The O-Zone

We are up and running again on satellite broadband. Except for a stupidity on email, all is working wonderful and it means 2009 is off to a rousing start finally.

The path from the front deck to the garage is getting filled up with snow again this morning. Yesterday I shoveled a good fat fluffy four inches of snow out of our paths. It’s amazing how heavy a collection of snowflakes can be. Dan will have to plow the driveway again, but since it is snowing so heavily today, there’s really no point until it stops.

There are so many snowflakes in the air it’s almost like fog, and we can’t see the hill right across from our front deck. The world has gone away today, and we are snug and secure. I’m baking a fruit and nut bread for Dan to have as snacks. I’m using a collection of dried fruits soaked in orange juice. Here’s the recipe which I just made up and am cooking but haven’t actually tried yet. It should be good but ….:

Fruit and Nut Bread

Put 3/4 cup of orange juice in a small pan on the oven and then add 1/4 cup each of the following dried fruits (use unsulphered fruits!):

Dried apricots, snipped into raisin sized pieces

Dried chopped dates

Dried cranberries

Dried bing cherries

Dried candied ginger, cut into small pieces

Raisins

Heat the orange juice to almost boiling, turn off the heat, cover and let it soak for at least 1/2 hour, until the dried fruits plump up. Once it is all cool to room temperature add 2 Tablespoons salad oil, 1 teaspoon dried orange peel, 1 beaten egg. Stir to combine.

In a large mixing bowl combine dry ingredients:

2 cups white flour

3/4 cup white sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup chopped nuts

Stir all together and then dump in the orange juice/fruit mixture, and stir until combined.

Divide this into two small loaf baking pans and bake at 350F for 50-60 minutes, until a knife inserted in the center comes out dry.

Wrap and store overnight before slicing.

If anybody tries this, let me know if you like it! It smells amazing while baking, and has at least another 20 minutes to go.

P.S.  This turned out too dry, so some fiddling of ingredients must be done.