Christmas Movie Nights Begin!

Four years ago, we started a tradition in our family (actually we copied some friends and added our own little twists) and we call it Christmas movie nights.  Beginning the first Friday in December we watch old Christmas classics, like White Christmas, Shop Around the Corner and The Bishop's Wife while testing out new Christmas treats and deciding whether they rate high enough to be considered a Buegge family Christmas tradition.  For me this combines two great loves, old movies (and by old, I mean black and white, MAYBE technicolor) and trying out new baking recipes!!  It doesn't feel like we've rung in the season until these nights begin.  We had a slower start this year and had our first official "movie night" last night.  I played it safe with a tried and true favorite, Pumpkin Bars, and then as tradition mandates a new recipe, Cranberry Orange Bread.  I love these flavors together and this bread didn't disappoint. 

You'll find lots of recipes for this combination  bread, I've taken a few and combined them into one that we loved.  We hope you love it too!

Cranberry Orange Bread      
Ingredients:
2 cups flour (I used white whole wheat and it was very tasty!)
3/4 cup of sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 large egg
3/4 cup orange juice
zest of 1 orange (less if you like a more mellow orange flavor)
2 Tbsp. melted butter
1 Tbsp. vanilla
1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries (I used a bit more, 1 1/4 cup b/c I really like them.)

Method:
1.  Combine all dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt) in a large mixing bowl.
2.  In a separate bowl, stir together egg, orange juice, orange zest, melted butter and vanilla.
3.  Add egg/orange juice mixture to flour mixture and mix.  Combine until dry ingredients are just moistened
     by wet to achieve best bread texture.  Over mixed batter becomes hard and chewy.
4.  Fold in cranberries.
5.  Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake at 325 degrees for about 60-75 minutes, or until toothpick inserted
     in middle comes out clean. 
6.  Cool for 10 minutes before trying to remove from loaf pan.

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