What to do when craving a toasted teacake!

I've been eating a plant based whole food diet for a few years now; before that I was dairy and yeast free. It was challenging at first, especially when my mind kept telling me I really needed to eat cakes and cheese, or anything processed and refined!
Refined sugars and fat are pretty addictive, particularly when put together. Think sugar and cream. If you eat them separately, you can only manage a small amount - the sugar sticks to your mouth, the cream is bland but sickly. Put together and chilled, you get ice cream. Eating loads of that is no problem! Our bodies are programmed to want sugar and fat as in the distant past, they were hard to come by and humans had to stock up to get through long, hard winters. These days, we have an over abundance of food, so there's no need for our bodies to stockpile. But we still do; the explosion in obesity, heart disease, diabetes and other chronic health problems in the last few decades is the consequence. Evolution of our brain and body has not caught up with the revolution in the food industry. And refined foods such as ready meals or junk food are packed full of fat and sugar, so your brain tells you to go back for more (clever food scientists!).
Over time, my body has detoxed itself from the junk and the cravings have pretty much subsided. I no longer sigh heavily if someone makes a cheese sandwich, or have to sniff a gorgeously cream laden chocolate pudding. I do, of course, indulge on occasion, enjoying a beautifully light dairy free cake or two from time to time, but I don't get that urge to keep eating it, which is a relief for my waistline and my health!

Occasionally, though, a random craving does appear out of the blue. Recently, it was for toasted teacakes.
I have no idea what triggered it, but one day I suddenly recalled eating delicious hot buttered toasted teacakes at my in-laws hotel in Devon. We had been out for a brisk walk on the coast and came back freezing cold. Sneaking into the kitchen for a hot chocolate, we found a new pack of teacakes so popped one into the toaster. The aroma soon spread through into the bar, and suddenly guests started to order them too. The pack was soon empty. That gorgeous cinnamon and raisin aroma was just too good to resist.
Once this memory had popped in my mind, all I could think about was toasted teacakes, but being dairy and yeast free, there's none I can buy. So after searching for a recipe, I made an alternative - a cinnamon and raisin loaf. Each slice can be toasted and covered in non-dairy spread (if desired) and tastes rather marvellous. Of course, I've made it as healthy as possible, with wholewheat flour and only a small amount of unrefined coconut sugar. And when toasting, those gorgeous aromas are released, so be warned, others will want some too!
Cinnamon and raisin loaf (adapted from 'A Bit of the Good Stuff' recipe)
400g light wholemeal self raising flour (I used Marriages Organic Light Wholemeal)
or gluten free self raising
1 teaspoon baking powder

pinch salt
300mls dairy free milk
squeeze lemon juice
2 teaspoons cinnamon powder
good pinch nutmeg
150g raisins
4 tablespoons of coconut sugar
Preheat the oven to 200oC. Lightly grease a 2lb loaf tin. Pour the non-dairy milk into a bowl and squeeze in the lemon. Put to one side (this helps it curdle slightly).
Place the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg into a bowl and mix together. Add the coconut sugar and raisins and mix again. Pour in most of the milk and stir to create a sticky dough. Add the remaining milk if needed. Place the dough into the tin, and tap on the work top to release the air bubbles. Smooth the top level and place in the oven. Bake in the oven for 35 minutes, then check to see if it is cooked by inserting a cocktail stick into the cake - if it come out clean, it's done. If not, cook for a few more minutes until it's done (it could take up to 45 minutes in total, depending on your oven). Remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes. Tip out onto a wire rack and leave to cool completely.
When you are ready, cut slices and pop in the toaster. Let those enticing aromas hit your nostrils and enjoy it piping hot and delicious!