Posts Tagged orange

Date and Orange Bars

  • 8 os pkg (1 1/4 cups) pitted dates, chopped
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 Tbs flour
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup shortening
  • 1 Tbs wter
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 3/4 cup all purpose or unbleached flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup chopped nuts
  • 6 oz pkg candy orange slices, cut into small pieces
  • powdered sugar

In medium saucepan, combine dates, sugar, 2 Tbs four and 1/2 cup water.  Cook over medium heat until thickened, stirring occasionally.  Remove from heat; cool.

Heat oven to 350F.  In large bowl, beat brown sugar and shortening until light and fluffy.  Add 1 Tbs water, vanilla, and eggs; mix well.  Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off.  Add 1 3/4 cups flour, baking soda, and salt; mix well.  Stir in nuts.  Spread half of batter in bottom of ungreased 13″x9″ pan.  Top with chopped candy; spread with date mixture.  Spread with remaining half of batter.  Bake at 350F for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.  (Bars will be soft in center.)  Cool completely.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar.  Cut into bars.  Makes 36 servings.

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Chocolate Orange Supreme Cheesecake

  • 1 cup chocolate wafer crumbs
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 3 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
  • 4 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips melted
  • 2 tablespoons orange liqueur
  • 1/2 teaspoon grated orange peel

Combine chocolate wafer crumbs, cinnamon, and melted butter; press onto the bottom of a 9′ springform pan. Bake at 325°F (160°C) for 10 minutes.
In a bowl, combine softened cream cheese and sugar; mixing at medium speed with an electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Blend in sour cream and vanilla. Reserve 3 cups of the batter. Blend melted semisweet chocolate chips in to remaining batter.
Stir orange liqueur and grated orange peel into the reserved batter. Pour the chocolate batter over the crust. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 30 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 325°F (160°C), then spoon the remaining batter over the chocolate batter and continue baking for 30 minutes. Loosen the cake from the rim of the pan; cool before removing from the pan. Chill.

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Orange Creamsicle Cheesecake

I made several of these as Christmas presents a few years ago, and everyone loved them!  I’m sure you will to!

  • 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3/4 cup sour cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon orange extract
  • 2 drops yellow food color
  • 1 drop red food color
  • 1 (9-inch) graham cracker pie crust
  • Lightly sweetened whipped cream for accompaniment
  • 1 orange, peeled, pith (white) removed and segmented or sliced for garnish (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350F.
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add the eggs and beat well.  Add the sour cream and vanilla and beat well.
Place 1 cup of the creamed mixture in a small bowl and stir in the orange extract and the yellow and red food colors.
Pour the remaining cream cheese mixture into the pie crust.   Spoon the orange cream mixture on top by tablespoonfuls, then swirl with a knife to create a marbled effect.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until firm around the edges.  (The center should be slightly firm).   Allow to cool for 1 hour, then cover and chill for at least 8 hours before serving.
To serve, place a dollop of whipped cream on each slice and garnish with fresh orange.

Makes 6 to 8 servings.

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Apricot-Glazed Chicken

I just tried this recipe from Jillian Michael’s book Making the Cut, and it it amazing!  This book is full of tons more healthy recipes that are just as tasty.

  • 1 cup Smucker’s sugar-free apricot preserves
  • 1/3 cup orange juice
  • 1/4 cup Smart Start
  • 4 (5-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breasts
  • 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 350F.

To make the glaze, combine the preserves, orange juice, and Smart Start.  Rub the chicken breasts with the marinade.  Sprinkle pepper on top.  Place the chicken in a roasting pan.  Cook for 20 minutes, basting the chicken every 5 minutes with the excess glaze.  Serves 4.

According to the book, the nutrition information is as follows:

Calories:  380
Fat:  5.3g
Protein 37.2g
Sodium:  170mg
Fiber:  1g
Carbohydrates:  19g

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Jet Pilot

With all the hot weather here lately, I’m reminded of a nice fruity drink from several years ago.

  • 1 oz Spiced rum
  • 1 oz Malibu rum
  • 1 oz Rum (Bacardi)
  • 1 oz Bacardi Limon
  • 2 oz Cranberry juice
  • 2 oz Orange juice
  • 2 oz Pineapple juice
  • 1 tsp Grenadine

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