Last week I made Lemon Bread, this week is Orange Pound Cake.  I’m sucker for pound cake anyways but wanted to try adding a little flavor to one. This was a hit to say the least and gone in about 30 seconds.  Would have been sooner but they had to pause and drink some milk with it.

p.s. I would love to see you join the new foodie community.  I already gave away two fabulous prizes to active members and that’s only the beginning;)

INGREDIENTS

• 1 stick butter (1/2cup), Unsalted & room temp
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 6 tbsp orange juice (1/4cup if freshly squeezed)
• 1/4 cup milk (you can use 2% if you want)
• 1/2 tsp grated orange rind

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 325′ and have your 9×5 loaf pan buttered and ready to go.

Cream butter & sugar, then add eggs and mix well; set aside.  In another bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt.  In a measuring cup combine orange juice, milk and orange zest and start adding butter mixture alternating with the flour mixture until light & creamy.

Spoon (pour) into pan and bake for 45min or until center comes out clean with toothpick.  Cool in pan and then remove from pan and drizzle with glaze.

OPTIONAL GLAZE

• 2tbsp orange juice
• 1/3 cup confectioner’s sugar

Mix together and drizzle on cake while still warm.

Along with the holidays comes an abundance of sugary sweets and I don’t know about you but I’ve had enough.  I’m sure I gained a whopping 10lbs at the least after this Holiday’s feast and will be glad to get back to normal food.

One foodie family tradition I do welcome is the basket full of fruit courtesy of my parents.  They do this every year and it’s refreshing to have something healthy around to eat and a good distraction for my toddler’s craving of more sugar cookies!  They also bring an assortment of nuts so it’s  all good!  OH, and they always bring it in such a lovely basket for a beautiful presentation.  Of course, I didn’t get the basket in the picture but I assure you it’s lovely.

And Santa ALWAYS brings the kiddos fruit.  You know, he’s not only rewarding them for being good, he’s also trying to instill healthy eating habits too;)

Potential health benefits of eating fruit…

*potential for weight control
*more energy for exercising
*reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases
*reduced risk of developing cancers
*lower blood pressure
*potential to lower cholesterol
*reduced change of developing type 2 diabetes
*potential to slow down age process

Incorporate some fruit and reap the rewards of good health!

It can be quite easy to slip 5 pieces of fruit into the diet. Here are some tips..

1. Add dried fruit to breakfast cereal
2. Prepare fruit salads to last few days
3. Eat apple before leaving for work
4. Eat small piece 30 minutes before / after light workout
5. Drink more fruit juices
6. Find recipes that contain fruit
7. Always have a bowl of fruit in or near T.V

So for 2009, try buying a fruit basket as a family gift and encourage others to eat healthy!  What are your fruit eating habits and traditions?  Share in the comments and/or at A Spoonful of Flavor, the new foodie community.