The Duality of Citrus Cake

Light as a cloud.
Dense as a London fog.
Can it be both?
Yes it can.
Why?
Let me tell you...

Pogue Colonel: Marine, what is that button on your body armor?

Private Joker: A peace symbol, sir.

Pogue Colonel: Where'd you get it?

Private Joker: I don't remember, sir.

Pogue Colonel: What is that you've got written on your helmet?

Private Joker: "Born to Kill", sir.

Pogue Colonel: You write "Born to Kill" on your helmet and you wear a peace button. What's that supposed to be, some kind of sick joke?

Private Joker: No, sir.

Pogue Colonel: You'd better get your head and your ass wired together, or I will take a giant shit on you.

Private Joker: Yes, sir.

Pogue Colonel: Now answer my question or you'll be standing tall before the man.

Private Joker: I think I was trying to suggest something about the duality of man, sir.

Pogue Colonel: The what?

Private Joker: The duality of man. The Jungian thing, sir.

Pogue Colonel: Whose side are you on, son?

Private Joker: Our side, sir.

Pogue Colonel: Don't you love your country?

Private Joker: Yes, sir.

Pogue Colonel: Then how about getting with the program? Why don't you jump on the team and come on in for the big win?

Private Joker: Yes, sir.

- Full Metal Jacket -

RECIPE

(adapted from Cakes to Celebrate Love and Life by Maritz and Guy)
("Our Gran's Famous Orange Cake", pg. 123)

INGREDIENTS:

• 185 grams (6.6 ounces) unsalted Butter (NB: at room temperature)
• 280 grams (9.9 ounces) gluten-free all-purpose Flour (e.g. Nature's Choice Cake Flour)
• 200 grams (7.1 ounces/a whole cup) Sugar
• 125 ml (4.2 fl. ounces/a half cup) full-cream Milk
• 3 large eggs (NB: at room temperature)
• 45 ml (1.5 fl. ounces/3 tablespoons) Orange Juice
• 2.5 ml (a half teaspoon) Orange Zest (finely grated)
• 5ml (a whole teaspoon) gluten-free Baking Powder
• 1.25 ml (a quarter teaspoon) Salt

METHOD:

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius (175 to be safe...that's approx. 347 Fahrenheit).
2. Grease and flour a bundt cake pan, or grease and line 2 x 18cm (2 x 7 inch) round cake pans.
3. Beat the sugar and room-temp butter together till light and fluffy.
4. Mix in the room-temp eggs and milk.
5. Add in the rest of the ingredients and mix until there are no visible lumps.
6. Pour the batter into the bundt cake pan, or divide it equally between the two round pans.
7. Bake on the centre oven rack for 18 - 25 mins (bundt cake pan) or 20 - 30 minutes (round cake pans). The times vary greatly depending on the size of the cake tin you use, and your individual oven, so here are the signs to look for that the cakes are done: (a) a cake skewer inserted comes out clean; and (b) the centre of the cake springs back when pressed lightly.
8. Let the cake cool for 10 minutes in the pans before turning out.
9. Citrus cake for the win! And then onto frosting...

Milk Chocolate Ganache

I'm not a fan of buttercream frostings, so zesty ganache it shall be (and not death by tray...)

• Spare the Ina jokes, but get yourself a GOOD bar of gluten-free milk chocolate (100 grams = 3.5 ounces). 
• Melt it over low heat (or in the microwave) with a tablespoon or two of cream (depending on desired thickness).
• Frost the cakes and then sprinkle with grated orange zest.
• Serves 8 generously.