Lundi: Recipes

I'm feeling really good today, despite some family issues that have nothing to do with cancer, so I thought I would hunt around for a fabulous recipe to share. I found one, tucked in the back of one of my cookbooks, and then had the good luck to find an illustrated article about the recipe online at KCET.org. I think it's a sign. So here it is, a dessert right out of Golden Age Hollywood history: The Brown Derby's Grapefruit Cake. I know it sounds a little crazy but trust me it is a real treat!

For the cake:

1 1/2 cups cake flour
3/4 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs, separated
3 tbsps grapefruit juice
1/2 tsp grated lemon zest
1/2 tsp cream of tartar

For the frosting:

2  6 ounce packages of cream cheese at room temperature
2 tsps lemon juice
1 tsp grated lemon zest
3/4 cup confectioner's sugar
1 1 lb can grapefruit sections or fresh grapefruit segments for garnish (optional)

To make the cake, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour either one tall cake pan (two to four inch sides) or two regular cake pans (one inch sides). I like to put a parchment paper round in the bottom of the pans to make removing the cake even easier.

Sift the first four ingredients together into a large bowl. Add water, oil, egg yolks only, grapefruit juice and lemon zest. Mix until smooth.

In a separate bowl, beat egg whites with cream of tartar until eggs form very soft peaks. Add the rest of the mixed ingredients gently to egg whites and fold - don't beat. Pour this mixture into you pan(s).

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Turn pan(s) over on a rack to cool briefly, then gently remove cake, running a knife around the edge if necessary. Allow to cool thoroughly on rack.

To make the frosting, beat softened cream cheese in a medium bowl - by hand or with a mixer - until fluffy. Add lemon juice and lemon zest and combine. Stir in sugar in small batches until the mixture is smooth. Add grapefruit juice and stir to combine.

Cut a tall cake in half if necessary and spread frosting on one half. If you have grapefruit sections, place some in the frosting before topping it with the other half of the cake. Frost the entire cake completely and then artfully arrange the rest of the grapefruit wedges around the sides or in any way you please. Cut and enjoy!

This is a refreshing way to end any meal and it virtually melts in your mouth when eaten with a nice glass of sparkling wine (or two). Bon appetite ~

Header: High Society by H. Weston Taylor via American Gallery