Hobo Bread

Ingredients

• 1 cup currants or raisins
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 1/4 cup brandy
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 8 1/2 ounces all-purpose flour (about 2 cups)
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 egg at room temperature
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped

Steps

1. Grease and flour 3 or 4 empty and clean soup cans, or two small loaf pans, or one large loaf pan. Preheat oven to 350º F.
2. Pour boiling water over currants. Add brandy, and let cool.
3. Whisk together baking soda, salt, and flour; set aside. In a large bowl, mix together butter, milk, vanilla, egg, and the sugars. Add the currants and all the liquid.
4. Gently mix in flour mixture and walnuts, until just blended. It’s ok if there are lumps or some streaks of flour.
5. Fill the soup cans to half full, or divide evenly between loaf pans. Bake for 40 minutes to an hour. Cool 5 minutes in cans or pans before removing to a rack to cool completely.