Peppernut Tea Bread

Have a slice of this deliciously spiced bread with a cup of tea in the afternoon, or a couple slices for breakfast in the morning.

Spoon out 1 and a half cups of all-purpose flour into measuring cups, and level with a knife. Place in a large bowl and combine with 1 teaspoon baking soda, 3/4 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg (grind it fresh if you can find whole nutmeg in your supermarket's spice section!), 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. ground star anise, and 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper.

The star anise you'll almost certainly have to grind at home, since I've only ever seen it sold whole. Use a coffee or spice grinder or do it the fun old-fashioned way - with a mortar and pestle.

Add one cup apple butter (sold near jams and jellies - don't worry it doesn't contain any butter; it's just apples and apple cider) to the flour mixture, along with 1/4 cup raw sugar, 1/4 cup agave nectar (in place of honey), and the equivalent of 2 eggs using egg replacer (such as Ener-G). Stir well to combine.

Fold in 1/2 a cup golden raisins and 1 tablespoon sliced almonds.

Spoon the batter into a 9x5-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle the top with an additional tablespoon of sliced almonds. Bake at 325 degrees for 35 minutes (a toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean).

Carefully loosen the sides of the bread away from the pan with a spatula, and turn out onto a wire rack. Cool completely.

One-sixteenth of the loaf is a slice of 130 calories.

Cost:
apple butter $3.19
(yes I already had all the rest!)