Easter day started with Alice briefly but thoroughly enjoying the new toy I bought her at Goodwill.
Then I made two blood orange upside-down cakes.
It was only 8:30am. Partly because I was productive and partly because bug hadn’t slept and so I hadn’t slept and I eventually gave up and got up.
i
We went to brunch at Laura and Craig’s house. Bug wore the amazing dress my mom made her. The dress is seriously so gorgeous. I might make her squeeze into it next year too.
:: :: :: :: ::
Blood Orange Upside Down Cake
- 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 4 blood oranges, sliced paper-thin crosswise, seeds discarded
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs, separated
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
- Sweetened whipped cream, for serving
- Preheat the oven to 350°. Set a 9-inch nonstick cake pan over moderate heat. Add 4 tablespoons of the butter and when it is melted, stir in the brown sugar until dissolved, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat. Arrange the lemon slices in the melted brown sugar.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the flour with the baking powder and salt. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, beat the remaining 8 tablespoons of butter with the granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla and the egg yolks, one at a time. At low speed, beat in the dry ingredients in 3 batches, alternating with the milk.
- In a stainless steel bowl, beat the egg whites with the cream of tartar at high speed until firm peaks form. Fold one-third of the beaten whites into the batter, then fold in the rest. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then invert it onto a plate. Serve warm or at room temperature with whipped cream.
Recipe from Food & Wine by Cal Peternell
