Cook Share and Feast

Ingredients

• 2 cups (8 oz) all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 2 eggs lightly beaten
• 1/3 cup oil (preferably canola since it does not have any smell)
• 4 oz castor sugar
• about 1/4 cup generous orange juice
• Grated rind of 1 orange
• 2 bananas peeled and mashed
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
• 4 oz dates chopped
• 2 oz walnuts chopped
• Pinch of salt

Method

• Preheat oven to 350F.  Grease a 9×5 inch loaf tin and set aside
• Sift together flour and baking powder and salt and set aside
• Beat eggs lightly and beat in oil, orange juice, orange rind and sugar
• Add vanilla extract and almond extract and mix well
• Now add flour and mashed bananas alternatively and mix thoroughly
• Mix in chopped dates and walnuts
• Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and bake for about 1 hour or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean
• Cool in the tin for about 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack

Ingredients

• 6 oz dried mixed berries (example blueberries, cherries, cranberry, raspberry, strawberry etc)
• 1 large orange
• ½ cup castor sugar
• 5 tablespoons butter at room temperature
• 2 medium eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon almond extract
• 2  cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup cashew nuts chopped

Method

• Preheat oven to 350° F.  Butter 9 x 5 loaf tin.
• Place the dried berries in a bowl and add lukewarm water until it covers the berries  and leave for about 30 minutes
• With vegetable peeler remove orange rind and chop them into fine pieces
• Drain dried berries
• Squeeze juice from orange and add enough water to make ¾ cup orange juice
• Place the berries in a bowl and add orange peel and orange juice and set aside
• Cream butter and sugar with a beater until soft
• Beat in eggs until light and fluffy
• Add almond and vanilla extracts and beat until well mixed
• Sift flour, baking powder and baking soda and fold them in 3 batches into the butter mixture alternating with berry mixture.
• Add chopped cashews and mix well
• Spoon mixture into prepared pan and bake for about 50 – 55 minutes or a skewer inserted comes out clean

• Cool in tin for about 15 minutes and transfer to a wire rack and cool completely
• If the loaf becomes too dry (after cooling) wrap them in a foil to keep the moisture in.

Ingredients

• 5 oz dried fruits (apricot, peach, dates, pears, apple)
• 1 large orange
• ¼ cup raisins
• ½ cup castor sugar
• 1/3 cup oil
• 2 medium eggs
• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup whole wheat flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 2 oz chopped walnuts

Method

• Preheat oven to 350° F.  Line a 9 x 5 loaf tin with greaseproof paper and butter the paper
• Place the dried fruits in a bowl and add lukewarm water and leave for about 30 minutes
• With vegetable peeler remove orange rind and chop them into fine pieces
• Drain dried fruits and chop them into small pieces
• Squeeze juice from orange and add enough water to make ¾ cup orange juice
• Place the chopped dried fruits in a bowl and add raisins, orange peel, orange juice, sugar and oil
• Beat eggs in a bowl and add the fruit mixture to the eggs
• Sift flours, salt, baking powder and baking soda and fold them into the fruit mixture in 3 batches and mix well
• Add chopped walnuts and mix well
• Spoon mixture into prepared pan and bake for about 1 hour or a skewer inserted comes out clean
• Cool in tin for about 15 minutes and transfer to a wire rack and cool completely
• If the loaf becomes too dry (after cooling) wrap them in a foil to keep the moisture in