Wednesday, September 30, 2009

My Unbirthday Olive Oil Cake

Well, here it is: an unbirthday cake for my unbirthday. I was getting so many sweet well-wishers for my sixtieth - and I just turned 57 - that I have been feeling positively spry. Serves me right for complaining about turning 60 three years ahead of time! (I do like to worry extensively before any major event - but I suppose three years was excessive - even for me.)
'
I did my Cover Girl Dinner midweek. And with my gimpy but amazing technicolor ankle combined with sounding like Sneezy-the-dwarf, I was going to keep it simple. And I yearned for a not-gooey dessert but something fresh, moist, cakey and sunny.


The Olive Oil cake from Abraco Coffee Shop in New York City did the trick. With a hint of orange zest, it soothed without making my teeth tingle, courted me sweetly and gave me the illusion of sitting on a Tuscan hillside.

And so quickly it went...


And was gone. The recipe is from September 2009 Bon Appetit. I changed little - except to add some extra orange zest.
1-1/2 cups organic unbleached white flour*
1 cup organic sugar*
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp coarse Kosher salt
2 large organic eggs*
3/4 organic whole milk*
1/2 cup mild-flavored organic olive oil*
2 tsp finely-grated orange peel
*My amazing-technicolor ankle won't let me walk much or drive, so I used organic if it was in the house - and if it wasn't - I used regular
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Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Oil and flour a 9x5x3 metal loaf pan. Whisk first 5 ingredients in large bowl. Whisk eggs, milk, olive oil and orange peel in medium bowl. Gradually whisk egg mixture into dry ingredients. Transfer to prepared pan.
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Bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, 60-65 minutes. (Mine took 60 minutes.) Cool in pan on rack 20 minutes. Invert pan to remove cake. Cool completely top side up! Watch it disappear.

28 comments:

Heather said...

i loooooooooove olive oil cake! don't listen to all those people who are ageing you to quickly!! the people that love you know better! My Mom is beautiful and I think she still looks as young as the day she dropped me off at kindergarten! happy unbirthday!

Barbara GF said...

This olive oil cake sounds like the perfect tonic, Claudia. Happy b-day or not to you!

Wanda..... said...

If today is your birthday or if I missed it earlier...well, Happy Birthday Claudia, my sister's 57th birthday was yesterday....You both are 7 years younger than me!

When you turn 60...you will be fine...Honest!!!

Foodie with Little Thyme! said...

Oh I saw this recipe and want to make but never did. I'll get right on it now that I know you liked it so much! HAPPY UNBIRTHDAY AND HAPPY EARLY EARLY EARLY BIRTHDAY!

Lyndas recipe box said...

Oh, this sounds like a perfect unbirthday cake, or a great cake for anytime.
Let's not think about 60 just yet; I am also 57 and don't feel like it- except sometimes! :)

OysterCulture said...

Thank you thank you thank you - I was just about to go in search of a olive oil cake recipe and you had it waiting for me. I cannot wait to try it!

Katy ~ said...

I have never had an olive oil cake. This looks so nice and moist with a lovely lovely texture. Will add this beauty to my must-make stash.

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

i haven't had olive oil cake but i woun't be able to say that much long. Wow this looks amazing. i can't wait to make this!

Mary Bergfeld said...

I sense I missed your birthday :-). Sorry! The cake looks and sounds delicious. I love the orange zest that you include in the ingredient list. Very nice!

theUngourmet said...

I love the orange in this! What a perfect cake for your Unbirthday! :D

chow and chatter said...

oh this bread looks wonderful happy birthday Rebecca

unconfidentialcook said...

Well...this looks a lot more reasonable and healthy than the b'day cake I'd order up for myself. Happy 57th!

Reeni said...

Happy Birthday my sweet Claudia!! This cake sounds lovely! I really like your addition of orange zest. Hope you had a wonderful day! HUGS

Kim said...

Yum. I've been wanting to try olive oil cake out. Can you believe that I've never had it before? Looks delicious. I'm giggling about you rounding your bday up by 3 years. I do that all the time: D

figtree said...

I have never had olive oil cake..now Im going to have to try to find some. Belated bday wishes!!Figtreeapps

petite nyonya said...

Just stumbled on your blog & I adore it! Happy Birthday and don't worry, be happy :D.

gaga said...

Happy Unbirthday! I've never tried olive oil cake but your pictures make me want to try this.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

It sounds like a perfect cake to enjoy with a cup of espresson for a very merry birthday celebration! :-) Happy 57! I am one yeat behind you!

Donna-FFW said...

Ive never had an olive oil cake. Yours looks scrumptious, have to admit, Id top it with ice cream, bad girl:)

Andrea@WellnessNotes said...

I have never had olive oil cake. It sounds delicious. Happy Birthday! And yes, no need to make ourselves older... Or to worry about age for that matter... :)

Velva said...

Your cake looks utterly delicious! The olive oil added a wonderful texture to that pretty loaf.

Happy birthday even if it is not quite your birthday :-)

Anonymous said...

The olive oil cake sound wonderful especially with the extra orange zest! Happy unbirthday :)

Juliana said...

Oh! I think I am missing out...never had olive oil cake, have to give a try :-) And I am still a little confused...should I wish you happy birthday?

Mini Baker said...

ive always wanted to try making olive oil cake! I love your blog! I'm so glad I found it! I'll be back often :)
-Mini Baker

Justin said...

belated happy un-birthday!

Kaitlin said...

This looks so good and unique!

Heather S-G said...

I missed this...why? I have always wanted to try an olive oil cake...it sounds and looks so tasty!! Can I still say that age is just a number... ;)

My Little Space said...

Such a healthy recipe for cakes lovers!