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Orange Pumpkin Trifle

This is a delicious dessert to make for the holidays!

Orange Curd (Recipe from Food and Wine)

  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup fresh orange juice
  • 2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest
  • 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest
  • 1 stick cold unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons

In a small heavy saucepan, whisk together the eggs and egg yolks. Whisk in the sugar, then whisk in the citrus juices and zests. Add the butter and whisk constantly over moderately low heat until the mixture thickens, about 8 minutes; do not let it boil. Immediately strain the curd into a bowl. Press plastic wrap directly on the surface of the curd and cut 6 small steam vents in the plastic. Refrigerate the curd overnight.

Pumpkin Bread

  • 1¼ cup white whole wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon fine salt
  • ½ teaspoon powdered cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 cup turbinado sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup extra light olive oil
  • 1 cup canned pumpkin puree

Sift the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt into a medium bowl, set aside. Lightly brush a 9X5X3 inches loaf pan with butter. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
In a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the oil and sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually add one egg at a time mixing in between. Add 1 cup pumpkin puree and mix for about 5 minutes. Remove the bowl from the mixer. With a rubber spatula, mix in the flour mixture until just incorporated. Fold the batter to the prepared pan. Bake for 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean. Cool the bread in the pan for 5 minutes before taking it out. Cool completely before serving.
Slice the bread into ½ inch slices.

  • 1 cup whipping cream
  • 1 cup mascarpone cheese
  • 3 tablespoons powdered sugar

Whip the cream, mascarpone cheese and sugar with an electric beater till the stiff peaks are formed while being careful not to over whip.

  • Segments of 3 large navel oranges plus a few more for garnish
  • ½ cup fresh orange juice

Assemble the trifle by starting with lining the bottom of the bowl with one part of the cake slices (divide the cake slices into three parts). Drizzle the layer with some orange juice. Divide the orange curd into three parts and spread one part onto the cake. Divide the orange segments into three piles and add the first pile onto the curd. Repeat twice more and top with the whipped cream. Garnish with a few orange slices. Chill in the fridge, preferably overnight.

Fish and Chips- My Way!

Who doesn’t like a delicious plate of fish and chips?? It was my first try making this delicious English classic. It was a great attempt.. and healthier too.  I made a very flavorful batter and made my delicious oven fries. I paired it with a healthy tartare sauce and minted mushy peas… recipes to follow..

  • 4 cod fish fillets
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt
  • ¼ cup plain flour

Sprinkle the fish with paprika and salt. Dredge with flour and keep aside.

  • ¾ cup plain flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup cilantro, chopped
  • 2 green onions, chopped
  • 1 small 8oz can club soda

Heat about 2 cups oil in a heavy saucepan.

Add the flour, baking soda, smoked paprika, salt, cilantro and green onions to a medium bowl. Slowly add the club soda, while whisking with a whisk until you have a thick coating batter- you may have about a bit of soda left over. Dip the fish fillets into the batter completely and immerse into the hot oil. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, depending on thickness of the fish. Take out the fish in a paper towel lined platter. Serve with hot oven fries.

Oven Fries

  • 5 to 6 medium yellow potatoes, peeled and cut into small wedges

Transfer the wedges to a medium saucepan, cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook for a minute on a roaring boil. Drain the water and transfer wedges back to the saucepan and let them dry for ten minutes. Transfer to a lined cookie sheet.

  • 3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons salt

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Drizzle the oil and salt all over the potatoes and toss well with fingers. Bake in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes or till the wedges are golden brown. Take out and check for seasonings. Serve hot with fish.

 

Banana Bread with Coconut Oil

This is the most delicious banana bread. I changed up my regular recipe to included coconut oil and coconut sugar. If you want to indulge.. definitely make this recipe. The great thing is that it is not completely bad for you…

  • 1¼ cups unbleached white whole-wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon fine salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup coconut oil, at room temperature, plus more for preparing the pan
  • 1 cup coconut sugar
  • 3 very ripe bananas, peeled, and mashed with a fork (about 1 cup)
  • ½ cup toasted walnut pieces
  • ½ cup milk or dark chocolate, chips or grated

Sift the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt into a medium bowl, set aside.  Whisk the eggs and vanilla together in a liquid measuring cup with a spout, set aside.  Lightly brush a 9X5X3 inches loaf pan with coconut oil.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the coconut oil and sugar until light and fluffy.  Gradually pour the egg mixture into the butter while mixing until incorporated.  Add the bananas (the mixture will appear to be curdled), and remove the bowl from the mixer.

With a rubber spatula, mix in the flour mixture until just incorporated.  Fold in the nuts and chocolate pieces and transfer the batter to the prepared pan.  Bake for 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean.  Cool the bread in the pan for 5 minutes before taking it out.  Cool completely before serving.

Pumpkin Banana Bread

This is a yummy combination of banana and pumpkin bread. Make this for the holidays- really good!

  • 3 small or 2 large bananas, mashed
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 stick unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup honey
  • ½ cup turbinado sugar
  • 2 ½ cups white whole-wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup dark chocolate, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9X5 loaf pan.

In an electric mixer, add the butter, honey and sugar. Beat for 2 to 3 minutes and add the eggs one at a time, beating in between. Add the mashed eggs, pumpkin puree and vanilla extract. Beat for a minute. On the side, add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, pumpkin spice and cinnamon to a medium bowl. Whisk well and gradually add to the egg mixture while beating slowly. Beat for a minute or two. Add the dark chocolate and mix with a spatula and transfer to the prepared pan. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes or till a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the middle. Let cool and serve.

Cranberry Chocolate Pumpkin Cookies

Another delicious way to have pumpkin flavored desserts!

  • 2½ cups white whole-wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ cup extra light olive oil
  • 1½ cups turbinado sugar
  • 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup dried cranberries, chopped
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves into a medium bowl. Keep aside. Cream together the oil and sugar for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the egg and beat for another minute. Add the pumpkin puree and vanilla extract and beat for another minute. Add the cranberries and chocolate and mix well. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix to combine. Scoop with a tablespoon measure and drop the cookies onto a lined cookie sheet, flatten with the back of a spoon. Bake for 15 and 20 minutes. Cool on a baking rack and serve.
Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

Strawberry Bread

Number 4!

I love, love this tea bread. We were invited to a friends house for a barbecue and I offered to bring dessert. I wanted to make a summer cake using a quintessential summer fruit and of course strawberries came to mind.

I did a bit of research and came up with this fabulous recipe.

I got all the ingredients together- which, by the way are all that you normally have on hand.

It didn’t take me very long to put together and baking in the oven. Once it came out, my daughter was hovering around it like a dog on a bone. I cut a slice for her and she immediately complained about taking this cake to someone’s house and not having any for us. I promised her I would make another one for her soon- and honestly I haven’t yet. As I write this, I have already decided to bake one this evening. She will be thrilled.

So, if you want to be equally thrilled, make this delicious strawberry bread this summer…

  • 2 cups sliced fresh strawberries (pureed in a blender)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup evaporated cane juice
  • ½ cup extra light olive oil
  • 1½ cups white whole-wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a loaf pan and keep aside.
Beat the sugar and olive oil for 2-3 minutes on high. Add the eggs one at a time, beating in between. Add the pureed strawberries and keep aside.
In the meantime, sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt into a medium bowl. Add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Mix well and pour into the loaf pan. Bake for 55 minutes or till the bread is done. Invert onto a platter and top with confectioners sugar.

Almond Cake with Citrus- Gluten Free!

Dessert number 2!….I have been experimenting with gluten free desserts. This is a really good one. I bought some meyer lemons from Trader Joes (go ahead and substitute regular ones as meyer lemons are not in season any more) and wanted to use them in a delicious dessert. I looked up a bunch of recipes and really liked on one site. I tweaked the recipe and came up with this one. It is really yummy and easy to make…

  • 4 large eggs
  • ½ cup raw cane sugar
  • Zest of one meyer lemon and one clementine
  • Juice of 2 meyer lemons and 2 clementines
  • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1½ cups almond meal
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda

Syrup

  • Juice of 2 meyer lemons and 2 clementines
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • Confectioner sugar to dust on top

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8-inch spring form pan with parchment paper and grease it as well. Combine the salt, almond meal, baking powder and baking soda. Keep aside.

Add the eggs and sugar to an electric mixture with a whisk attachment. Beat the eggs and sugar until light and fluffy, for a good 5 to 10 minutes. Add the citrus zest, citrus juice, olive oil and vanilla extract. Beat for another minute. Add the almond meal mixture and mix well. Transfer to the prepared pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes.

While the cake is baking transfer the citrus juice and honey to a small bowl. Microwave for 30 to 40 seconds and mix well making sure the honey has melted through. Once the cake comes out, drizzle the liquid covering the surface evenly. Cool and cake completely and sprinkle powdered sugar and serve!