It’s finally beginning to feel like spring around here, we had a pretty nice weekend and Monday is supposed to get up to 85 degrees!! That’s really going to be quite a shock to our systems after the weather we have had, but let’s not sound ungrateful, it could be snowing again….sighI do love the fact that it’s not getting dark until later, that means I can start taking some images with real light, not daylight bulbs! What a difference available light makes, as my friend Adam Barnes mentioned in his wonderful guest post last week. If you missed it, please take a few minutes and check it out. Adam will be running a series of photography posts over at Picture-Perfect Meals, so stop by and subscribe to his blog, you don’t want to miss them!It’s so funny how much work we put into posts, I don’t think any of us really realized just how time consuming and how much work blogging was going to be, I certainly didn’t. The other thing they don’t tell you is just how addictive it becomes, and how easy it is to be driven. We love our food, we love to talk about food, and we love to take pictures of food…..sigh…..it’s a good life! I see so many wonderful blogs out there, with so many incredibly talented bloggers, and photographers, what a great community we have, and its an honor to be part of it!
Last week I made one of the best chocolate cakes I ever had with my olive oil chocolate cake recipe
it was part of the recipe swap that Christiana from Burwell General Store holds monthly. If you would like to come have some fun with us, send Christiana an email and get on our list!
Since the chocolate olive oil cake turned out so well, I decided to try my hand at an Orange-Rosemary Olive Oil Cake. One of my culinary students that is interning at one of the best restaurants in Philly, mentioned that they make one there, so it got me thinking.
I didn’t want to just follow the same recipe I had for the chocolate cake, I thought that this time around I would add a few more ingredients to my cake, It turned out pretty well for the first go around. It had a nice dense crumb, and managed to stay moist. The fragrance while baking was intoxicating and the subtle flavors in the cake really blended well together. It’s not an overly sweet cake, and it probably won’t please everyone, but this is about trying new things and enjoying new flavors, so give it a try if your looking for a new cake to make. It will go great with an espresso, or even a nice hearty glass of red wine.
Orange-Rosemary Olive Oil Cake
1 ½ cups all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
3 large eggs
6 oz Greek Yogurt
¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon finely chopped rosemary
zest of one large orange
3-4 stands saffron (optional)
Preheat oven to 350
Mix all of your dry ingredients together in one bowl and mix well
Mix all of the other ingredients in another bowl blending them all together, then add to dry ingredients.
Mix just enough to blend them all together, do not over mix that will make the cake tough.
I did use a little saffron in the recipe to help give the cake some added color, but it almost hid the flavor of the rosemary, so next time around I will be leaving it out.
pour your finished batter into a prepared pan (9″ round) and bake for 20-25 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
You should have a nice dark color to the top of the cake, adding just a little crust.
Marina {Yummy Mummy} says
Yay, another olive oil cake! This cake sounds fantastic and has me missing Tuscany.
Joy says
That looks lovely.
Boulder Locavore says
I'm so intrigued with olive oil cake! Now I've read two of yours and I think it's a sign I need to try a gluten free variety. Thank you for introducing these cakes and the unique flavors! Clever man.
Healthy Mamma says
Hi Dennis! I really enjoy your blog. Your writing is very friendly and relatable {does that sound like a book editor..?} 😉
anyway. Your posts always hit home with me. I was not only thinking today about the crazy amount of time it takes to blog; extra cooking/prepping/styling. The food getting cold before I can actually eat it, writing the posts. Re-writing the posts. And as you mentioned, the dreaded lighting issue. *sigh I do l.o.v.e. it. What's a girl to do? We are crazy people. 😉
Oh, the recipe. I have been seeing a lot of olive oil cakes and am deeple intrigued. I'm not a big chocolate sorta girl *gasp!
but this orange and rosemary cake sounds positively fantastic!
In fact, I'm sitting here sniffing my rosemary through my kitchen windows as we speak! I'm making this Tomorow! (love the Greek yoguhrt)
Jennifer-Adventuresome Kitchen says
Nice cake! The crumb looks lovely- and I like that you snuck a little greek yogurt in! You go for the greek yogurt the way I go for the buttermilk! Orange and rosemary are a great combination- I think the citrus can stand up to the strength of the rosemary! Great recipe and have an awesome week!
A SPICY PERSPECTIVE says
The chocolate olive oil cake was a shocker, but this is the olive oil cake I know and love. I'm still going to have to try the other one! 😉
Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes says
I'll bet this is one moist cake! I love orange, and rosemary and I never thought of marrying the two together!
I've really enjoyed my time blogging, I've been at it for 9 mos. now and looking forward to my blogversary in July!
If you need a little break, please stop by for a snack when you have a moment!
Have a great week!
Coral says
I love Rosemerry aroma….Never tried Olive oil in cake …. Love this recipe
The Harried Cook says
Looks and sounds delicious! 🙂 Orange and rosemary is a great combination! Thanks for sharing… 🙂
Betty @ scrambled hen fruit says
Delicious cake- love the flavors of orange and rosemary! 🙂
Jennifurla says
Intriguing recipe and I do happen to have about 6 8ft high rosemary bushes.
Charlie @ SweetSaltySpicy says
I certainly didn't expect blogging to be this time consuming! But I'd never go without blogging now ;).
This cake sounds SO good! Love the flavors :).
chefpandita.com says
This cake looks amazing 🙂 I've recently started baking with olive oil and I love it. Will def try this cake soon! Thanks for sharing.
Lisa {Authentic Suburban Gourmet } says
Chef Dennis: I completely agree with you about the blogging community and how addictive blogging can be along with being extremely rewarding. Your Orange-Rosemary Olive Oil Cake sounds absolutley DIVINE! Have a great week ahead!
Heather Nolan says
This looks lovely! It is on my to-try list 🙂