Apricot Bran Loaf

Men love this recipe for some reason. It's very healthy, filling and delicious.

1 cup bran cereal, crushed
1 cup chopped dried apricots*
1 1/4 cups milk
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

Mix together the cereal, apricots, sugar and milk. Allow to stand for 2 hours or overnight. Preheat oven to 180oC/350oF and grease a loaf tin. Mix in the flour and baking soda. It will form a thick sticky dough. Put the mixture into the loaf tin and bake for about an hour, or until a knife comes out clean from the centre.
Cool and serve either as it is, or toasted with butter.

* you can substitute anything you like here. I have tried mashed banana, dates & walnuts, and adding almonds or coconut to the apricots. All have worked well.