Cranberry Orange Nut Loaf (Pleasure!)

I wish I could take credit for coming up with this extremely pleasurable vegan loaf.  I can't so I shall share the recipe that can be found in the wonderful Veganomicon.  As a non-vegan currently enjoying vegan baking i encourage all fans of grab and go baked goods in the am to give this a whirl!

TiP: Don't make this if you're in a hurry - the loaf needs a good 15 mins to rest in the tin before you turn it out, otherwise you run the risk of it falling apart and thats just upsetting :(

Tools!

1 Oven - preheat to 325F

Good baking music

Baking Tin - 9 x 5 inches - lightly greased (even if non stick)

Oven Mitt and/or tea towels

A food chopper (I found one very cheap in Tuesday Morning and it beats chopping cranberries with a knife)

Cup measurer set

Spoon measurer set

Zester 

Big bowl

Cooling rack (cheap and awesome)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup soy milk (i have also used almond and this works well too!)

1/4 cup fresh orange juice (not to point out the obvious but you can use the juice of the orange you're using for the zest)

1/4 cup canola oil

1 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups all purpose flour (translates into PLAIN flour if you're a Brit like me, i think)

1 1/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp ground all spice (this makes the loaf if you ask me - i always stick a bit more in)

1 tbs grated orange zest

1 cup chopped fresh cranberries

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

I would start by getting prepared with the chopped walnuts, cranberries and zesting and juicing the orange - this will make life easier when putting altogether

• Turn: on the baking music
• Mix: together soy/almond milk, orange juice, canola oil, sugar and vanilla extract
• Sift: in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and allspice.  Mix lightly until just smooth
• Fold: (can't find the official description but this means mixing in using a figure of 8 style - it's less aggressive than mixing) in the orange zest
• Pour: the batter into the loaf pan and shove in the oven for about an hour (have a look around 45 - 55 mins depending on your oven)
• It's done is you stick a sharp knife in the middle and it comes out clean
• Let it cool for around 15 mins before turning out onto cooling rack
• EAT!

If you love this go out and buy Veganomicon - one of the funnest cooking books around!