Got sad mandarins or oranges that need using up? Think banana bread only citrus flavoured and with the added goodness of seeds. The other day I discovered my children really liked orange and poppyseed cake. But having only mandarins and chia seeds at home, I gave an old classic a new spin.

Makes: 1
Prep: 40 mins Cook time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 4 whole mandarins, washed
• 2 eggs
• ⅓ cup milk
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
• 1 ½ cups wholemeal self raising flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds
• ⅓ cup sugar

syrup (optional)

• 1½ tablespoons of lemon or mandarin or orange juice
•  ¼ cup caster sugar
•  ¼ cup water

Directions

1. In a medium pan, place whole mandarins (with peel), fill with water to cover and bring to the boil
2. Simmer for 30 minutes
3. Drain water and cool
4. Preheat oven to 180°C and grease a loaf tin
5. Cut in half to remove any seeds
6. Place mandarins (peel and all) into food processor or blender and blend until smooth
7. Add eggs, milk, oil, vanilla essence and blend until mixture comes together
8. If there is room in the blender/food processor (otherwise move mixture to a bowl), add wholemeal self raising flour, baking powder, chia seeds,  sugar and mix with wooden spoon
9. Pour into loaf tin
10. Bake for 30 mins
11. Cool for 10 mins in pan before removing loaf
12. Syrup (optional): in a pan combine juice with caster sugar and water. Bring to boil and then Simmer for 5 minutes (or until sugar dissolved). Pour over warm loaf