Rustic Blood Orange Pound Cake

A few days ago, cartons of fresh eggs from Muskoka, were hand delivered to our kitchen.  With an immediate bok bok bok ba gock on repeat in my head, and the realization that one can only eat so many scrambled eggs, I saw baking in my very near future.  That made me happy.  I have a bakery dream beating on low speed in the back of my mind. On the back burner. 

Next came the alluring wooden crate full of maroon tinged, fresh citrus. Flirty blood oranges being fondled by hungry Sunday shoppers.  Handled over and over and over again. Longing to be part of my next pound cake morning.  

That happened today. 

The blood orange is a variety of orange with crimson, almost blood-colored flesh.

The distinctive dark flesh color is due to the presence of antioxidant pigments common to many flowers and fruit, but uncommon in citrus fruits. The flesh develops its characteristic maroon color when the fruit develops with low temperatures during the night.  Sometimes, dark coloring is seen on the exterior of the rind, as well, depending on the variety of blood orange. The skin can be tougher and harder to peel than that of other oranges. Blood oranges have a unique flavor compared to other oranges, being distinctly raspberry-like in addition to the usual citrus notes.

Here is an easy recipe to bake this pretty, simple and rustic pound cake.

Blood Orange Pound Cake

1 cup soft butter

2 cups white sugar

5 eggs

3 cups all purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup buttermilk (or 1 cup milk with 2 tbsp white vinegar let sit until it thickens)

1 tbsp vanilla

Juice of one blood orange (strained) (save 1 tbsp for icing)

zest of one blood orange 

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time. 

Add rest of ingredients.

Pour into greased, parchment lined loaf pans.

I make 2 loaves with this recipe OR 1 bundt pan 

325 degree for 1 hour (test)

Icing

1/4 cup soft butter

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup icing sugar

1 tbsp. blood orange juice

Dash of cream or milk to make it smooth

Add drop of red and orange food colouring (optional)

Cool cakes well

Roughly ice the cakes

Top with a delightful thin slice of a blood orange

Enjoy!

Peace Love Create Art

Patti

xo

Patti Friday: Reporting from inside 'The Art Dept.' at the international 'Embassy of Ideas'

Abstract Paintings on Paper

These few ladies are available.  Inquire:  pattifriday@hotmail.com  Subject:  Patti Friday Art

Spring Forward Friends!

Peace Love Create Art,
Patti
xo

Floral Seduction

Stalking God: My Unorthodox Search for Something to Believe In

Anjali Kumar, a pragmatic lawyer for Google, was part of a rapidly growing population in America: highly spiritual but religiously uncommitted. But when her daughter was born, she became compelled to find God--or at least some kind of enlightenment.

Convinced that traditional religions were not a fit for her, and knowing that she couldn't simply Google an answer to "What is the meaning of life?", Kumar set out on a spiritual pilgrimage, looking for answers--and nothing was off limits or too unorthodox. She headed to the mountains of Peru to learn from the shamans, attended the techie haunt of Burning Man, practiced transcendental meditation, convened with angels, and visited saints, goddesses, witches, and faith healers. She even hired a medium to convene with the dead.

LISTEN:  Anjali talking on This Is Fifty podcast

Kumar's lighthearted story offers a revealing look at the timeless and vexing issue of spirituality in an era when more and more people are walking away from formal religions. Narrated from the open-minded perspective of a spiritual seeker rather than a religious scholar, Kumar offers an honest account of some of the less than mainstream spiritual practices that are followed by millions of people in the world today as she searches for the answers to life's most universal questions: Why are we here? What happens when we die? Is there a God?

Age of Aquarius: Let the Sunshine In

A common position expressed by many astrologers sees the Age of Aquarius as that time when humanity takes control of the Earth and its own destiny as its rightful heritage, with the destiny of humanity being the revelation of truth and the expansion of consciousness, and that some people will experience mental enlightenment in advance of others and therefore be recognized as the new leaders in the world.

Another view suggests that the rise of scientific rationalism, combined with the fall of religious influence, the increasing focus on human rights since the 1780s, the exponential growth of technology, plus the advent of flight and space travel, are evidence of the dawning of the Age of Aquarius.

In an article about feminism in the French newspaper La Fronde from February 26, 1890, August Vandekerkhove stated: "About March, 21st this year the cycle of Aquarius will start. Aquarius is the house of the woman". He adds that is in this age the woman will be equal to the man.

Astrologers believe that an astrological age affects humanity, possibly by influencing the rise and fall of civilizations or cultural tendencies.

Traditionally, Aquarius is associated with electricity, computers, flight, democracy, freedom, humanitarianism, idealism, modernization, astrology, nervous disorders, rebellion, nonconformity, philanthropy, veracity, perseverance, humanity, and irresolution.

We are all pioneers in the Age of Aquarius. No man can give a man anything other than love. No man can give a man anything other than hope. No man can give a man anything but service. The only thing you can do is act like a forklift—go into the dirt and lift the other person and put him on track, so he can proceed. You will ask me the question, “If I start doing that all the time, what will happen to me?” Then the big forklift called God will come, and He will go into the dirt and lift you up. Is there a better deal than that? - Yogi Bhajan 

When the moon is in the Seventh House And Jupiter aligns with Mars Then peace will guide the planets And love will steer the stars This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius Age of Aquarius Aquarius! Aquarius! Harmony and understanding Sympathy and trust abounding No more falsehoods or derisions Golden living dreams of visions Mystic crystal revelation And the mind's true liberation Aquarius! Aquarius! When the moon is in the Seventh House And Jupiter aligns with Mars Then peace will guide the planets And love will steer the stars This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius Age of Aquarius Aquarius! Aquarius! Aquarius! Aquarius! Let the sunshine, let the sunshine in, the sunshine in Let the sunshine, let the sunshine in, the sunshine in Let the sunshine, let the sunshine in, the sunshine in Oh, let it shine, c'mon Now everybody just sing along Let the sun shine in Open up your heart and let it shine on in When you are lonely, let it shine on Got to open up your heart and let it shine on in And when you feel like you've been mistreated And your friends turn away Just open your heart, and shine it on in

Cake by Maira Kalman and Barbara Scott-Goodman

With great style, wit, and joy, Maira Kalman and Barbara Scott-Goodman celebrate their favorite dessert. (I adore Maira so much that I say she's my Sister)

In Cake, renowned artist and author Maira Kalman and food writer Barbara Scott-Goodman bring us a beautifully illustrated book dedicated to their mutual love of cakes. Kalman’s enchanting illustrations, in her inimitable style, and Scott-Goodman’s mouthwatering recipes complement each other perfectly, making Cake a joyful whimsical celebration of a timeless dessert.

Barbara Scott-Goodman is is an author and food writer, art director and designer of cookbooks, websites, and magazines. In addition she works as an editorial and creative consultant on cookbooks, videos, and various self-publishing projects. She lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.

Published by Penguin Press, a 96 page cookbook with 16 cake recipes

Ilustrated with original paintings by Maira Kalman

Get your copy of Cake here.  I can't wait to get mine!

Patti Friday: Reporting from inside 'The Art Dept.' at the international 'Embassy of Ideas'

Vendredi Pound Cake

Vendredi Pound Cake 

Today is Pancake Day but what I really wanted was a comforting, thick slice of freshly baked pound cake, the kind of piece that would fulfill my need for the hugging cozy factor on this February afternoon. Butter, sugar, eggs and flour. The basics of a really dense ‘pound’. I took the liberty of changing things up slightly. Vanilla doubled. Buttermilk instead of milk and a tangy lemon drizzle on one. This recipe makes 1 large bundt or 2 loaves. 

Sidenote: For excessive decadence slice and fry as French Toast! Use this pound cake instead of bread.
While others eat pancakes. Eat ‘Vendredi Toast’ Oooh La La.
Maple syrup please!

Recipe here:
http://bit.ly/2EoEWfN

P.S. I love those outer browned-up-good outside cuts - Do you? Hope not.

Vendredi Pound Cake

350 degree oven

Bake 1 (test for loaves) up to 1.5 hours (test for bundt)

Grease and parchment pans

Half pound butter

Half cup shortening

5 eggs
3 cups white sugar

2 tbsp. vanilla

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 cup buttermilk

3 cups flour

Drizzle on cooled baked cakes: 

Mix juice of one lemon and half cup sugar or icing sugar

Adapted from Paula Deen’s Mama’s Pound Cake

Patti Friday: Reporting from inside 'The Art Dept.' at the international 'Embassy of Ideas'

Loveable Kissable Voluptuous Adorable Sexy Full Lips

Copyright 2018 Patti Friday
Patti Friday: Reporting from inside 'The Art Dept.' at the international 'Embassy of Ideas'

Turquoise River Painted Photograph

I can feel that turquoise river others walked beside before.

Patti

xo

Patti Friday: Reporting from inside 'The Art Dept.' at the international 'Embassy of Ideas'

This Week's Paintings

Now available in shop!

Patti Friday: Reporting from inside 'The Art Dept.' at the international 'Embassy of Ideas'