Blueberry Kuchen

Ah, at last, my blueberry bushes have small fruits developing. Soon the plump blueberries will be baked in my annual blueberry recipe!

Blueberry Kuchen
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup milk
3 cups flour
5 tsps. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups blueberries
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
3 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Beat the eggs with 1 cup sugar till blended. Stir in oil and milk. In another bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Stir into liquid ingredients until smooth.
Spread into a greased 9-by-13 inch (or larger, for less depth) pan. Mix the blueberries with lemon juice, 3 Tbsps. sugar and cinnamon, and sprinkle atop batter.

Bake at 350 for 40 to 50 minutes.

For an antioxidant bonus: Add 1 cup of Hershey’s Special Very Dark chocolate chips into the batter and serve cake with a cup of coffee in one hand and a glass of red wine in the other.
*smile*

Exotic Fruit Salad - Easy

I was experimenting with a chopped fruit salad that would be sweet and tasty, but high in fiber. This is what I came up with:

12 oz mango slices or chunks - FROZEN (important!)
3 granny smith apples, cored and sliced, but unpeeled
1 can crushed pineapple in own juice, drained
1 lemon
1/2 cup chopped toasted almonds or pecans
cinnamon
(1/4 cup sweet wine, if desired)
(1 tbsp honey, if desired)

Core and slice the apples. Juice the lemon and toss the apple slices with the juice. Chop the apples coarsely in a food processor or a mezzaluna. Put back in the bowl with the lemon juice and toss. Chop the frozen mangoes in the food processor or with a mezzaluna. If they are not frozen, they will turn to mush! Mix with the apples and juice and toss. Add cinnamon to taste - about 1/2 - 1 tsp. Mix well. Add wine if desired. Mix again. Last, add honey and pineapple and nuts. Let stand at room temperature to meld and then refrigerate. Will keep a week in the fridge.

If you like, you can make this with fresh mint for a different taste. It is also good with coconut, which I like, but DH isn't keen about. I could also think to substitute coriander for cinnamon and chop cilantro and serve the salad as a type of chutney.

Irish Strawberry Bread

Being Irish, I wanted to share my traditional Irish Strawberry Bread!

Ingredients:
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 3/4 cups vegetable oil
• 2 cups strawberries, rinsed, hulled, quartered

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350° F.
Grease and flour two 9x5x3-inch loaf pans.
In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and sugar.
Add eggs and oil and mix well.
Stir in strawberries and mix again.
Divide the batter between the pans and bake for 1 hour until top is golden.
Cool in pan 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack.
Cool completely before slicing.