The Lush Chef

Libations used: 1 Tbs vodka
Libations left over: Shots!
So it was the Lush Chef's birthday last week, and I actually started celebrating it when my parents came to visit during the Easter holidays.  I wanted to make a cake to go with our Easter dinner and also celebrate my day of birth, but it needed to be an easy and fast recipe.  The Kitchn recently posted this vegan (yes, vegan!) recipe for a Sticky Orange Cake with Marmalade Glaze, and my mouth immediately began watering.  I knew this would be a light, perfect pairing with something heavier like the Braised Short Ribs with Red Wine I would be making.  It took no time at all to whip up, and all the ingredients are pretty much ones you'd have around the house anyway.  The Kitchn recommended serving this with pistachio ice cream, and it's an awesome combination with the orange.  Even though we were all full from dinner, I cut us huge slices, and we proceeded to clean our plates.  I also waited for my dad to take a bite and asked him how he liked it before telling him it was vegan—it dispelled all notions of vegan baked goods being dry.  We all agreed we'd make this cake again in a heartbeat, and my parents plan on baking it for some friends that have a vegan daughter.  I actually ended up having this for breakfast the next day.  Happy Birthday to me!



Sticky Orange Cake with Vodka & Marmalade Glaze - serves 8-12
Ingredients for the Cake:

• 3 cups flour
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar, lightly packed
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 orange, zested
• 2 cups orange juice
• 2/3 cup vegetable oil
• 2 Tbs apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp vanilla

Ingredients for the Glaze:

• 1/4 cup orange marmalade
• 1 Tbs vodka

To make the cake:
- Preheat the oven to 350.
- Lightly grease two 9-inch round cake pans.
- Line the bottoms with parchment paper and lightly grease the paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix the flour, sugars, baking soda, salt and orange zest until thoroughly combined (crumble the brown sugar with your fingers if there are any clumps).
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the orange juice, vegetable oil, vinegar and vanilla.
- Quickly whisk in the wet ingredients into the dry until thoroughly combined.
- Pour the batter in the prepared cake pans and bake for 30-35 minutes.
- Let the cakes cool for 20 minutes in the pans, then remove onto cooling racks.

To make the glaze:
- In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, stir together the marmalade and vodka for about 5 minutes, or until the glaze is bubbling and hot.
- Using a slotted spoon, lift out the solid orange peels from the marmalade and set them aside in a small bowl.
- Place one cake layer on a cake plate and pierce the top with a toothpick several times.
- Pour half of the glaze onto the cake and spread evenly.
- Place the second layer of cake on top and spread the remainder of the glaze.
- Spoon the orange peel on top of the cake and serve warm.