Orange poppy seed Bundt cake...orangelicious!

I baked this awhile ago and realised I hadn't posted the photos. This cake was delicious with a rich orange flavour and the addition of those lovely blue poppy seeds gave it a real earthiness. Although the glaze was a simple orange and icing sugar mixture, when I make this again I would go for a marmalade glaze instead. I think marmalade would make it tangy and particularly pretty with the orange rind in it. I do have the recipe somewhere on my phone but I'll have to dig it out. I do remember it being quite similar to the lemon Bundt cake recipe I used but of course all lemon ingredients substituted with orange. The key is to find delicious, juicy oranges for that rich flavour and we are lucky at the moment in that we are inundated in the supermarket with amazing big Spanish oranges. There was a fight between household members to slurp the remaining juice out of the squeezer it was that good! By the time I got around to trying to photograph the inside of the cake, well, you can see what was left!

chocolate orange cupcakes - a humble tribute to the great Terry!

oh Terry, Terry, wherefore art thou, Terry? you are always there when i need you, through thick and thin, in celebrations and commiserations in good moods and bad and so, in humble tribute, i offer you the chocolate orange cupcake, in thanks for all those moments when i have taken pleasure from your delicious chocolate orange...

for those of you already acquainted with Terry, well then, you will COMPLETELY understand the need to pay tribute to such a fabulous creation as the chocolate orange. for those of you not yet acquainted with dear Terry, well, let me just say that once tasted never forgotten. you will become rather dependant on Terry. Terry will be there to see you through many a difficult moment in your life!

so of course, with such a history together, i set about today making a cupcake in tribute to the very yummy, and very more-ish, Terry's Chocolate Orange. it is a clever creation, because it comes wrapped up in foil like an orange, packaged nicely in a box. when you take the chocolate orange out of the box, you are met with the instruction to 'whack and unwrap' - which of course you do with delight (or frustration depending on ones mood) and when you unwrap, each little chocolate orange segment delicately falls away and nestles on the foil waiting to be devoured. so perfect - no peeling, no seeds - just delightful chocolate orange!

so what did i come up with...well, i started with a chocolate orange cupcake that incorporated delicious dark couverture chocolate as well as orange juice and rind. this was then topped with a hint of orange buttercream icing and topped with a lovely segment of chocolate orange! final result...so good. there was a nice richness to the cupcake and the hint of orange buttercream was just enough so as not to overpower the overall taste of the cupcake...and the chocolate orange segment, well one is left in a quandry as to whether to eat it first or save it last. such are the tough decisions of the day!

and what might Terry say?...one can only hope he feels honoured and pleased and continues to grace our planet with his little chocolate orange delights!

the recipe....

Chocolate Orange Cupcake

2½ oz semi sweet chocolate - coarsely chopped
1 tsp orange rind, grated
2/3 c. orange juice
3½ oz butter - softened
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2/3 c. self raising flour
2 tbsp cocoa powder
1/3 c. almond meal

1 Pre-heat the oven.
2 Line a 12 cupcake pan, with cupcake papers.
3 Place the chocolate, orange rind and juice in a small saucepan.
4 Stir over a low heat until melted and smooth.
5 Put the butter, sugar and eggs in a bowl and beat with electric beaters until fluffy.
6 Sift the flour and cocoa into the butter mix. Add the almond meal and chocolate mix.
7 Mix until just combined.
8 Divide the mixture evenly between the cake cases.
9 Bake for about 25 minutes - until firm to touch.
10 Allow to cool for a few minutes and then transfer to a wire rack.
Makes 12 cakes.

A hint of orange buttercream icing

4 oz butter
2 c. icing sugar
¼ c. orange juice

cream butter until light and fluffy.
slowly add icing sugar, alternating with orange juice until preferred consistency is reached.
colour accordingly.
pipe and decorate.