Moroccan Orange Cake

 

    In the spirit of researching my family's DNA we discovered, as most of the population of the world would too, that there are parts of our Italian/Irish DNA that can be traced back to Africa. For ours it was specifically Morocco. So in the spirit of fun and trying new things I give you my take on a traditional Moroccan Orange Cake.

 

Ingredients:

• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 cups flour
• 4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
• 2 tbs orange zest
• 1 tsp vanilla
• Powdered sugar

 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a Bundt pan.

 

2. In a large bowl beat together to eggs and sugar until creamy.

 

3. Mix in oil.

 

4. Mix in flour, baking powder, and salt in batches until smooth.

 

5. Mix in the orange juice, zest, and vanilla.

 

6. Pour into baking pan and bake for 30-35 minutes.

 

7. Cool, slice, and serve with some powdered sugar sprinkled on top.

 

    This cake was amazing. It was good as a dessert, a side snack with a nice cup of hot tea, or I would even go as far as a nice little breakfast as you are running out the door. Perfectly flavored with natural orange and not too sweet. Definitely putting this on my dessert list for future events.  So easy and quick to make.

 

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
Serves: 4+

Mini Cheesburger Calzone

 

       This is one of the quick and easy weeknight meals you can create. Even a good one to do with the kids if you have any. All the flavors of a good cheeseburger in one little hand held pocket. No worries about drippings off the side down the cheeks or parts falling apart. With these little calzones all the good stuff stays inside. Mini Cheeseburger Calzone.

 

Ingredients:

• 1 store bought pizza dough roll
• 1 lb ground beef
• American Cheese
• Ketchup
• Egg (for wash)
• Salt/pepper

1. Brown the beef with salt and pepper in a large skillet and sit aside.
2. Roll out the pizza dough and cut into equal size squares. Mine made roughly 12.
3. Take a piece of American cheese and lay in the center followed by some of the ground beef filling.
4. Dollop some ketchup on top. Fold over the edges to create a little round bun shaped pocket.
5. Take egg wash and brush over the tops of each one.
6. Bake in 350 degree oven for roughly 12-15 minutes or until tops are browned.



The filling possibilities are endless based on your tastes and what you want to create in these little calzones. You could do pizza, Philly style cheese and beef, etc.



Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Serves: 4+