RECIPES AND MORE

     

Walnut Cranberry Bread

12 oz. bag of fresh cranberries

2 cups roughly chopped toasted walnuts

¾ cup orange juice

2 T. unsalted butter at room temperature

1 ½ cups sugar

2 large eggs at room temperature

2 ½ cups flour

1 t. baking powder

¼ t baking soda

½ t kosher salt

 

Pre-heat the oven to 325

 

In a mid sized (3Qt) sauce pan heat the orange juice and fresh cranberries over medium-low heat just until the cranberries start to pop. (The juice from the popping cranberries is somewhat contained with a mid sized sauce pan.) Remove from heat and let cool.

 

Cream together the butter and sugar in a stand mixer.  With the mixer still running add the eggs one at a time, making sure each egg is completely incorporated before adding the second egg. 

 

In a separate bowl combine the dry ingredients. 

 

Separate the cranberries from the juice.  The juice is needed for the bread batter prior to the cranberries; as we do not want to smash the cranberries with the mixer.

 

With the mixer running; add a third of the juice from the cranberries alternately with the dry ingredients until all the ingredients are combined. 

 

Fold in the cranberries and walnuts. 

 

Grease a loaf pan and fill to ½ inch from the top of the pan.  Place in the center of the oven rack and bake for 1 hour or until the top is golden and a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. 

 

Car Survival Kit

 

Cold temperatures and stormy weather are here.  I care about you and want you to be prepared in case an emergency occurs.  Here are a few things everyone in the West should carry until late spring. 

• 1-2 Gatorades for every person who normally rides in the car.  If it is only you add another bottle just to be safe.  Gatorade has a higher freezing point than water so it won't freeze as quickly. It also has some salts and sugars to help your body. 
• 2-3 food bars, candy bars or a box of crackers.  Stay away from jerky as your body needs more water to digest protein.
• Safety blankets.  You know the type, silver, really thin, can buy them at a local hardware store. This reflective blanket can also double as a signal to rescuers.  Have a few. 
• Votive candle, pint canning jar, and matches.  One candle can heat the interior of a car.  Keep a window slightly open for gas exchange, and have the candle in the jar while lit for safety. 
• Window scraper.  You need one period, but it can also be used with the safety blanket as a flag.
• Survival shovel is always nice.  If the car is just stuck and the engine can still run, it is easier and warmer to use a shovel to keep the tail pipe clear of snow than bare hands.  Keep that tailpipe clear so the exhaust doen't back up into the vehicle cab.
• Even when it looks beautiful as you leave the house; have a jacket and gloves, or leave an extra pair with a scarf in the survival kit. 

Of course this is just a partial list; add to it as you think of other things. 

Staying with your vehicle is generally the safest thing to do.  Stay calm and stay warm. 

 

~Cyndi