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A CELEBRATION

4/8/2010

12 Comments

 
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      Happy Birthday
, sweet Claire!  I can't believe it's been 17 years.  I told my daughter the story of how I would go to bed when the sun was still shining on the night before my birthday.  I was so excited and thought, the sooner I go to sleep, the sooner I will wake up and it will be my birthday.  (Gee... isn't it funny how I don't feel that way any more?)  My mother always made my birthdays so special.  Each year there was an angel food cake with 7 minute frosting, surrounded by gifts, waiting for me when I got up in the morning. 

 
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     I like to incorporate that memory into the birthday cakes I make.  This one, however, has an orange cake beneath the billowy white meringue frosting.

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     And Boules de Sucre Multicolores for decoration that I picked up on my last visit to Paris.  I only use them on very special occasions.
    
     This is the first time I have made Madrina's Famous Orange Cake and I have not cut into it as of yet.  If, however, the finished cake is as good as all of its components that have been tasted, as necessary, by me ;-]] ..... I think we will be eating one delicious cake at the party tonight!


                     Madrina's Famous Orange Cake
                               from Food & Wine Magazine | January, 2006

CAKE LAYERS
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest
• 3 large eggs
• 3/4 cup fresh orange juice
• 1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 1/4 cup water
FILLING
• 1 cup fresh orange juice
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
ICING
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup water
• 3 large egg whites
• 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar

1.  Preheat the oven to 350˚F.  Spray two 8-inch round cake pans with vegetable-oil spray and line the bottoms with parchment paper.  Spray the paper.
2.  In a large bowl, mix the flour with the sugar, baking powder, salt and orange zest.  Using an electric mixer at medium-low speed, beat in the eggs, orange juice, butter and water until blended, about 2 minutes.  Divide the batter between the prepared pans and bake for about 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean.  Let cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then invert the cakes onto a rack to cool completely.  Peel off the parchment paper. 
3.  In a medium saucepan, combine orange juice, sugar, flour, orange zest and salt and cook over moderate heat, whisking constantly, until very thick and just beginning to boil, about 8 minutes.  Off the heat, whisk in the butter and lemon juice, then transfer to a bowl.  Place a sheet of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the filling and refrigerate for 30 minutes, or until chilled. 
4.  In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and water and cook over moderate heat until the syrup reaches 240˚F on a candy thermometer; this can take up to 12 minutes.  Meanwhile, in the bowl of a standing electric mixer, beat the egg whites with the cream of tartar until soft peaks form.  With the machine on medium-low speed, slowly pour in the hot sugar syrup against the side of the bowl.  Once all of the sugar syrup has been added, increase the speed to medium-high and beat until the meringue icing is fluffy, glossy and at room temperature, about 8 minutes.
5.  Using a serrated knife, split each cake in half horizontally.  Place a cake layer cut side up on a plate.  Spread one-third of the orange filling on the layer and cover with the top half of the cake.  Spread another third of the orange filling on top.  Repeat with the remaining cake layers and orange filling, ending with a cake layer.  Spread the meringue icing all over the top and side of the cake.  Let stand for 1 hour before serving.
NOTES:  The cake can be refrigerated, uncovered, overnight.

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12 Comments
Michelle link
4/8/2010 09:17:20 am

What a gorgeous birthday cake. I'm especially smitten with that first photo.
Birthday wishes for your daughter!

Reply
Margo link
4/9/2010 12:43:00 am

When I first looked at your blog's home page, I thought you had decorated your daughter's cake with Trix! Beautiful photos. I also enjoyed your post about gardening in Amana. I took all the home-grown produce for granted when I was growing up. I realize now how blessed we were by all of our Mom's, Tante's, and Oma's hard work.

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kathy
4/9/2010 03:22:51 am

Happy birthday Claire!

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Kaitlin link
4/9/2010 05:43:11 am

I LOVE how you frosted that cake! I hoard decorations too :P

Happy birthday to your daughter!

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Rick
4/9/2010 06:00:37 am

That is spring happy pretty!

bittersweetsugarandsarcasm.blogspot.com

Reply
Crepes of Wrath link
4/9/2010 08:18:32 am

What an impressive cake!

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Valen link
4/9/2010 09:13:23 am

I love how you decorated the cake! So simple, but so cute! I also don't get excited for holidays anymore, I'm 20, as a kid I always thought it was weird how adults didn't get excited about those things and I thought it would NEVER happen to me! This cake looks so good, I will have to try it!

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Eileen
4/9/2010 09:25:18 am

Valen - I'm afraid the reason I don't get excited about birthdays anymore is because I'm going to be 57 (!!!!!!) next month. If I were turning 20, I would probably be going to bed when the sun is still shining ;-]]

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rs
4/10/2010 01:12:46 am

Happy Birthday, dear Claire. Enjoy that wonderful cake made with love-- RS

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tom | tall clover farm link
4/10/2010 01:30:00 am

This is very unlikely with a cake that looks this good, but is there one slice left, one that you could post a photo of? Is the cake itself yellow or light orange?

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Julia @ Mélanger link
4/11/2010 04:59:35 pm

What a beautiful birthday cake. I am intrigued by the orange cake inside the deliciously fluffy frosting!

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Supra Footwear link
12/1/2010 04:16:50 pm

Thanks, you are the best !

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