Daily Check-in

[starwatcher]

 
This is your check-in post for today. The poll will be open from midnight Universal or Zulu Time (8pm Eastern Time) on Tuesday, December 26 to midnight on Wednesday, December 27. (8pm Eastern Time).

Poll #30388 Daily Check-in

This poll is closed.
Open to: Access List, detailed results viewable to: Access List, participants: 31

How are you doing?

I am OK.
19 (63.3%)

I am not OK, but don't need help right now.
11 (36.7%)

I could use some help.
0 (0.0%)

How many other humans live with you?

I am living single.
10 (32.3%)

One other person.
14 (45.2%)

More than one other person.
7 (22.6%)

Please, talk about how things are going for you in the comments, ask for advice or help if you need it, or just discuss whatever you feel like.
 

Comments

[kathmandu]

I made gingerbread in honor of these winter holidays. Yum.

[starwatcher]

Yum indeed! I'm looking forward to another orange-nut muffin, my new holiday standard.

(The recipe is for cranberry bread. I don't like cranberries, but I made if for my dad. But the batter was so good before I added the cranberries that, after he died, I kept making it without the cranberries, but with extra nuts -- pecans.)

[ride_4ever]

Gingerbread! Yum! We always have Santa-shaped
gingerbread for St. Nicholas Day.

[ride_4ever]

How do you prep the oranges when you substitute them for the cranberries and how much do you use? (I actually do like cranberries, but I'm also interested in trying to make the orange version.)

[starwatcher]

No oranges; the flavor comes from orange juice (+ orange extract that I added).

Hmm... I've seen dried apricots to be cut and added to baked goods. Is there such a thing as dried oranges? OTOH, I suppose you could cut fresh orange segments into cranberry-sized pieces.

Here's the original recipe --

Cranberry Bread (one loaf)

1/4 cup margarine, softened
1 egg
3/4 cup orange juice (I added +2 oz for moister batter)
1 cup white sugar

1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda. Stir in cut or chopped cranberries to coat them with the mix. Set aside.

Cream together margarine, sugar, and egg until smooth. Mix in orange juice and nuts. Beat in flour mixture. Pour into large loaf pan.

Bake for 1 hour at 350°F, or until the bread springs back when lightly touched. Let stand 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool. Wrap in plastic when completely cool.

= = =

I modified the recipe --

a solid 8 oz of orange juice
2 tsp orange extract
5 Tbsp of butter (instead of 4 that is half-cup)
1/4 tsp cinnamon
3/4 cup nuts (I like lots)

and put it in cupcake papers because it's easier to serve even amounts. Bake for 25 - 28 minutes.

= = =

It seems to be a pretty forgiving recipe, in that my tinkering hasn't ruined anything. So yeah; oranges cut into pea-sized pieces and coated with the flour mixture would probably work well; maybe pat them dry with paper towel before coating with flour mixture. And you wouldn't need the orange extract for extra flavor.

Hmm... since I don't dislike oranges, maybe I should try that.

Anyway, have fun with experimenting.

[ride_4ever]

Thank you kindly!