Sunday, October 13, 2019

Welsh Tea Bread from Elizabeth Duncan and a Giveaway


We’re delighted to welcome back guest author Elizabeth J. Duncan, whose Remembering the Dead, #10 in the Penny Brannigan mystery series, has just been published by Crooked Lane Books.  She’s giving away a signed hardback copy of Remembering the Dead and since the series is set in Wales, a box of Glengettie tea to accompany it. Please leave a comment to enter the giveaway.

The people of Wales are famous for keeping a welcome in the hillside, and a visit to a Welsh home usually includes a friendly cup of tea accompanied by a little something – often a slice or two of bara brith. In Welsh, bara means bread, and brith means speckled, so Bara Brith is speckled bread. The raisins bring the speckle to this fragrant, easy-to-make quick bread.  Lightly buttered, it’s perfect with a cup of morning coffee or afternoon tea.

Bara Brith

Makes one large loaf
1 cup dried fruit (any mix of raisins, currents, cranberries)
1/3 cup chopped mixed peel
1 cup hot, strong tea (any blend)
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 tsp apple pie or pumpkin pie spice
2 tbsp cold butter
2/3 cup soft brown sugar
1 egg lightly beaten

Put the fruit and peel into a heatproof bowl and pour over the hot tea. Cover and leave to stand at room temperature for several hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a loaf pan.

Sift flour, baking powder, salt and mixed spice into large mixing bowl. Add butter and rub in with your fingertips until mixture resembles fine bread crumbs.
Sir in the sugar, then add the fruit and its liquid, and the beaten egg. Stir well. Batter will be thick and gloppy. Transfer mixture to loaf tin and level the surface. Bake for about one hour or until a skewer inserted into centre comes out clean.

Cool on wire rack.






About the author:  A former journalist and college professor, Elizabeth J. Duncan is the author of two mystery series – Penny Brannigan Mysteries set in North Wales, and Shakespeare in the Catskills featuring costume designer Charlotte Fairfax. Elizabeth is a two-time winner of the Bloody Words Light Mystery Award (aka the Bony Blithe), presented annually for Canada’s best light mystery.  Elizabeth divides her time between Canada and Wales and is a faculty member of the Humber School for Writers.




To connect with Elizabeth, visit her web page www.elizabethjduncan.com, follow her on Twitter @Elizabethduncan or like her Facebook page facebook.com/elizabethjduncan
Leave a comment below with your email address to enter Elizabeth's giveaway of a copy of Remembering the Dead and a box of Glengettie tea.



54 comments:

  1. Thank you for the bara brith recipe. I'm looking forward to having a slice with my tea. lnchudej@yahoo.com

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  2. Both the tea cake and book seem interesting. librarylady18@hotmail.com

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  3. Sounds delicious I'd love to read your newest book. Thank you for the chance Donakutska7@gmail.com

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  4. Bara Brith What an interesting recipe. Reminiscent of my Grandma's fruit cakes. So loved them. And it is so nice meeting a new author. Looking forward to reading and learning more. bess deepotter 84 at gmail dot com

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  5. Wow! The recipe and the book sound wonderful! Thanks for the chance. rwilson@ws4r.com

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  6. Thank you for the recipe for delicious sounding Bara Brith. Reading the recipe, I thought I could even smell it. Definitely a keeper and one I will be trying soon.

    Appreciate the opportunity to win a copy of "Remembering the Dead". I've had this book on my TBR list since I first read about it. Love the cover and the storyline. Can't wait for the chance to read it.
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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  7. I enjoyed the small part of Wales that I visited years ago. suefoster109 at gmail dot com

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  8. That looks good, I've never heard of tea as a bread ingredient before.
    kozo8989@hotmail.com

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  9. My grandmother's family emigrated to the U.S. from Wales, and I am interested in all things Welsh. I need to make this wonderful bread and serve it on my Gaudy Welsh china. Thanks for dropping by and sharing your recipe at Mystery Lovers' Kitchen! bobandcelia@sbcglobal.net

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  10. That recipe would be right up my granny's alley! Currants! Thanks for the info and chance to win! JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

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  11. My Mum was Scottish and made a similar bread. Thank you for the chance.i am a tea only person and would adore this . abeachlifesc at yahoo dot com

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  12. Tea bread, a book, and tea to drink--a perfect combination.
    libbydodd at comcast dot net

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  13. Congratulations on the new book. I can’t wait to share this with my dad. He just returned from a trip to Wales.

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  14. I had never heard of tea bread before, but it looks delicious! mbradeen [at] yahoo [dot] com

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  15. Tea Bread is so perfect for fall with tea which I drink all year. My favorite hot drink. Together with your delightful book. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  16. Bread with tea sounds good to me. I like the idea of being welcoming by inviting people in for tea along with a little something to eat. I don't see it happening much here where I live sadly. bluedawn95864 at gmail dot com

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  17. The recipe sounds delicious and you books looks and sounds amazing, Thanks for your great generosity. lindamay4852@yahoo.com

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  18. I shall make this tea bread for our family reunion at Thanksgiving and make them guess the country the recipe comes from. They'll never get it! Then I'll go to Browseabout Bookstore and buy the book. Can't wait.

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  19. The recipe is enticing and tea makes it a real treat. Your book sounds captivating and special. I lived in the To. area for many years. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  20. Thank you for the recipe. I see a loaf in my future!

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  21. Oh this sounds good! And I’m always ready for a new Penny Brannigan story.

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  22. Well, to be honest I'm not a fan of raisins in bread, but I do love trying new teas and authors! I'm adding the book to my list.
    mhunter972@aol.com

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  23. Congratulations, Elizabeth, on the new book. You are a new-to-me author and I just found our library carries 12 of your books! I am very excited to start reading them! Some of my grandfather's ancestors were from Wales. I haven't researched as far as with my grandmother's side of the family. (Lots of rabbit holes that lead to nothing.) Thank you for being so gracious in this giveaway.
    teddi1961(at)arcemont(dot)com

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  24. I would love to have some of that Bread...thank you so much for the chance to read one of your books...
    Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com

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  25. My Welsh grandmother made several dishes that she learned from her immigrant mother, but I don't remember this bread. Thanks for the recipe!
    Lisacobblestone@aol.com

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  26. This is an interesting recipe, I must try it! Thank you! davisel1830(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  27. This is a new series to me. I really enjoy reading about Wales and I would love to read the book.
    diannekc8(at)?gmail(dot)com

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  28. Thanks for the recipe - something new to have with my tea.

    jtcgc at yahoo dot com

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  29. I love tea and enjoy your series. The recipe sounds delicious.

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  30. Cool recipe and the book sounds great m! Legallyblonde1961@yahoo.com

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  31. Remembering the Dead sounds like my kind of book to read! Your recipe and tea very tempting. Thanks for the chance! bernice-kennedy(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

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  32. The recipe sounds good,
    sgiden at verizon(.)net

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  33. I love your series so much. They stand up to rereading like a visit to old friends.

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  34. Thanks for the chance to win and for the recipe! Book sounds good!
    faithdcreech at gmail dot com

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  35. How tasty that looks! Reminds me of a lovely afternoon tea at Portmeirion years ago! sharonrizzo@hotmail.com Thank you for the recipe and another series to read!

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  36. Oh, I am going to have to try this Bara Brith. Think even hubby will like it.

    Bara Brith, hot tea, and your book -- couldn't be a better morning.

    donna (dot) durnell (at) sbcglobal (dot) net

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  37. I have been a fan of yours since I read Slated for Death. I have read one of the theater group series too.
    My husband probably would not eat the bread, but looks good to me!
    browninggloria(at) hotmail(dot) com

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  38. Delicious. Thanks for the chance
    judytucker1947@gmail.com

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  39. Thanks for sharing your recipe. Would love to win this book! lindaherold999(at)gmail.com

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  40. That bread looks delicious and this book sounds great! Thank you for the chance to win.

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  41. Yummm! I think a piping hot cup of Glengettie tea, a warm slice of generously buttered Bara Brith and a copy of Remembering the Dead to savor sounds perfect! rcraftlady@gmail.com

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  42. Book sounds great. cheetahthecat1986ATgmailDOTcom

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  43. Thanks for the recipe! tWarner419@aol.com

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  44. Wouldn't you want to pour the tea over the fruit and peel that are in the heatproof bowl? instead of pouring them over the tea?

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    1. Oops, here's my e,ail: keltikat7@centurylink.net

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  45. interesting. I've been making a lot of fruited breads lately. Thanks.

    kckendler at gmail dot com

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  46. Bread sounds wonderful! As does the mystery. Thank you for the chance to win. jeaniedannheim (at) ymail (dot) com

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  47. This bread looks delicious. Thank you for sharing the recipe. I love Wales and have Welsh roots so I'm surprised that I've somehow missed this series! robinchase2010@gmail.com

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  48. Love fresh baked bread. Thanks for the recipe and the chance to win your book. Saamm7(at)msn(dot).com

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  49. This bread looks so good!! I really enjoy this series and look forward to reading this installment. Thanks for a chance to win! ljbonkoski@yahoo.com

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  50. Mmmmmmm... I can just taste this bread with my tea! Would love to win your book!

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  51. Thank you for the opportunity and the recipe
    lindalou64@live.com

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  52. Thank you for the chance. The recipe sounds delicious and the book is one I really want to read soon.

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