Showing posts with label orange. Show all posts
Showing posts with label orange. Show all posts

Friday, September 28, 2018

The Moistest Orange Olive Oil Cake

One of the desserts for my Italian Dinner Night was an Orange Olive Cake, oh my gosh was it awesome! I love anything citrusy, and this cake was soooo good.  It was moist, that is always at the top of my list when eating cake. It was especially good because there is no frosting on this cake, it doesn't need it! I made two cakes for my dinner and by the end of the night, all but two small pieces were left.  It was a fan of everyone, as some took pieces of it home and wanted the recipe.  I served my cake with fresh whipped cream on the side sprinkled with a little orange zest.

This cake is going to be a staple in my house.  The hubby loved it, we were fighting over the last piece of the cake, shame on us, we know how to share!

This is one of the easiest cakes I have ever baked, and outside of my homemade chocolate cake, this one is a number one too.  This is how I made it.
Recipe below.
To print recipe, click on it, highlight and print.
To view photos in a larger format, click on them.

Simple ingredients is all it takes to make this delicious cake and I always have these ingredients in the house, so I didn't have to run to the store.
 Spray your spring form pan with baking spray, cut a round of parchment paper by tracing around bottom of pan.  Cut inside the trace mark, place the round in the bottom of pan.
 Zest oranges, and start mixing ingredients together.
 Don't forget to wrap outside bottom of pan with foil.
 Cake is done and cooled.
 There it is in the back, dusted with confectioner's sugar and looking pretty tasty!
Orange Olive Oil Cake

Ingredients
zest from 1 1/2 - 2 oranges, I like a lot of zest in it for more flavor
1 3/4 cups unbleached white flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom, optional (see note)
3 eggs
1 1/4 cups sugar
3/4 cups regular extra virgin olive oil, do not use flavored oils
3/4 cup Simply Orange No Pulp Orange Juice
Confectioner's sugar for dusting on top of cooled cake

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 inch spring form pan with cooking spray. Place a round of parchment in the bottom of the pan and spray lightly with cooking spray. Wrap the outside of the pan bottom in heavy duty foil to catch any leaks.

Zest oranges, set aside.  Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt and cardamom (if using), set aside.

In large bowl, beat eggs on medium high with mixer until broken up and combined, about 1 minute.
Slowly add sugar and continue beating until light and pale yellow, about 3 minutes. On low speed, alternate adding the flour mixture and oil to the egg mixture, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. (1/3 flour, 1/2 oil, 1/3 flour, 1/2 oil, 1/3 flour) mixing until mostly combined after each addition.  On low speed, add the orange juice and zest until all is combined.

Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake for 50-60 minutes or until cake tester/toothpick inserted in center comes out with just a few moist crumbs.  If you notice cake starting to get really brown, tent a piece of foil over the top for the remaining baking time. Remember all ovens are different, mine took exactly 55 minutes. 

Remove  from oven to a cooling rack, allow to cool for 5-10 minutes in pan.  Take a paddle knife and go around the edge between the pan and cake to loosen it from the ring.  Remove ring around spring form pan and allow to cool completely on a rack.

Cover cake and let sit overnight.

Dust with confectioner's sugar and serve. Make 1 cake.

NOTE: Cardamom has a spicy, herbal, citrusy, smoky flavor to it.  The 1/8 teaspoon this recipe called for gave this cake a hint of the taste. If you want more of that taste, use your judgement and use more Cardamom, but if you don't like it or are allergic to it leave it out.



Friday, October 17, 2014

In My Closet

Not cooking much lately, the hubby is traveling, one son working alot and the other has classes later in the day.  Me, I am satisfied with a bowl of cereal for dinner, no muss, no fuss.  So to keep myself busy during the day, I organize things around the house including the closets.  While I was in my closet hanging things up, cleaning things out and organizing, I put together some outfits to wear during the Fall months.  When everything is organized (I organize by color), it is easier to pull things out in no time at all.  All of my tops, blouses, tanks, sweaters, jackets, pants, jeans, scarves, belts, jewelry, shoes and handbags, are set up this way in my closet. I have found that this is the easiest way for me to get ready in a hurry when I have to go out.  When an outfit isn't ready for me to throw on, it takes too much time to figure out what I am going to wear, so I take pictures of the outfits that I put together and at a glance I can dress quickly.

These are some Fall casual outfits for running errands, grabbing a bite to eat or just out and about.

Boyfriend Jeans, Cotton Lace Tank, Soft Red and Blue Flannel Shirt and Brown Boots
Boyfriend Jeans, Silk Plum T-Shirt and Plum Satin Flats with Rhinestone Brooch 
 Gray Knit Leggings, Denim Shirt, Orange Pashmina, Silver Jewelry with Black Riding Boots and Cognac Riding Boots



Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Bright Spring Colors

I got bored with myself the other day, so I went through my closet and put together a few Spring outfits. A girls gotta look good when she goes out in public!  I paired all of  my outfits with white skinny jeans and colorful accessories.  

Yellow knit blazer with white trim, grey t-shirt, hot pink bubble necklace, hot pink rhinestone studded flats
Navy military style jacket with ruched sleeves, orange knit top with chiffon neckline, turquoise bubble necklace and orange open toe wedges.
Coral lace peplum blouse with nude cami, white chain link necklace, coral rhinestone studded flats.






Monday, February 10, 2014

Eeee HA! Fajitas

Peppers and onions go great with anything, I love them.  Pair them with chicken, sausages, beef and salads. However you prepare them, they are great and good for you. I especially like orange, yellow and red colored peppers, they are bright in color and always look so pretty.  They do the work to make your dish look attractive to the eye and stomach.  I bought a package of these guys at the market, relatively cheap in cost, and made fajitas out of them.  I cleaned and cut my peppers into wide strips and sliced up a sweet onion.  I sprayed my grill pan, no added fat there, seasoned with salt and pepper and let them sizzle in the pan.  Then, I added 1/2 packet of fajita seasoning, stirred them up and let them caramelize.
 Marinated my skirt steak earlier in the day with lime juice and the other 1/2 packet of fajita seasoning.  When all was done cooking, I sliced the steak on the diagonal for the best tender cut.  It was time to eat these yummy fajitas, so I filled my all time favorite wraps, LaTortilla Soft Wraps, with the steak, peppers and onions.  Also on the table - hot sauce, sour cream, lettuce, tomato and Mexican shredded cheese.  Awesome fajitas and fast and easy to make.
 Get on the LaTorilla train if you like tortillas.  Regular flour tortillas are usually 200 - 210 calories each!  These LaTortilla wraps are BIG, only 90 calories each, low in fat, and are loaded with fiber and protein - good stuff that's good for you!








Sunday, June 23, 2013

The Versatile "Little Black Skirt"

If you don't have a little black skirt, get one.  It is a "must have" article of clothing, long or short, that every woman should have in her closet.  It's basic and you can dress it up or dress it down.  I have paired one of my black skirts to make three different outfits.  You can wear these outfits all year long just by adding or taking away a jacket or a sweater.  Add a pair of boots, heels, flats or sandals, whichever you prefer, and you are looking chic girls!

Little Black Ruffled Hem Skirt - Ross, $10.99
Crossover Cinched Waist Top - WalMart, $8.99 (clearance rack)
Metal Bib Necklace - Fashion Bug

Lime Green jacket - Costco, $19.99
Sequined Snake Skin Print Tank - Fashion Bug, $14.99
Orange Bracelet - Avenue


Hook and Eye Black and White Print Top - Lane Bryant, $19.99 (clearance)
Red Bead and Metal Necklace - Avon, $5.99 (clearance)
Metal Flower Bracelet - Gabriel's, $3.99