chocolate and orange layered cake

our Christmas cake.....it tastes like an orange stick....

You've now had four days of depriving yourself because of the resolutions you made for the new year....right? You're craving chocolate like crazy. right? Digging through the cupboards contemplating eating expired chocolate sprinkles?

I've said it before, and I'll say it a million times more.....everything in moderation.

note: haha! don't use my posts over the last few weeks as a good definition of moderation....becauase  I think every other post has been some kind of dessert. But in all fairness, 1) it was the holiday season, which is all about sweets to me, and 2) most of it was being shared. most of it.

So how about you add a little footnote to that resolution, and promise yourself to exercise more--get out and move! Run, walk, ride your bike with your kids, join a gym--you can't beat an awesome group fitness class, or go check out your local yoga studio. Just do something. I'm trying to figure out a way to get myself into one of these races....which I'm pretty sure will earn me a piece of cake.

Then promise yourself to add more whole grains, fruits and veggies to you diet, start limiting the amount processed foods that you eat, and cut the fast food altogether (I'm 100% sure you don't need it), and allow yourself a treat once in a while....so you don't feel deprived.

And then promise to make yourself a layer cake every few months, just because it makes you feel fancy.

Chocolate and Orange Layered Cake

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

3/4 cup milk

1/2 c freshly squeezed orange juice

3/4 cup browned butter*

2 tsp pure orange extract

1 TBS orange zest

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2-1/4 tsp baking powder

*To brown butter:

Heat pan on medium heat.

Cut butter in to pieces and melt in pan.

Stir continuously. Butter will foam up.

After foam subsides, small brown flecks will start to appear in bottom of pan.

Continue stirring, until butter has reached a nice brown color, and nutty aroma.

When you want to lick the spoon, you know it's ready.

Turn the heat all the way down.

Preheat oven to 350°

Grease 2 round cake pans, and place a round of parchment on the bottom.

Beat sugar and eggs together until slightly thickened, about a minute.

Add milk, browned butter, orange juice, orange extract, and orange zest, stirring just until combined.

Add flour and baking powder, beating until well mixed--about a minute. Don't over mix.

Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, until tops are springy to the touch or a toothpick poked into the center comes out clean.

Allow to cool for a few minutes on cooling rack, and then remove from pans and let cool completely on rack.

Chocolate Buttercream

5oz good quality semisweet or bittersweet chocolate

8 TBS butter, at room temperature

3 cups powdered sugar

2TBS baking cocoa

1/2 tsp vanilla

4-8 TBS milk

Melt chocolate in a double boiler and allow to cool to room temperature.

Beat in butter until creamy.

Add powdered sugar and baking cocoa.

Slowly beat in milk 1TBS at a time until you reach desired consistency.

top with orange zest.

enjoy!