Orange Loaf Cake - Love at first Bite

Like any apprehensive girl, when the time for finding a suitable partner came, I approched my parents with a "million dollar" question.

Me: How will I know if *He* is suitable for me?

Dad: You will just know!

Me: (scratching my head) what do you mean by that? Comeon dad - dont make this cinematic!!

Mum: It would be cinematic, if we said "Bells will starts ringing", "Butterflies will start fluttering in your stomach", "World will suddenly transform into a rose based aromatic field with you singing duets", "thunderboldts zigzagging",...

Me: Ok Ok stop! Forget that I ever said that...but but, How do I know that he is Mr.Right!

Dad: You will of course not know that *He* is Mr.Right - But the minute you speak to him, you will know! Know that there wont be any major compromises in life - But even if there are, you wouldn't mind doing them. That you would be seeing the world through two eyes instead of 4 - but if you do, you won't mind to see the world through *his* too. That you would struggle, be happy, be sad,in short, live as one instead of two.

Me: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What! Really!!! How!!!!!!!!!!!

Dad: You will know! (sly smile and a mysterious silence!)

Well, I do know now. I know what it is "to know". It happens for many things in life for me now. I don't need the reason..I just know, exactly like what happened with this recipe for Orange Loaf Cake. The minute I saw it, I knew I would love it. I knew that I wouldnt have to tear apart the recipe to enhance it, knew that it would be almost perfect as it and I would love the sensation that it would impart with my first bite.



I first saw this recipe in a Eye doctor's place!(Really!). Went for my regular annual checkup and they had these plethora of mags lying around among which was this Taste of Home edition. I was flipping through it when I saw this recipe. It clicked immedietely and since I had no paper or pen to note it down, I used my phone camera to copy the same. The only changes I made to it(and thats only cos I wanted to use all my oranges and nothing else!) was to increase the Orange juice and decrease the no. of eggs whites from 4 to 2 to accomodate more Orange juice. I also added Orange zest for that extra zing.The rest was just right for me.

Ingredients


• 1-3/4 cup Cake flour
  
  
• 1 cup Sugar
  
  
• 2 tsp Baking Powder
  
  
• 1/2 tsp salt
  
  
• 1/2 cup Vegetable Oil
  
  
• 1 cup Orange juice
  
  
• Zest of one orange
  
  
• 2 egg whites
  
  
• 2 tbsp confectioner's sugar for dusting
  

Method

In a mixing bowl, conbine the dry ingredients



Add oil and orange juice, beat until smooth.



In another bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form.



Fold it into the Orange mixture.



Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan.



Bake for about 1 hour in a pre-heated 350F oven, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out neat.



Cool for 10 minutes, dust the loaf with confestionaer's sugar and enjoy! :)



I loved every slice of it..Make it and tell me..Did you fall in love at first bite just like me?:)

---

This Loaf is packed for a picnic held by Trupti at recipe center

---

Cranberry Oat Bars - Can it get more simple than this?

If my blog is all about step-by-step pictures with instructions then recipes such as this cranberry oat bars will put me out of business. Why? Cos there arent enough steps to show!! This recipe is as simple as boiling water! Mix, toss, place, bake, cut and the only work you probably end up doing is eat them - which is never work for ppl like me anyways! umm..probably scrub the baking pan would be work but then what are dishwashers for anyways! One gotto use them at some time or the other. I usually use my dishwasher to store my extra dishes! I thought that was o.k until one fine day, I really had to use the dishwasher for its real purpose and it wouldnt work!!! The maintanance guy was shocked when I said that this was the first time I ever used it and he was like, if you dont use it, then its bad for the dishwasher! Now do I need more excuse than that for being lazy ;-)



Anyways dried cranberries and oats are super duper health snacks. While clearing out my pantry, I saw half used dried cranberries and was wondering what to do when I remembered this recipe which I made like an year ago and liked it. I dont recall from where I took the recipe though but its tastes yum. Although I remember the quantity of margaraine in the original recipe a little too much for my tastes and have reduced the amount. I am providing the original recipe along with the change I made. Make your pick :)

Ingredients


• 1-1/2 cups rolled oats
  
  
• 2/3 cup raw sugar ( I used demerera sugar )
  
  
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  
  
• 1/2 cup polyunsaturated margarine, melted (I used 1/4 cup)
  

Method

Stir the ingredients together until well combined. Press this misture in a greased baking pan. Bake it for 20-25 at 375F oven, until golden. As soon as you remove it, score the mixture into squares or any shape you like and leave it to cool for 10-15min.



You can store these in air tight container for 5 days. They are delicious, healthy and filling. They are a ideal snack in the evenings.



Wasnt that simple?

---

This is my entry to Pallavi's Event: Sunday Snacks - Grab and Go

---

Blueberry Scones with Sour Cream

What could be more enticing than fresh smelling scones in the morning? Featherlight with a suddden burst of blueberry now and then with each bite - now is there a better way to start a day? Especially if it's a monday? Or how about starting a special day , say like a Valentine day (like today) with something special made by your own hands. I made these in the morning for our breakfast and they dissappeared pretty fast.



I used a pretty basic scone recipe,customized to add in sour cream for the richness and made sure to include a generous helping of blueberries. I love to use blueberry in my cakes and muffins. Shows my luv for them, doesn't it? Next of course I had to post scones. We don't prefer anything too sweet, hence I have added very minimal amount. If you like your scones sweet - add more.

Ingredients


• 2 cups all-purpose flour
  
  
• 3 tbsp sugar ( you have sweet tooth? Increase to say, 6tbsp)
  
  
• 2-1/2 tsp baking powder
  
  
• 2/3 cup sour cream
  
  
• 1 cup fresh blueberries (can use frozen too. Dont thaw them)
  
  
• 1 egg
  
  
• 5 tbsp cold butter
  
  
• pinch of salt
  

Method

Add the dry ingredients together.



Grate the cold butter into it. I do it since it helps me to mix in the butter better and convert into a bread crumb like texture.



Add rest of the ingrediants.It will little sticky, its fine - slowly add in the blueberries.



Place the dough on a floured surface and knead gently until you can roll it out easily



Using a rolling pin, spread it into medium thickness flatbread - expanding about 9-10 inches



Cut it into wedges



Place them on a greased baking sheet



and bake them at 375F for 20-30min until golden brown.Cool them and store in a air tight container.



You can even freeze them and defrost them in m/w when needed.