California Sunshine Cake

Description: Much like the Orange Kiss-Me Cake, this recipe uses an entire orange, raisins and walnuts. I like to substitute hazelnuts. Recipe can be halved for an 8" X 8" cake. Check for doneness at about 35 min. for smaller cake. I use organic oranges and wash them thoroughly.

Ingredients:

• 2 oranges
• 1 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup butter, softened (do NOT use low fat margarines)
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup buttermilk
• 2 cups white flour, sifted
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2/3 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon

Steps:

1. Juice the oranges, reserving juice for topping.
2. Put the orange rind, the raisins and the nuts through the medium blade of a meat grinder (or process with steel blade in food processor until a coarse grind is achieved).
3. Combine butter and sugar in mixer bowl and beat together until fluffy.
4. Add eggs one at a time and continue beating until completely incorporated.
5. Combine salt, flour and baking soda and sift together.
6. Add flour and buttermilk alternately in 3 portions, mixing on low after each addition.
7. Fold in orange, raisin, nut mixture until completely combined.
8. Preheat oven to 350F and grease a 9" X 13" pan or a bundt pan.
9. Bake for 45 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in cake comes out clean.
10. While cake is still hot, pierce all over with a fork.
11. Mix orange juice, sugar and cinnamon and carefully pour mixture over cake. (This is harder on the bundt cake -- be patient).
12. When cake has cooled, remove from pan.
13. Refrigerate leftover cake.