Blender Orange Loaf

Easy to make on a day when you are in a bit of a hurry, blender orange loaf doesn’t require mixing bowls and ‘elbow grease’ as my mother used to call it.

I have 2 recipes that can be made in a blender, the one turning out more like a Christmas fruit cake with a firm texture, and the other one is moister but a bit crumbly.  For flavour, colour, and moist texture that doesn’t crumble so easily I prefer the traditional recipe, but these are also very good!

Fruitcake-style Blender Orange Loaf

Put in blender:

  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup cooking oil
  • 3/4 cup orange juice
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest
  • 1 cup sugar

Blend until well mixed.

20190406_112925Add 1 cup flour and blend in.  Add a second cup of flour and pour in on top of it 1/2 teaspoon each of baking powder, baking soda, and salt, stirring them into the flour with a fork before blending.

 

Use a spatula to scrape down the sides of the blender.  Lastly add 1 cup cranberries and 1 cup walnuts and pulse just until mixed in and chopped a little.  You can also use other fruits of your choice.  Pictured here I omitted the nuts and used dried currants in place of cranberries. Bake at 350 degrees F for 60 minutes or until toothpick comes out dry.

 

Moist Blender Orange Loaf

This loaf turns out moister but a little crumblier than the one above.  First add to the blender:

  • 3/4 cup orange juice
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup cooking oil
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest
  • 20190323_152655.jpgBlend until mixed well.  Add 3/4 cup sugar and blend in.  Add 1 1/2 cups oatmeal or whole wheat flour and blend in.  If you use the oatmeal the texture and flavour turns out a bit like coconut. Pour 1 1/2 cups white flour on top and stir 2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt into it before blending.

Lastly add 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or cranberries or dried currants and pulse briefly until mixed in.  Pour into loaf pan and sprinkle 1 tablespoon sugar mixed with 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon on top. Bake at 350 degrees F for 60 minutes or until toothpick tests dry.

Green Bean Soup with Ham Hock

The flavour of fresh green beans and herbs combined with smoked ham is superb!

20190329_174608                      This is old-fashioned home cooking at its finest, which takes time, so it’s a project for a day when you’ll be at home for a couple of hours.  It makes lots though, so pair it with crusty rolls for a light family meal when the kids are home or freeze some of it in quarts for another day.  It’s hearty and filling and you’ll definitely want a second helping!

Recipe:

Put the pork hock in a large soup pot with 2 quarts water.  Heat to boiling, then simmer for 1 1/2 hours.  Remove pork hock and allow to cool.

Meanwhile add to the broth:

  • 2 chopped medium-sized onions
  • 4 cups cut-up green beans
  • 3 cups cubed yellow-flesh potatoes
  • 1/4 cup chopped parsley (cilantro really sparks up the flavour)
  • 4 sprigs chopped fresh summer savory or 1 teaspoon dried savory (or marjoram or thyme if you don’t have savory)
  • dash of pepper

Added salt is not necessary as the pork hock is already salty and the herbs, beans and pepper make the soup very flavourful.

Cut the meat off the bone in bite-size pieces and return it into the soup.  Cook for 20 more minutes or until the vegetables are done.

When serving pour a little table cream into the soup in your bowl.  Enjoy!