orange cake anyone?

So, I decided to try some new cakes with the oranges today.  They are the sweetest smelling oranges ever.  DD2 says they're the best oranges she's ever had!  Go Nanny!!

The first one is - 

ORANGE POPPY SEED SYRUP CAKE

1/3 cup poppy seeds

1/4 cup milk

185g butter, softened

1 tblspn finely grated orange rind

1 cup caster sugar

3 eggs

1 1/2 cups self-raising flour

1/2 cup plain flour

1/2 cup almond meal

1/2 cup orange juice

Orange Syrup:

1 cup caster sugar

2/3 cup orange juice

1/3 cup water

Preheat oven to moderate (180C/160C fan-forced).  Grease a deep 22cm round cake pan; line base and side with baking paper.

Combine seeds and milk in a small bowl; let stand for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, beat butter, rind and sugar in a small bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy.  Add eggs one at a time, beating until just combined after each addition.  Transfer mixture to large bowl; using a wooden spoon, stir in flours, almond meal, juice and poppy-see mixture.

Spread mixture into prepared pan; bake for about 1 hour.  Stand cake in pan for 5 minutes before turning onto a wire rack over oven tray.

Make orange syrup.

Turn cake top-side up; pour hot syrup over hot cake.  

Orange Syrup - Using wooden spoon, stir combined ingredients in a small saucepan over heat, without boiling, until sugar dissolves.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, without stirring, for 2 minutes.  Pour syrup into a heatproof jug.

You don't have to do the syrup thing, I tell you, it smelt mighty fine when it came out of the oven, I could have just tucked right into it!!

I was just about to start the next one when my neighbour called and asked me if I'd like to go for a walk.  I said yes, thinking I don't really have time for this.  I'm so glad I did.  It was such a beautiful day and I really enjoyed our walk and talk, she is such a lovely lady.  They have only been next door for about six months and are living in their shed before building a house; just as we did.

Ok, the next one I found comes from a section in my cookbook that is 'One-Bowl Cakes'.  Its great, throw everything in at once, give it a whizz and into the oven, here it is - 

ORANGE DATE CAKE

125gm butter

2 tspns finely grated orange rind

3/4 cup caster sugar

2 eggs

1 cup self-raising flour

1/2 cup plain flour

1/3 cup orange juice

1 cup coarsely chopped dates

Preheat oven to moderate (180C/160C fan-forced).  Grease a 20cm ring pan; line base with baking paper.

Beat butter, rind, sugar, eggs, sifted flours and orange juice in small bowl with electric mixer on low speed until combined.  Increase speed to medium; beat 2 minutes or until mixture changes in colour and is smooth.  Stir in dates.

Spread mixture into prepared pan; bake for about 40 minutes.  Stand cake in pan for 2 minutes, before turning on to wire rack to cool.

We didn't get to try this one yet.  The Poppy Seed cake we had a nice piece of after dinner.  Oh, it was sooo good.  If I could've I would fit in two pieces, but I was stuffed!!

Hope you're all having a lovely weekend :)