Orange, Carrot and Date Loaf

Well it’s the first day of spring and we’ve had an amazing day out in the garden.  I tackled the winter weeds especially from the veggie garden.  I then started preparing the soil for new veggie planting now that the masses of wild rocket and rhubarb are coming to an end.  The kids had a great day too and while Summer would plant a new flower in her fairy garden, little Finn would come along and pull them out.  And veggie daddy is on his latest venture.... planning a rather large skateboard ramp in the backyard... stay tuned for that one...

Orange, Carrot and Date Loaf
 

The kids are going crazy about oranges at the moment.  Even veggie daddy who says he wasn’t a fan of oranges on the sporting field as a kid is devouring them.  So I’m buying them by the bag full and enjoying them any way possible.  I also have a large box of fresh dates I bought in bulk.

Orange zest and carrots in the Thermomix

I found this recipe on another great blog called Surprisingly Domestic and tweaked it a little further.  I mainly reduced the sugar as I found the dates add plenty of sweetness and I wanted to let my one year old enjoy it. It’s quite a healthy loaf and the carrots and dates add plenty of flavour and fibre.  It tastes just like spring time and while it’s devine still warm from the oven (we had it for afternoon tea in the garden), it’s also great served with a little yoghurt the next day.

 
Orange, Carrot and Date Loaf

1 orange
100g dates
280g carrots
3 eggs
60g grapeseed oil
130g yoghurt
100g wholemeal flour
200g plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
80g raw sugar
1 tsp cinnamon 

• Preheat oven to 180°
• Line a loaf tin with baking paper
• Remove peel from orange, place in Thermomix and zest 10 seconds speed 9
• Add carrots and grate 5 seconds speed 5 then set aside
• Chop dates 5 seconds speed 5 then set aside
• Remove pith from orange and quarter, place in Thermomix and juice 20 seconds speed 8
• Add eggs and mix 5 seconds speed 5
• Add dry ingredients and mix 20 seconds speed 4
• Add orange zest, carrots and dates and mix 20 seconds speed 4 on Reverse 
• Pour into loaf tin and bake 180° for 50 minutes
• Cool 10 minutes in tin before turning out
• This is a very moist cake so skewer may not come out completely dry

Best served warm or later with yoghurt

Enjoy!