Having been firmly on the path of healthfulness and exercise for several weeks, I somehow managed to pull a muscle in my back. The week from hell commenced exactly seven days ago and is thankfully on the mend now, though still not back to 100%. For several days driving was out of the question… sitting upright a total agony… and even now, trying to get socks onto my feet creates the visual appeal of the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz. A number of close family and friends have suffered with debilitating back pain and surgery over the past twelve months… now I have a tiny inkling of what they’ve had to deal with.
Resorting to comfort food over this past week has seen a lovely fruit and nut slice, of my Mum’s, make an appearance. There’s often a tupperware container filled with this very moreish slice when we go to stay with my parents… ready to be picked up with whichever hand isn’t holding a cup of tea or coffee. There’s absolutely nothing like Mum’s food for a little pick-me-up when you’re not quite feeling yourself. The only thing I’ve adjusted is the amount of sugar… lessened by ⅓ Cup and is still beautifully sweet from the dried fruit within.
Mum's Fruit and Nut Slice | Gather and Graze
Ingredients
- 125g (½ Cup) Unsalted Butter
- 150g (⅔ Cup) Raw Caster Sugar
- 130g (1 Cup) Dried Fruit Medley* (or Chopped Dried Apricots)
- 1 Large Free-Range Egg
- 125g (1 Cup) Chopped Pecans (can be substituted for Walnuts)
- 150g (1 Cup) Self-Raising Flour (sifted)
Instructions
Pre-heat the oven to 180°C/350°F. Grease and line a 28 x 18 cm (11 x 7 inch) slice tin.
Melt the butter in a small saucepan, then add this to the sugar and dried fruit in a large mixing bowl and stir to combine. Allow to cool slightly, before stirring in the egg and pecans, then finally the self-raising flour.
Press the mixture into the slice tin and bake in the pre-heated oven for about 20 minutes, until golden brown on top.
Allow to cool completely, before cutting into squares and serving with a hot cup of tea.
* Fruit Medley is a combination of diced dried fruit, usually including apricot, apple, pear, peach and sultanas. If you cannot purchase this where you live, feel free to substitute simply with a cup of chopped dried apricots, or make up a combination of diced dried fruit from the list above yourself.
Gather & Graze 
These sound delicious! Watch your back, I know it is difficult to take it easy though, life is so busy!
Cheers Anna, the back is much improved, though doing everything I possibly can now to strengthen it and make sure it doesn’t happen again. Margot
Thank you so much for sharing this great recipe with us. I definitely will try it. I love finding great recipes like yours.
Very kind of you Cecilia – thanks! 🙂
Mom’s cooking really does always make it better. If i’m feeling in the dumps I make my mom’s secret Polish bread recipe. Always helps! This fruit and nut slice sounds divine too though!
Thanks Mary! A little nurturing through Mum’s food is always a good thing. 🙂
Hi Margot seems like forever – sorry to hear about your back – hope you are feeling better the nut slice looks divine – I agree that mums cooking is best
Thanks dear Poli… feeling much better now, though trying to now do too much to make up for all the time I couldn’t move off the couch. :o/ Life’s pretty crazy leading up to Christmas and end of our school year!
you poor thing – I commiserate – not moving off the couch is terrible – glad you are doing better now
🙂 xx
These sort of my cakes are my favourite, I’m not big on frosting or anything too sweet so the dried fruit adds just the right amount of sweetness. Great recipe, thank you!
You’re welcome Jenn… so pleased you like the sound of these! 🙂
Oh dear, Margot. I hope you will feel better soon. Please be careful. I think your mum’s fruit and nut slice did cheer you up a little. It looks quite the treat. It sounds really comforting.
Thanks very much Jo. Mum’s food always cheers me up! Feeling much better now.
As I love, love, love dried fruit and nuts these wouldn’t last me long. 🙂 Still haven’t made your last post yet (haven’t been in the mood to bake). Although I’ve just made a smaller version of my pumpkin pies. But they’re cooked on the hob only this time. These would be a good way to use up a lot of sultanas. And Brazils. Roll on the weekend.
Hoping you’re feeling more mobile.
Thanks very much Johnny. 🙂 I really struggle with finding enough time to make all the beautiful dishes that I see on friend’s blogs or in cookbooks etc., along with developing new recipes or fine-tuning/adapting old recipes for G&G. Definitely too few hours in the day… and the weeks just drift on by. Can’t believe spring is almost gone… I even got around to making our Christmas cake the other day! With family coming this year, I need to be a little more organised than usual.
Absolutely substitute away with fruit or nuts of your choosing. I think it would be great with dried cranberries too. 🙂
Stefano has been living with back pain since … forever. I know it’s very painful and what you are going through. I wish you the fastest recovery ever!
I love your mom’s beauties. I adore the combination of nuts and dried fruit and I’m sure these slices takes the coffee experience to another level. This is a sweet even I could not resist!
Oh, poor Stefano! Is it an ongoing pain that he has or does it come and go? The last (and only other) time this happened to me was about 8 or 9 years ago in New Zealand. Over the years it’s felt quite weak from time to time and I’ve felt that it could go at any time… such a scary thought of having to endure that kind of pain again.
The slice is really lovely for the fact that it’s packed full of fruit and nuts… I dare say the amount of sugar could be reduced even further – something I’ll try out next time I make it.
Thanks for your very sweet comment Francesca, I appreciate it greatly. M.xx
Thank goodness it comes and goes but when it comes it is really painful and he just have to deal with it! Hope you are feeling better soon!
It’s an awful thing to have to deal with… I really do feel for poor Stefano. Here’s hoping it doesn’t return for a very long time!
Stay strong and healthy in your mind! You will be doing amazing again in no time!
Such kind words… thank you so much.
Oh, I’m really sorry to hear that. I hope you are doing much better now. Your Mum’s Fruit and Nut Slice look perfect and so appetizing too. Take care, Margot ! 🙂 xx
Thank you dear Linda, it’s getting better and better with each day that passes. M.xx
Oh, Margot! I know exactly what you are going through with your back. Since I gave birth to my son 30+ years ago, I throw my back out if I am not careful, or pull/hurt it that I am out of commission for a week or sometimes up to 3 weeks. 😦
So, you missed the taste of Mum. These fruits and nuts slices look just yummy… soft cake with chewy fruits and crunchy nuts. 😛
I’m sorry to know that you’ve been through this too Fae… it really is quite debilitating and those spasms are enough to truly take your breath away… just awful! I felt that there needed to be at least SOME compensation for the agony and time spent languishing on the couch/sofa… food certainly did the trick for me! 🙂
Oh my goodness, those bars look so easy to make and so good to eat. Thank you for sharing your mum’s recipe. I hope you’re well on the mend.
Thanks so much Kathryn… I’m so pleased you like Mum’s recipe too!
There is nothing like your Mum’s cooking for comfort. I have a similar recipe from my Mum, it always sends me into a childhood reverie. I hope you’ll be sitting comfortably soon xx
Even though Mum is many miles away, it’s kind of nice to feel that she’s still looking after me through her food/recipes. Leah is very lucky to have you living nearby. 🙂 Thanks for your lovely thoughts as always Sandra. xx
sorry to hear you were in such agony, sounds just awful. This slice sounds like the perfect tonic to cheer you up. Sending big hugs x
Thanks HM… hugs received and much appreciated!
Sorry to hear you’re not the best… do take care! Lovely recipe xx
Thanks very much Liz – on the mend now. 🙂
Oh no, you poor thing. Murphys Law, when you start to get fit and something like that happens. A friend of ours just underwent emergency spinal surgery and the pain from such injuries sure can be awful. Hope you keep getting better and better. I really like the sound of this old school bake and all that fruit. Like a mix between a cake and a slice. Nothing comforts like Mums cooking. 😊
Yes, starting to wonder if exercise and I are simply not compatible. :o/ It’s times like this somehow that Mum’s cooking making everything seem a little better, even if it means cooking it myself… 🙂 Thanks so much for your kind thoughts Lisa.