Berry Lemon Cake - Breakfast Bread

2 eggs

1c sugar

1c sour cream

½c light vegetable oil

½ frozen-grated lemon -*-

1t lemon or almond extract

1# mixed frozen fruit

1T corn starch

2T sugar

1½c organic flour

½c corn flour *

½t salt

1t cinnamon

2t baking powder
1c chopped pecans (optional)

With your mixer, beat the eggs and sugar together until light and fluffy in a medium size bowl.  Add the remaining ingredients in that group beating well after each addition.  Set that aside and chop the frozen fruit, stirring that together well with the corn starch and sugar in another medium size bowl.  In a third bowl, whisk the dry ingredients together.  Add the dry ingredients to the first bowl with the eggs, etc.  Mix together well.  

Pour half the batter into a well buttered 8"x12" glass pan, then crumble-spread the berry mixture over that.  Pour on the remaining batter, then top with the rest of the berries.  Sprinkle some coarse sugar on top, and bake at 375° for 350minutes.  Reduce the heat to 350° for an additional 20 minutes.  Take out of the oven and cool on a rack, about an hour before serving.  This created the most wonderful scent in my kitchen as it baked!

* I've always loved the combination of corn flour and crushed quick cooking rolled oats as the 'flour' base for my cornbread.  I always add peppery and fruity elements to it.  Instead of just regular flour I decided to substitute a little corn flour to give this 'cake' a hint of that fruity cornbread flavor.

This would be great for breakfast or as a dessert. . .Lin

Fruit-Nut Fiesta Quick Bread (Gluten Free)

1c corn flour

2c oat flour (or quick rolled oats

~ pulverized in a food processor)

1T fresh ground cinnamon

1t baking soda

1t salt

1/2t baking powder

 ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~

3 eggs

1c vegetable oil

1-1/2c sugar

2c fresh or frozen cranberries

1 banana - mashed

3/4c finely chopped canned pineapple

1/2c coconut flakes

1c chopped pecans or walnuts

1T pure vanilla extract

I don't bake often because my discipline is very weak regarding brownies, cookies, cakes, etc.  I can't even THINK about baking lemon bars!!!  This is a total adulteration of a recipe my sister gave me in the '70's.  Hers uses regular flour, and only 2c of either apple, orange or zucchini.  In this rendition, I used more cinnamon but the 3 leavening agents proportions are exactly according to the original recipe.  (I don't understand the science-chemistry behind all that, so I leave that alone.)

Over the years I've made this MANY ways, but the time I used pecans, grated zucchini and carrot with orange zest, was probably my favorite.  It's nice to just use what you have, that needs to be 'gone' from your fridge, freezer or pantry.  Today I had bananas and cranberries in the freezer, and a cup of walnuts that I wanted to use.  I built on that as my foundation.

Combine the first group of (dry) ingredients in a medium bowl.  Meanwhile, whisk the eggs until the whites and yolks are blended and getting a little fluffy, in a large bowl.  Add the rest of those (wet) ingredients, fruit and nuts, blend well with a wooden spoon and let sit so the sugar dissolves and the flavors blend a bit.  Preheat the oven to 350°.  After the oven is preheated, stir the wet ingredients and add the flour mixture to that big bowl.  Stir well to blend, then pour into a buttered 9" x 13" glass pan.  (This recipe could also be baked as muffins.)  Sprinkle the top with coarse, baker's sugar or raw sugar.  Bake for 40 minutes or until it passes 'the toothpick test.'  Bake at a shorter time for muffins.  This is great for a fruity-nutty-grainy breakfast or dessert. . .Lin