orange pound cake

This is Ina Garten's recipe for orange pound cake. I have made it in many forms: muffins, mini muffins, loaf, and bundt. I think I like it in a bundt pan the most. The glaze really makes this cake (although I skip the glaze when using the recipe for muffins). I usually serve the cake with lightly sweetened whipped cream and raspberry coulis.

Orange Pound Cake
From Barefoot Contessa

2 sticks butter, at room temperature
2 1/2 c. granulated sugar
4 large eggs, at room temperature
1/3 c. grated orange zest (From about 6 oranges)
3 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
3/4 c. freshly squeezed orange juice, divided
3/4 c. buttermilk, at room temperature
1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray Bundt pan with cooking spray.

Cream butter and 2 c. sugar in a large bowl. Mix in eggs, one at a time. Add zest. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. In another bowl, mix 1/4 c. orange juice, buttermilk, and vanilla. Add flour and buttermilk mixture alternately to the batter, beginning and ending with the four. Pour in prepared pan.

Bake until tester comes out clean, 45 minutes to 1 hour.

While the cake bakes, make syrup by combining 1/2 c. sugar and 1/2 c. orange juice in small pot until sugar dissolves.

Invert cake. Pour syrup over top of cake while it is still warm. Allow cake to cool completely.

chocolate chip marshmallow pretzel peanut cookies

These cookies were inspired by the Compost Cookie at Momofuku Milk Bar. They are chock-full of goodies.

Chocolate Chip Marshmallow Pretzel Peanut Cookies

2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 3/4 sticks butter, room temperature
3/4 c. granulated sugar
1/4 c. packed light brown sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. vanilla
2 large eggs
2 c. semisweet chocolate chips
1 c. mini marshmallows
3/4 c. pretzels, chopped
1/2 c. peanuts, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking soda. Using an electric mixer, combine the butter with both sugars, and beat until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low, and add vanilla and eggs. Beat until well-mixed, about 1 minute. Add flour mixture, and mix until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips, marshmallows, pretzels, and peanuts.

Drop dough by tablespoonfuls on parchment paper lined baking sheets. Bake until cookies are golden around the edges, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and transfer to wire rack to cool.