Thursday, March 7, 2013

Juicin'-Bakin'-Guacamole Makin' Kind Of Day

Good morning!  It feels so good to be feeling good!!!  Yesterday morning I decided that I would squeeze that wagon load of oranges for juice.  I send my son Drew home with a gallon of oj when we comes, and I made as many as I could, and then used ice cube trays to freeze whatever else I had.

We like that Dole Orange Strawberry Banana juice, so I save those jugs to reuse.  Gennifer will be here soon to pick oranges for the soccer games on Saturday, and I will send her home with a jug of OJ and a dozen eggs.  The girls are producing like mad again.  It is so nice!!
I cleared a shelf in the freezer and made some OJ cubes.
When solid, I popped them out into a large freezer ziplock bag.
Four trays of cubes fit into one gallon sized bag.  So I will try to juice as much as I can, and freeze it this way.  Giving us fresh juice well after the oranges have gone.  
After the juicing I did, I noticed a large basket of ripe avocados calling my name.  So I made a batch of guacamole to go with our tostadas that I made for dinner last night.
I halve them, remove the pits, and then take a large spoon and scoop out the flesh.  Dump into a large bowl, and mash and season.
I put this photo on instagram yesterday, and Kerri asked what the pits were for.  I put them in to keep it from browning so fast.  You could also add some citrus juice, like lemon or lime.
I still have oodles of avocados, so I will make more today, and freeze some of it.
Then, I just had to try this recipe I saw the other day on my friend's blog.  Linda lives in Canada, where they won't be seeing Spring for some time yet.  But she and her hubby were just in Florida for a month to get away from the cold winter.  She has a beautiful blog, and I hope you will go over and say hello.
Here is the link
Linda made this Blueberry Lemon Buttermilk cake the other day, and I had to do a search on her blog to find the recipe she had posted when she made it the first time.  I knew I had fresh blueberries, lemons, and buttermilk, so of course I had to make this delightful cake.
I used a pan that my daughter got for me one year.  It has the design of flowers on the bottom so that when you invert the pan you can see the print.  It is hard to see on this cake because of the blueberries.
So, let's get started on baking this yummy cake.  Here is what you will need.
 Heat Oven to 350 degrees
Spray a 9 inch baking pan with baking spray

1/2 Cup butter, room temperature
7/8 Cup plus 1 T sugar ( I used one level cup of sugar )
3/4 Cup plus 2 T sugar for top of cake ( I used a scant 1/2 cup of sugar instead, and it was fine for us )
Zest of 1 lemon ( I used the zest of two lemons, I love lemon flavor )
1 egg, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla
2 Cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 Cups fresh blueberries
3/4 Cup Buttermilk
Cream sugar and butter until fluffy.  Add zest and egg and vanilla, blend.
Toss blueberries in 1/4 cup of the flour to coat.  This prevents the berries from sinking, and they will distribute throughout the cake much better.
Whisk remaining flour, baking soda and salt.
Add flour mixture a little bit at a time to batter, alternating with the buttermilk.  Fold flour coated berries into batter.  Spread into a greased 9 inch baking pan.  Top with remaining sugar.  Bake for 35 degrees in middle of oven.  May need more time to be set up.  I baked mine for 40 minutes.  Test middle with toothpick for doneness.
I love this set of three silicone measuring cups that I have.  They are soft and easy to squeeze so that adding ingredients to your batter bowl is much easier.  My Kitchen Aid does not have the lever to raise the arm for adding ingredients.  So these cups are great for that.  I bought mine at Sur le table.Here are the blueberries all coated in the flour as I am ready to fold them in.
I use my microplane for zesting, but you can use a potato peeler if you don't have one, or even the fine edge of a cheese grater.  Just zest the yellow part.  The white is called the pith, and it is bitter.
The cake ready to go in to bake. I have sprinkled the sugar on top just before putting into the oven.
  If you have a Kitchen Aid stand mixer, and like to bake, I highly recommend this blade with the scraping  edge!!!  LOVE this.  My dear neighbor Sue, across the street gave this to me.  It is a dream!!
This cake cooks up pretty quick.  Barely had time to clean up the kitchen, and it was done.   Cool for 15 minutes in pan, and then invert onto plate. 
And if you can't wait, like me......cut yourself a little piece, top it with some fat free whip, heck use the full fat whip if you  have it, we didn't....so I snuck a little bit of Erika's.
This is a coffee type of cake.  It is the best cake I think I have ever had!  The buttermilk gives it a rich texture, almost like a pound cake.  It is sweet, but not overly so.  The lemon zest adds such a wonderful subtle flavor.  I will be making this cake often, I am sure.  Linda....thank you for the recipe.  It is a keeper, and one I know I will share with many as well!!
One last little note.  I love to use Buttermilk in things when I bake.  So if you buy buttermilk for using it in one thing, don't toss the rest.  I poured the rest of the carton into cups.  One cup each, and froze them.
I let them set up a bit before I put the lids on top. Then I just stacked them in the freezer.  The next time I need a cup of Buttermilk for pancakes or baking, I can just take out one of these cups.
I hope you are have a good week!!!  Looks like rain is coming our way!  I welcome it.  The heat of summer will be  upon us before we know it.
Bon Appetit!!!
XO  Kris

25 comments:

From the Kitchen said...

Um, it's not nice to post all this luscious looking freshly squeezed orange juice on a day we are digging out from a foot of snow!! = (

Best,
Bonnie

Sunny Simple Life said...

I need to juice the buckets we have sitting in the garage right now. Messy job though. Glad you are feeling so much better.

Mereknits said...

I wonder how juice travels in the mail? I wish you could send me some it looks delicious.
Hugs to you '
Meredith

NanaNor's said...

Hey Kris, I thought of you when I saw all the orange trees in AZ. Wish we have them here. I was thrilled to hear that Rescue Remedy worked-it is so much easier than other things.
Got to say I loved spending time in the warm sunshine; this weekend we have a huge snow storm headed our way-yuck-I'm ready for spring.
Hugs today!
Noreen

~Niki~ said...

yum!
what do you do with the frozen cubes once they are ready? make oj with that? :)
i'm trying to get healthier. so maybe i should buy some pure OJ. wish i was close, for a visit :)

Gloria Baker said...

When I se all the things you make always I think you are sooo smart Kris, and love how you make the orange juice and freeze this is something I could it now whenwe begin to have oranges again, the autumen is near, and I love your tea cake!!!xo

Debbie said...

I bet the orange juice is wonderful! Nothing like fresh squeezed. I got a bunch of avocado's from my DIL's father. It has been wonderful. What do you season your guacamole with? It seems I slice avocado's on everything..love them. Wish I could try that cake because it sounds wonderful! And as long as I am wishing, a good cup of coffee to go with it too...sigh. Hope you had a good day!

Teresa Kasner said...

Oh my.. I'm sooooo jealous of the orange juice.. and especially the avocados. You are SO lucky! We are having a sunny warm day here, which is so wonderful as yesterday was hideous - cold, windy and rainy. I just got back from a Portland Women's Forum meeting and am relaxing. Wish you could zoom up and join us for lunch tomorrow! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Unknown said...

My kind of day there at your house. I still can't get over all the avocados. I too am a pit in the batch kind of gal. Must be from my old restaurant days at Cisco's Cafe. And yes, I can still make a mean margarita too.

deb said...

ok as soon as Im off this stinking diet I need to make that cake!!! but OMG those avacados are amazing....!!!!!
I know I will regret saying this but Im kind of ready for the heat!!!!!

Linda said...

Well.....thanks for featuring my cake and blog,Kris....I made mine yesterday....there is only about 1/3 left!!!! My Erika had a big piece when she was here with Vivian yesterday...
I have that same vintage OJ container that you showed in your frig...I use it at the cottage!!!
I did not know that you could freeze avacadoes or buttermilk....thanks for the tip!
Our spring here in Southern Ontario is only a few weeks off...
We are not really all that far North!!!
Off to the lake tomorrow...so excited!!!

Enjoy your evening
Thanks again!!

Cheers!
Linda :o)

Kerri said...

I think I would love that cake...blueberries and lemons are so good together.
That's a lot of OJ! I am always amazed at the goodies in your backyard...and you are so resourceful with it. Thanks for all the tips you always give us on your blog...I always learn something over here. Pits in avacados keep it from turning brown...and I didn't know you could freeze buttermilk. I always throw mine out after I use it because I know I won't be needing it for awhile.

Val said...

I'm always so hungry after leaving your amazing blog. I need a guacamole day!

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

OH your blog always makes me hungry, Kris! Freezing the juice is such a great idea...I would love it for smoothies!

priscilla said...

Lots of orange juice ! Great idea with the ice cube trays ! I make a blueberry cake like that , but theres no lemon zest in the recipe ,I will have to try that ..sounds great ! Love that pan ! Have a wonderful weekend !

Pam said...

So jealous of your oodles of fresh O.J. & all those avocados! The blueberry cake looks scrumptious too. Great tip about freezing buttermilk... I've never thought to do that.

Nicolle said...

I love the idea of the OJ cubes. Those will be so great to use. What a fun idea. Also, you know I salivate each time I see your avocados. I sound like a broken record, but seriously, I hardly ever buy them b/c of the price. If I grew my own, I'd be in heaven! And, I'm glad you are feeling good...you are right, there is nothing quite like it. :) Hope you have the best weekend!
xo

Miriam said...

Kris, I want to be your neighbor! :)
From fresh squeezed orange juice,fresh eggs, avocados (thanks for the reminder about using the pits; knew about the lemon or lime juice),to blueberries & lemon coffeecake with the right amount of zest all I can say is yum & inviting!
Thank you, Kris & Linda, for sharing the coffeecake recipe. Writing this one down.

I like your measuring cups, but we don't have a store here by that name. I never thought of freezing buttermilk. Very clever of you. Hope you don't mind me asking, but where did you find your microplane? I've looked for one and can't seem to locate one.

Hope you have a great weekend,
Miriam

Deb~in~Denver said...

Thanks for sharing all of this yumminess! I didn't know you could freeze guacamole! Do you put the pits in the guac you freeze, too? I love to buy the bags of avocados at Costco, they seem to have the best prices, around here. Next time I go, I'll have to stock up and freeze some. We laugh and think of you every time we see the Chicago Mix popcorn. You were SO right, that stuff is like crack! We now have my dad addicted!
Glad you are feeling so much better!

Elisabeth said...

Yum! That cake and the juice look delicious :) The pan you used is so cute, I've not seen one with flowers on it like that before! Have a great week, Elisabeth xx

Gracie Saylor said...

Thanks for another great post, Kris! You shared so many good ideas: the pits to prevent browning and then freezing both avocados and buttermilk. Brilliant!
The blueberry cake looks soooooo yummy as well :-)
I'm eating a Cutie a day to drive the last of my cold away and am so glad you are feeling better, too!
xx,
Gracie

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

I'm glad you are feeling better, Kris! I had a weeks worth of stomach blahs myself and it took all my energy away -- thankfully I'm back to normal now.

All your avocados look like heaven to me! I never knew the tip of using the pits to prevent guacomole from darkening.

I also freeze buttermilk (and half and half) -- they spoil too quickly otherwise. That blueberry cake looks divine!

Sinta Renee said...

You must be enjoying the weather and the opportunity to be in the kitchen! The cake looks fantastic. Well, every thing does! Great tip for the buttermilk too. I can't wait for the weekend... I will be in the kitchen stirring up trouble. (diet trouble)

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

How fun to have so much fresh produce at your finger tips. Nothing like fresh squeezed o.j. I love, love guac! I have heard that about the pits but had forgotten. I always add lime juice. We made Cafe Rio salads over the weekend for us 'gone wild' girls and had guacamale. Not fresh off the tree like yours. I love any kind of berry so this cake looks so delish. Will be pinning to try it.
hugs,
Jann

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