Orange and Poppy seed Cake

7:16 PM

Juicy and sweet and renowned for its concentration of vitamin C, oranges make the perfect snack and add a special tang to many recipes; it is no wonder that this is one of the most popular fruits in the world. Oranges are generally available from winter through summer with seasonal variations depending on the variety. Sweet, juicy oranges make a delicious and healthy snack or addition to a meal. Oranges not only boost our immune system and improve our skin; they also reduce the risk of respiratory diseases, certain cancers, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcers and kidney stones.

Orange juice is also packed with nutrients but does not contain the fiber of a whole orange. Orange pith, the white substance between the peel and the flesh, is high in fiber. Did I say Orange Juice? Yes, With rising health concerns and increasing awareness about the importance of consuming fruits and vegetables on a daily basis, juicing has become a way of life. This brings with it the wonder product which makes our everyday life easy......The Philips citrus juicer for the kitchen.....Many of us would definitely agree that with the fast paced life , keeping pace with the daily nitty gritties of life...Gadgets/Appliances play a major role in our life. They not only makes our life easier but also helps in minimizing wastage. Coming to this let me remind you , this product has come to me as a winning gift for my recipe made during Navaratri called Kiwifruit sandesh.

The Philips citrus juicer HR2771 is a good quality citrus juicer for your kitchen. This juicer is designed with a two-way rotation mode that allows you to extract the maximum amount of juice from your fruit, minimizing wastage. Juicing is also easy and convenient with this press as everything from juice, to the pulp, to fruit seeds are separated in the Philips citrus press.Citrus Press is an easy way to have fresh juice ready in a matter of seconds. Its 500 ml jar comes with own volume indicator that shows you exactly how much juice has been extracted. It comes with two-way random rotation that ensures maximum juice extraction. This Philips citrus press has provision for juicing both big and small fruits, with its double cone feature.

This citrus press also has a pulp selector option that helps to extract juice as efficiently as possible. Its cord winds up inside the device, which prevents it from getting damaged. It is also easy to maintain as it only requires timely cleaning with a damp cloth. It also has a drip stop feature that prevents the juice from dripping continually.This Philips citrus press has a relative low noise level while it is functioning, which is a beneficial feature. It has a handle that makes it easy for you to pour out the juice that is inside the built-in jug. The juicer is made of white plastic and has a red volume indicator. The unit is also inclusive of its own power adapter, instruction manual and warranty card.

Now coming back to the orange juice , the orange juice can be just as beneficial as eating the fruit whole, provided it is 100% natural, and is not loaded with preservatives, additives, and sugar. The closest thing to eating an whole orange would be drinking a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. In all possible way we should avoid frozen orange juice, canned orange juice, or concentrate, because with all of the processing, it loses a considerable amount of the natural goodness. So the best way is to Go natural and make sure you are getting all of the benefits of this miraculous and delicious fruit juice.

Orange juice is an amazing drink for the patients of high or low blood pressure as this delicious drink contains a significant amount of magnesium which has a wonderful ability to bring back the disturbed blood pressure level to normal range.
Orange juice acts as a best defender against several diseases such as flu or colds promoting the immune system due to the presence of vitamin C.
Oranges contain flavonoids which are anti-inflammatory stuffs heal the stiffness and pain.

The risks of formation of kidney stones can be reduced by taking one serving of orange juice on regular basis.
This citrus fruit is full of antioxidants, which act efficiently to lose weight.
Oranges contain hesperidin in sufficient amount, which lower risks of heart attacks.
Orange juice provides a good quantity of vitamin C that promotes the absorption of iron into blood stream thereby preventing anemia.
The antioxidant properties of orange juice make the skin fresh, beautiful and young-looking by preventing the aging effects.

Now coming back to the Orange Juice which I have prepared with the help of my Citrus maker, I had baked a fresh Orange Cake as a Birthday Present. This cake is very simple to make and since its egg less, anyone can have it too.

Ingredients:

11/2 cup All Purpose flour
3/4th cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Oil
1/3rd cup Yogurt
Finely grated rind of one orange
1/2 cup fresh Orange Juice
1 teaspoon Baking powder
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Orange Essence(Optional)
11/2 teaspoon Poppy seed

For Orange Syrup:

1 cup sugar
1 cup Fresh Orange juice

Let's Learn How to make this Cake:

Preheat the oven to 160 degree. Grease and lightly flour a cake tin.
Shift the All Purpose Flour, baking powder, Baking Soda thoroughly.
Cream the oil and sugar together until fluffy, then add the yogurt gradually, beating continuously.
Stir in the Orange rind and poppy seed.
Add the flour and fold in evenly. lastly add the Orange Juice and mix everything just once.
Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes or un till a toothpick comes out clean.
Leave to cool the in the tin for 10 minutes, then turn it out onto a wire rack to cool.
For the Orange syrup, place the sugar and orange juice in a saucepan and heat gently un till the sugar melts.
Bring this to a boil and simmer for about 5 minutes or untill it is reduced to a syrup consistency.
Pour the syrup over the cake while it is still warm. top it with strips of orange Zest and serve warm or cold.