Orange Oatmeal Cornmeal Breakfast Cake

Think cornbread, then think breakfast. I know the name of this cake is long but it has so many good things in it, I didn't want to leave any of the items out! This is a very yummy breakfast cake, not a bread, one that has oats, fruit, cornmeal and oatmeal. It's a welcome addition to any lunchbox, and perfect for a mid-morning snack with coffee or tea. Having the cornmeal and oatmeal in it, as well as the fresh fruits makes you feel a little less guilty about eating more than one square! The cake becomes more moist with each passing day so I keep it in an airtight container, refrigerated. It warms up well in the microwave. The cake combines the elements of an upside down cake in that I put the sliced plums at the bottom. Other combinations can include Peaches/Raspberries, Apples/sliced banana, and the list could go on and on. Just make it with fruits that you like.....you wont regret it!

Ingredients

3/4 cup (6 oz.) salted butter, softened + 2 tablespoons

1 cup granulated sugar

¼ cup brown sugar

4 large eggs

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup yellow cornmeal

½ cup oatmeal

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon kosher salt

3/4 cup sour cream

1 boiled orange prepared as outlined below

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups blackberries

1        red plum, sliced

1 whole orange

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F.

1.      Line the bottom of a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch pan with parchment paper.

2.      Whisk together the flour, cornmeal, oatmeal. baking powder, soda, and salt in a medium bowl.

3.      Wash the whole orange carefully. Trim about 1⁄2" from the tops and bottoms of oranges. Cover with water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Drain. Repeat boiling process twice more with fresh water. Again, cover the orange with cold water.  Bring the water to a rolling boil, lower the heat, and simmer with the cover on for about 1- 1 1/2 hours. Don’t try to rush this part as the prolonged boiling minimizes the bitterness of the skin and pith. Tip: I used a pressure cooker to do this in 30 minutes. Remove from heat but don’t flash cool, let it cool naturally until the pressure has dropped, and it is safe to open. Allow the orange to cool. The orange is “cooked” when the rind gives easily when pierced with a fork. Puree everything in a small blender. This step can be done the day before and the puree kept in the fridge until ready to use.

4.      Mix the two tablespoons butter, brown sugar and sliced plums in a small saucepan. Bring to a slow boil and simmer until the plums are soft. Spread this mixture at the bottom of the baking tin.

5.      Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes, stopping to scrape sides of bowl as needed. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the crushed, boiled orange.

6.      Whisk together the sour cream, and vanilla in a separate bowl. Add flour mixture to butter mixture alternating with sour cream mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition.  Pour batter into baking tin and press the blackberries into the batter.

7.      Bake in preheated oven until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 55 minutes to 1 hour and 5 minutes. Cool on a wire rack 20 minutes before inverting. Cut into squares, and serve warm or at room temperature.