Just dropping in with a Sunday morning treat

Hey, all you people who didn't even know this blog existed (it's mostly my recipe file. When the technology changes I'm screwed because I don't have any of these on paper).

I got a wild hair a couple of days ago about muffins made with preserved lemon as the flavoring. Preserved lemon is a miracle ingredient; I am pretty sure there is nothing that does not taste better with preserved lemon in it. I put it in sloppy joe the other (the homemade kind, what do you think I am?) and it was amazing. So here's a lemon-cranberry loaf, adapted from Queen Martha:

Cranberry-Orange Loaf

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Butter and flour loaf pan. Soak 1 1/2 cups dried cranberries in very hot water for about 15 minutes.

Mix in separate bowl:

• 3 1/2+ cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for pan

• 1 tablespoon baking powder

• 1 teaspoon fine salt

In mixer:

• 2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan

• 3/4 c honey

• 1/2 preserved lemon, chopped fine

• 1/4 c sugar

then:

• 4 large eggs, one at a time

then:

• 3/4 cup half-half, alternating with flour mix

fold in:

• cranberries

• 1 cup blanched almonds slivers

This filled a loaf pan ¾ full, with enough left over for six muffins (hence the “20 servings” in the calorie chart)

Transfer batter to prepared pans and bake until a skewer inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs, . Bake 15 minutes then turn temp down to 350. Bake for another 40 to 50 minutes, then knife test it. (Add time if the knife doesn't come out clean.) Let cool in pans on a wire rack set in a rimmed baking sheet, 30 minutes. Remove from pan and let cool completely on rack.

Glaze with honey/sugar/lemon syrup (make it up) if you like.