Start by chopping the preserved apricots and pouring a little brandy on them to soften. Leave to soak for an hour. Line a 2lb loaf tin with baking parchment.

When ready to start, pre-heat the oven to 160 degrees, then begin by creaming the butter and sugar. Then add the dry ingredients plus the whole egg and beat until smooth. Next add the apricots and milk. The mixture will be quite stiff at this point.

Next take the 2 additional eggs and separate the whites into a bowl. Add one of the yolks to the mixture and blend it in. Discard or find another use for the other yolk. Whisk the 2 egg whites on a high speed setting using a fresh whisk (do not contaminate with the dough) until peaks form. Using a spatula stir the egg foam through the mixture until blended and it is a slacker consistency. Add it to the tin.

Finally put into a medium oven at 160 degrees centrigrade and bake for 45 minutes to an hour. Test with a skewer to ensure it is baked through. Once cooked remove from the tin and allow to cool on a rack.