- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- Grease 9- x 5-inch loaf pan. Combine flour, salt and baking powder; set aside. Pour olive oil into large bowl of electric mixer; slowly mix in sugar, orange juice and vanilla.
- Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add milk; mix for 2 minutes. Gradually mix in flour mixture.
- Pour batter into loaf pan; bake for 60 to 75 minutes or until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean and cake is golden on top. Let cool in pan on rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan; let cool completely on rack.
Recipe Course: Appetizers & Snacks
Fig and Grape Cake
- Grease 9-inch round cake pan with olive oil; line with parchment paper and butter the paper. Set aside. Place figs in bowl; pour orange liqueur over top. Let stand for 10 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt into bowl. In separate bowl, whisk together sugar, olive oil and eggs; fold in half of the flour mixture, mixing until well blended. Stir in half of the buttermilk; fold in remaining flour mixture, then remaining buttermilk. Fold in figs with liquid; mix well.
- Pour batter into prepared pan; press grapes into batter. Bake for 45 minutes or until cake is lightly browned and cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool on rack to room temperature. Run butter knife along edge of pan and invert cake onto serving dish. Remove and discard parchment paper.
Tip: If desired, sprinkle cake with icing sugar or serve with a dollop of whipped cream. If using whipped cream, try piping it along the edge of the cake and adding a whole dried fig as a garnish.
Recipe provided by Chef Mary Ann Esposito
Double Chocolate Biscotti
- On sheet of waxed paper, combine flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt; set aside.
- Using electric mixer, beat 1/2 cup olive oil with sugar until smooth and light. Add eggs and egg yolk, one at a time, beating until smooth. Add milk and vinegar; beat until smooth. With mixer on low speed, gradually add flour mixture, beating until just combined. Stir in chocolate morsels with a large spoon; cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease 2 large baking sheets with 1/2 tbsp olive oil each. On lightly floured surface, divide dough into quarters. Roll each piece of dough into a log, about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Place logs on baking sheets, leaving space in between. Bake for about 30 minutes or until golden and set. Transfer to rack; let cool for 10 minutes.
- Reduce oven temperature to 300°F. On cutting board and using a serrated knife, cut each log into 3/4-inch-wide slices diagonally. Place slices, cut side down, on the baking sheets. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until toasted. Transfer to racks; let cool.
Recipe Provided by Chef Sharon Sanders
Cucumber Yogurt Dip
- Line large colander or sieve with double thickness cheesecloth or large coffee filter; place colander over bowl. Spoon yogurt into colander; cover with waxed paper. Refrigerate for 24 hours or until liquid no longer drains from yogurt. Discard liquid; transfer yogurt to bowl.
- Meanwhile, quarter cucumber; scoop out seeds. Finely chop cucumber; drain on paper towels.
- Stir cucumber, olive oil, vinegar and garlic into yogurt. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover; refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
Tip: Make sure you use plain yogurt made without gelatin for best results.
Chocolate, Cherry and Walnut Biscotti
- In a bowl combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.
- Using electric mixer, beat 1/2 cup olive oil with sugar until smooth and light. Add eggs and egg yolk, one at a time, beating until smooth. Add milk and vinegar; beat until smooth. On low speed, gradually add flour mixture, beating just until combined. Stir in walnuts, cherries and chocolate morsels using a large spoon. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Coat 2 large baking sheets with 1/2 tbsp olive oil each. On lightly floured surface, turn out dough. Using pastry scraper, divide into quarters; roll each piece of dough into log, 1 1/2-inches in diameter. Place logs, separated, on prepared baking sheets; bake for about 30 minutes or until golden and set. Transfer to rack; let cool for 10 minutes.
- Reduce oven temperature to 300°F. On cutting board and using serrated knife, cut each log into 3/4-inch-wide slices diagonally. Place slices, cut side down, on baking sheets. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until toasted. Transfer to racks; let cool.
Recipe Provided by Chef Sharon Sanders
Blueberry-Melon Fruit Salad with Thyme Dressing
Thyme Dressing: In small saucepan, combine honey, orange juice, lemon zest, lemon juice and thyme sprigs; bring to low simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat; let cool. Strain dressing into mixing bowl and whisk in olive oil.
Salad: Gently toss together melon, blueberries, and 1/3 cup dressing in serving bowl. Spoon into individual ramekins or glasses and garnish with thyme sprigs. Serve immediately, with extra dressing on the side.
Provided by Chef Jim Coleman
Applesauce Spice Cake
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease 9-inch square pan with olive oil. In bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.
- Using electric mixer at medium speed, mix brown sugar with olive oil until blended. Add applesauce; mix well. Add flour mixture all at once; beat on low speed until well blended. Stir in raisins and walnuts. Spoon batter into prepared baking pan.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Let cool completely on rack; cut into squares.
Tip: If you like, dust the cake with icing sugar or frost with whipped cream.
Apple-Orange-Raisin Fruit Salad
- In bowl, combine olive oil, apples, oranges and raisins. Press some oranges with the back of a spoon to release juice.
- Cover and refrigerate for about 1 hour. Let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes; toss and serve.
Recipe Provided by Chef Sharon Sanders
Apple Pie Oatmeal Muffins
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Place oats in large bowl; pour buttermilk over top. Stir together; let stand for 30 minutes.
- Stir in sugar, olive oil, egg and apple.
- Sift together whole wheat and all-purpose flours, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt; add to oats mixture.
- Spray nonstick muffin pans with olive oil and fill each muffin cup with 1/2 cup of the batter.
- Bake for 25 minutes or until set and springy to the touch. Serve warm.
Almond Brunch Cake
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease 9-inch spring-form pan with oil. In bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In food processor fitted with metal blade, process almond paste until finely ground. Add sugar and almond extract; process until combined. With machine running, drizzle oil through feed tube; process until smooth. Add eggs; process until smooth.
- Add flour mixture in three additions and milk in two additions, starting and ending with flour mixture, pulsing just to combine after each addition. Pour batter into prepared pan.
- Bake for about 35 minutes or until the cake is lightly browned and tester inserted in centre comes out clean. Transfer to rack; let cool. Sprinkle with icing sugar; serve warm or at room temperature.
Tip:
• Serve the cake with lightly sugared seasonal cut fruit.
• Almond paste, a stiff mixture of ground almonds and sugar, is sold in the baking section of supermarkets. Do not replace it with almond filling, which is a much softer, sweeter mixture.
Recipe Provided by Chef Sharon Sanders
