationship that I share with my aunt- -the stories we have shared-the advice she has given-and just the nice feeling I have to have such a great aunt in my life!!

Nutri Loaf # 1

2-cups whole-wheat flour
½ cup buckwheat flour
1/4-cup corn flour
1/4 oats
1/8 cup quinoa
¼ cups of dried coconut flakes
¼ cups of shredded carrot
1-teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup of ground almonds
3 tbls. flaxseeds
¼ cups of raisons
1/8 cup of sesame seeds
1/8 cup pumpkin seeds
½ -teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon salt
3-teaspoons baking powder
½ cup maple syrup

2 large eggs
1/4-cup olive oil
1/8 cup of coconut oil
1/2 apple Juice

Line a loaf pan with baking paper.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F- 180 degrees C.

Mix all of the dry ingredients in a bowl. Add the eggs, the oil, syrup, and juice and stir until the mixture is combined.

Bake until the top is brown and slightly puffed. It took me 30 minutes.