Fig & Minneola Tangelo Cake #LitHappens #FoodieReads

I was inspired to post this after reading our March #LitHappens selection: After Oz by Gordon McAlpine.

While #LitHappens isn't a cook-from-the-book kinda book group, I can almost always find some kitchen inspiration in anything I read or watch. Wendy of A Day in the Life on the Farm picked this book and I loved it. I had it downloaded on my kindle and was able to lounge on a sunny rock during several days when we hiked or snowshoed out into the Sierras.

On the Page

This is a dark retelling of the Wizard of Oz story. It's set in Kansas in 1896 when Dorothy Gale, an eleven-year-old girl disappears during a tornado with her little dog, Toto. Days later they are found, unharmed, in a pumpkin patch and she tells a fanciful tale of being in the vibrant, colorful land of Oz. But, then, she tells the story of tossing water at a wicked witch which melts her; and a local misanthrope is found "melted" having had lye thrown at her face. It turns out Dorothy is named in the woman's will and gets everything.

The stories are too close for the townspeople and they rally together to accuse Dorothy of murder and have her committed to a mental institution. A female doctor from another state hears of this case and comes to determine if Dorothy did, in fact, commit murder.

I will leave it at that. I couldn't put this book down - well, except to spend time with both of my kids during their Spring break - but it's fair to say that this was a page-turner for me!

There wasn't a whole lot of food on the pages. Cherry pie made an appearance several times. Dorothy was found in a pumpkin patch. But what sent me into the kitchen was this passage...

Isaiah 38:21 states, ‘Let them take a cake of figs and apply it to the boil that he may recover.’ Now, that’s biblical. That’s the word of the Lord. But if that isn’t also a medical prescription, then I don’t know what is. So you see, I’m not opposed to your work, Doctor.

It was supposed to show that the Reverend was open minded. But the entire town and congregation felt anything but. In any case, I ran into the kitchen to whip up one of my favorite fig cakes. And, no, I have never applied it to a boil. Ha.

Fig & Minneola Tangelo Cake

Ingredients

makes two six-inch cakes

Cakes

• 1 cup dried figs (mine were very moist so I didn't soak them) plus three more

• 1-1/2 cups flour

• 3/4 cup granulated sugar

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 cup olive oil (my favorite is arbequina for baking)

• 1/2 cup milk

• 2 eggs

• 2 teaspoons zest from organic minneola tangelos (use whatever citrus you have, but make sure it's organic)

• 1/2 teaspoon Fiori di Sicilia extract (or you can use 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract)

• Also needed butter, parchment paper, two 6-inch baking pans, wire rack

Glaze

• 1/2 cup organic powdered sugar

• 2 Tablespoons freshly squeezed juice from the minneola tangelos

• 1 Tablespoon butter

• Also needed: saucepan

Procedure

Cakes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line the bottom of the cake pans with parchment paper and butter the sides of the dish. Slice three figs and arrange them on the bottom of the pan which, when inverted, will become the top. Chop the remaining figs into 6 to 8 pieces each.

In a medium mixing bowl blend together the flour, sugar, and baking powder. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil, milk, eggs, extract, and zest. Gently fold in the flour mixture until everything is just moistened.

Incorporate the figs into the batter and divide between the two prepared baking pans. Place the pans on a baking sheet and place in the oven. Bake until the cake is browned, rise, and bounces back when you press on the top lightly, approximately 30 to 35 minutes.

Place the pans on a wire rack and let cool for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, invert the pans onto a wire rack, remove the parchment paper, and let cool completely. While the cakes cool, prepare the glaze.

Glaze

Whisk together the powdered sugar and citrus juice. Pour into a sauce pan and bring to a boil. Let boil for 1 minute, then remove from heat and stir in the butter.

Pour the glaze over the cake. Slice into wedges and serve immediately.

I am adding this to the March 2025 #FoodieReads Link-Up.

That's a wrap on my March #LitHappens offering. The group will be back next month with The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson. I have had that on my shelf for almost three years. I can't wait. Thanks to Amy of Amy's Cooking Adventures for picking it.