Saturday, March 12, 2011

Health Rusks


I just love rusks! Most of you probably won't know what a rusk is. The Wikipedia definition for a rusk is a hard, dry, biscuit or a twice baked bread. I would say it is very similar to a biscotti, but not as sweet!




























We eat our rusks after we have dipped it in a cup of hot tea or coffee! Rusks can be eaten for breakfast as a late morning or afternoon snack, or even when traveling when you stop for a coffee or tea break. There are quite a selection of rusk recipes out there but this one is my favorite recipe. For years my parents bought these rusks at a home industry shop in South Africa. My dad tried his best to get the recipe from the owner but she never wanted to share the recipe with anybody. However, one day, she told my dad that she has sold her business and was leaving town. She said she would give him her recipe! Today, I have the recipe neatly filed and I treasure it. My dad has since passed away and I have such great memories of us dipping rusks in a cup of hot tea and enjoying the moment!







Ingredients:
6 cups self-raising flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups wheat bran
3 eggs
1 cup coconut flakes
1 cup raisins
four 4-oz sticks (16 OZ or 1 LB of butter)
2 cups buttermilk
1 1/2 cups of sugar

Pre-heat the oven to 350*F.  Butter a 11 x 16 inch baking pan. Sift the self-raising flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl. Add the wheat bran, coconut flakes, and raisins and mix.



Melt the butter and add it slowly to the mixture. Beat the eggs, buttermilk and sugar together and add to the wheat bran mixture. Mix well. Put the mixture in the baking pan and press gently to level it.


Cut into pieces before you bake it.


Bake it for 35 to 45 minutes. It should be a golden brown on top. Let it cool down and cut again and take the pieces apart. Put the pieces into two baking pans and put it in a 200*F oven to dry out. After two hours turn all the pieces around and dry out for another two hours. Let it cool down. Make some hot tea or coffee and dip the rusks in the tea or coffee. Enjoy!
































All images taken by me

15 comments:

  1. How lovely to have that very special recipe. Your provencial style pottery is just utterly delightful

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  2. The rusks sound delicious! I love your photographs...each one would make a beautiful still life. You sure have great style!

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  3. That looks very nice !!! and yammie.....have a nice day darling........love love Ria....xxx....

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  4. Dear Ingrid, hello
    We salute the most elegant blog of Internet!
    Thanks very much for this wonderful recipe!
    Your rusks look great, and other dinnerware, your basket of picnic, all are very nice!
    I love too the Cretan rusks. Every day I eat them.
    Have a nice week
    Many greetings

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  5. Dear Ingrid,

    Your rusk looks really good. Love your mugs and teapot for the picnic. Wish I could join you!

    Lieve groet & happy new week!

    Madelief x

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  6. Dear Ingrid
    You have e-mail from my , about rusks of Grete-Greece..
    Greetings
    Magda

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  7. I don't believe I have ever had a rusk, but my oh my these look delicious, Ingrid! Your images are beautiful and as vibrant as always :) Must be nice to have such warm, bright light!!! :) Have a wonderful day and I look forward to you next yummy post.

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  8. hi from singapore! Heading back to France tonight!
    Delicious, delicious! And even more so with all the beautiful photography!
    Speak to you when I'm home.
    Bisous
    Ronelle

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  9. this sounds delish!!!! Love the teapot - just gorgeous!! TK xx

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  10. GORGEOUSLY SUBLIME....your wonderful sunny tea pick-nick on the blanket out in the garden!!!!

    You put the pick nick in warm sunlight....such great!!!!!! Photos!!!!!!

    Wonderful sunny and beautiful styled.....what a talented Designer you are!!!!!!
    Soooo magnificient!!!

    Oh, I do love the sweet tea service with the "galletto"...it is absolutely lovely!!!!!!!

    So...I'd LOVE to taste this crunchy Rusks right now with a warm cup of tea in your beautiful sunny garden........!!!!!

    WONDERFUL PHOTOS, cara Ingrid!!!! ...just wonderful!!!!!!!!!!

    un abbraccione ciao ciao elvira

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  11. Good morning dear Your blog is very chic and I love your recipes, your dishware and your interior designs! Tantekiki.blogspot.com

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  12. Well,what can I say?I am speechless!Your photos are amazing, so colourful, so vivid!You have brought spring in the blogosphere!If you like greek cuisine,I invite you to my blog (nostimia.blogspot.com)!Kisses from sunny Greece!

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  13. Your post brought back memories of the rusks we had while on safari in South Africa. We used them as "energy" before the morning game drive - to hold us the 4 hours until we were served breakfast. Unfortunately, the rusks we had were hard, dry and did not have much flavor. I think I will try your recipe.

    Thanks for bringing up a great memory,
    Lunachance

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  14. I made the rusks and they tasted great! They were just very crumbly. So crumbly I had to very very quickly dip them in my coffee to make sure not half would stay behind. Any hints how to improve that?

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