Cranberry Orange Cake

1 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking soda
2 eggs
1 3/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup oil
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 Tbsp. orange juice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Place cranberries in a bowl and add 1/4 cup orange juice.  Set aside.  In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda and sugar.  Add eggs, oil and buttermilk.  Blend on high for about 2 minutes.  Fold in cranberries with juice.  Pour into bundt or tube pan sprayed with non-stick spray.  Bake 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Cool in pan for 10 minutes.  Invert onto a plate.  Mix confectioners' sugar and 2 Tbsp. orange juice.  Drizzle over hot cake.

Comments:  This recipe actually came from the Pam Cooking Spray site.  The only changes I made was to the eggs.  They were separated with the yolks being added and the whites beaten until stiff and then folded in after the cranberries.  I added my eggs without separating them nor whipping up the whites.  It worked out perfectly.  The only other change was to the drizzle.  The original recipe called for 2 Tbsp. buttermilk which I just couldn't bring myself to use.  I love the taste of buttermilk as long as it's cooked in but not by itself.  This is where I used the 2 Tbsp. of orange juice instead.  No matter what - this is a really good cake.

Fruit Salad

1 can (20 oz.) unsweetened pineapple tidbits, drained
1 can (15 oz.) mandarin oranges, drained
1 carton (8 oz.) whipped topping
1 cup mini marshmallows
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup pecan halves, toasted
crushed nuts and cherries for garnish

Mix all but garnish in a large bowl.  When serving, sprinkle with crushed nuts and a cherry.  Serves 8.

 

 

Comment:  This is a mixture that you can use your imagination with.  If you don't like pineapple, use a cup of grapes that you've sliced in half.  If you don't like orange, you might add chopped apples.  If you don't like cranberries, use raisins.  You can use walnuts instead of pecans.  Or you can eliminate the pineapple and oranges and use 2 cans of drained fruit cocktail instead.  Think with your taste buds on this one and when you do and maybe decide to add cherries in the salad remember they carry a strong taste and will overpower other tastes, that's why I only use them for garnish.  And don't forget kiwi and strawberries as possible ingredients.