Cranberry Sauce Cake – Vivien Dean

Yes, I'm one of those annoying people who adore Christmas and everything that comes with it. I start my shopping in February so I don't get overwhelmed in December, I make a bajillion cookies to give away, and I make sure there's always carols playing whether I'm in my car or at home. Then, there's the cooking. This cake tastes like Christmas to me.

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CRANBERRY SAUCE CAKE

For Cake

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
16 oz can whole berry cranberry sauce
1 cup mayonnaise (regular only, fat-free and reduced-fat don't work for this recipe)
1/3 cup orange juice
1 tbsp grated orange peel
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp orange extract
1 cup chopped walnuts

For Icing
1 cup confectioners sugar
1 to 2 tbsp orange juice

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Combine flour, sugar, salt, and soda.
3. Add cranberry sauce, mayonnaise, orange juice, orange peel, and orange extract. Mix until thoroughly combined.
4. Fold in walnuts.
5. Spray bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray. Pour batter into pan.
6. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until cake tests done with toothpick test.
7. Cool 10 minutes in pan before removing to a wire rack (or plate).
8. Combine icing ingredients to a slightly runny consistency.
9. Drizzle over a warm cake.
NOTES: Depending on the size of the slice, this can yield anywhere from 12-20 servings. I seem to get around 16. It's best when it's slightly warm.

For eight months, Dr. Mark Vance has been visiting Sheehan's Nursery to buy flowers for his mother's grave, and every week, Hal Sheehan slips an extra lily into the bunch. Mark would love nothing more than to get to know the gentle giant better, but in 1954 Baltimore, a man just doesn't ask another man out. His fears are compounded when a visit the day before Valentine's casts doubts on Hal's intentions. Maybe he really was meant to live a life of secrets. Or maybe he just needs the holiday to discover the best secret of them all.

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http://www.viviendean.com/