My Day - Cars, Ovens, and Oranges

I was looking forward to a heavy baking end-of-the-week as it was, with three cakes and a few dozen cookies in the line-up.  Then my car decided to stop. Just stop.  Wouldn't budge.  So I used my cell phone's roadside assistance option and had it towed to the service station, hoping it wouldn't be out of commission too long, since I am just too busy to be side-lined!  Well, it is out of commission, and continues to be.  And I AM side-lined...  Looks like an alternator issue.  The brand-new battery didn't solve the problem.  Thank God for my daughter Katie,who filled in as emergency-chauffeur and, along with Henry and Peter, followed me around to AC Moore, Target, and  Hannaford as I collected all the necessary bits and pieces for three very important cakes that are being baked for Saturday.  We did fit in a trip to Friendly's for "lunch" at 5:30 for Henry who was apparently very upset that he didn't get to have lunch with me at noon due to his baby brother's unfortunate and unexpected car sickness!  He and Pete were very good boys, and were rewarded with dessert (see photo).  ANYWAY...after all that, I found I needed to go out again last night, and my son-in-law Bill took me for a ride in his truck to Saratoga, which from where we live is not a 10-minute spin.  It's more of a 40-minute commitment, and I really appreciated his help.  There's a loaf of banana bread in it for him, just because!

Pete thought Henry's "monster" ice cream was more interesting....

Cake number one is for my soon-to-be niece-in-law Kristin's bridal shower in Saratoga Springs.  the shower is being graciously hosted by a friend of my sister Anne's family, Sue, and I am very excited to 1) see Kristin and everyone, 2) wish Kristin and my nephew Jack every happiness, and 3) make the very best cake I can for her!  Cakes for family are especially meaningful and I am honored to be baking her shower cake.  I haven't decided yet how exactly I'll be decorating it. It's a marble cake and I will be making pretty fondant flowers, to be determined!

Cake number two is for Harvey, who is celebrating his 85th birthday.  My sister-in-law Lynn, Harvey's daughter, asked if I'd make the cake (after completely forgetting to make her granddaughter Katie's 1st Communion cake last weekend - I'm still not over it! A mad dash to Hannaford with a substitute cake was the best I could do at the very last second.  It appears I am either over-committed or overwhelmed, or both!).  For Harvey's cake, I am making the same recipe that Harvey's wife Audrey used to make for him, his favorite, an orange cake with orange buttercream frosting.  Harvey's been a widower for some time now, and certainly misses his wife and her wonderful baking.  I hope this cake does her justice.  I used a whole orange's rind in the batter, as well as its juice, and it smells so light and fresh.  The recipe follows at the end of this post.

pretty orange

Cake number three is for another bride.  Her colors are navy blue and sage green.  So the cake, marble with buttercream, with have fondant irises, sage-colored leaves, and little navy-blue flowers, like violets.  Along with that cake, I am making heart-shaped cookies, frosted in sage and white with royal icing, with a monogrammed "R," tied in cellophane bags with navy blue ribbons.  That should be pretty.

Here's the recipe for Harvey's Orange Cake
a tribute to Audrey Nutter

HARVEY'S ORANGE CAKE
Oven 375 degrees  F- 30 minutes
2 8-inch round layers

Cream:

1/2 cup shortening (old school recipe)
1 1/4 cups sugar

Add:

1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup water

To this, add dry ingredients, mixed together:

2 1/4 cups sifted flour
1 tbsp (3 tsp) baking powder
1 tsp salt.

Beat 1 minute (the recipe is old - says "150 strokes" - pre-mixer!!!!)

To this add:
2 eggs, unbeaten
grated rind of one orange

Beat 2 minutes.

Pour into prepared pans (I use parchment rounds and spray with cooking spray).

Bake at 375 degrees F for 30 minutes or until it tests done.

Orange buttercream frosting:

1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup softened butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon of orange extract or 4 tablespoons orange juice
2 lbs. 10x confectioners sugar
Up to 1/2 cup milk, more if needed, a bit at a time

In stand mixer or with hand-held mixer, cream shortening and butter.  Mix in vanilla and orange extract/orange juice.  Add confectioners sugar slowly, alternating with milk.  Add milk as necessary, a bit at a time, beating until you reach desired spreading consistency.