Self-rising cornmeal

Blood Oranges

They reach out to you…..

…..Glow

like brilliant sons.
Silent and sleepy
in the aisle
of imported fruit.
They call to your amazement-
these prodigals far from home.
But, this is not Italy.
No Alimentare here.

Poem in part by ari’ anna arena (click here for full poem)

Enchanted….seduced…far-away-longings…These are all brought about each late winter when the “Moro Blood Oranges” begin to show up in the markets. I can never resist them.

In posts from the past, “Blood Orangecello & Bootlegging” and “Bloody Sweet Orange Tartlets”, I have proclaimed my devotion to this most exotic & engaging citrus.

This week I turn to musings about pound cakes (doesn’t the name sound fattening?).

Recently on a photo shoot for Relish Magazine I baked a couple of pound cakes using no butter, just olive oil. They were delicious & absolutely moist, dense & sturdy, yet delicate in flavors & texture…lower in fat…here is my version using Blood Oranges.

“Blood Orange & Olive Oil Poundless Pound Cake for Waltzing into Spring”

Ingredients for cake: 1 cup self-rising flour, 1/2 cup self-rising yellow cornmeal, pinch of salt, 1 cup plain Greek yogurt, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 3 eggs, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 2 generous Tbsps. finely chopped Blood Orange rind, 1/3 cup olive oil, 1/3 cup freshly squeezed Blood Orange juice

Ingredients for glaze: 1/2 cup Blood Orange juice & 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a standard loaf pan. Line with two sheets of parchment paper cut to fit…overlapping in the bottom of the pan.

2. Whisk together the self-rising flour & self-rising cornmeal & salt.

3. Whisk together the yogurt, sugar, eggs, vanilla, chopped rind & olive oil. (or use a stand mixer). Add the flour mixture, blend well. Scrape batter into prepared loaf pan. Bake for about 50 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean. Remove to a wire rack.

4. While cake is baking, make the Blood Orange Glaze. Put juice & powdered sugar in a small saucepan, stir well, bring to a low boil and remove from heat. While cake is still warm poke holes in top with a skewer. Drizzle glaze by spoonfuls over cake until half of glaze is used, allowing glaze to soak into the cake through the holes.