One photo a week - 52/52

I'm done! The year is coming to a close and it seems it all passed in a blink of an eye.

I'll be closing the year with this photo of some holiday baking. I'll be back next week/year sharing some goals I have for 2012 - I wrote them down and am putting them out there for all of you to see! Maybe that will make me commit?

I also decided on a new photo challenge for the upcoming year and will be sharing that next week as well. Now I'm off to enjoy a couple of days with my family and will embrace 2012 with gusto and good cheer.


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Recipe for Cranberry-Orange-Walnut Tea Cakes
(Martha Stewart 2011 Holiday Handbook)

• 1/2 cup (1 stick)  unsalted butter, softened, plus more for pans
• 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pans
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• Finely grated zest of 1 orange, plus 2 tablespoons of fresh orange juice
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup fresh or frozen (thawed) cranberries
• 1/2 cup walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped *

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Butter and flour 4 by 2 1/2 inch loaf pans or one large pan, tapping out excess flour.
2. Combine cream, orange juice, and vanilla in small bowl. 
3. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in another bowl.
4. With electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter, orange zest and sugar until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low and add eggs one at a time. 
5. Beat in flour mixture in three additions, alternating with cream mixture and beginning and ending with flour. Gently fold in the cranberries and walnuts.
6. Divide batter evenly among pans and smooth tops. Bake until golden and cake tester comes out clean - about 30 minutes for the small cakes or 55 minutes for the large one.
7. Let cool for 15 minutes in pans, turn out cakes and let cool completely.

* Toast walnuts in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet in a 350 F degree oven, toss occasionally until lightly browned and fragrant - about 10 minutes.