A QUICK HEALTHIER-THAN-MOST BUT TOOTHSOME ORANGE-SOAKED CAKE

with a salute to Mark Bittman, from whom all good things flow:

Butter a (preferably pyrex) 9x13" pan and preheat to 350.
cake:

• 1/2 cp. good olive oil
• 4 eggs, separated
• 1 cp. sugar
• 1 1/2 cps. flour
• 1/2 cp. almond flour (or almonds put in the food processor until almost powdery)
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/3 cp. orange juice - better if fresh-squeezed but not essential
• 1 tsp. grated orange peel
• a few drops fiori de sicilia flavoring - this is the secret of deliciousness!  But you could also use almond or orange oil

In an electric mixer, first beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until they hold their shape, and transfer to another bowl.  This is for efficiency's sake.  Then put in the oil and the sugar and beat a few minutes, then add the egg yolks and beat a few minutes more.  Spatule (should be a word) it all together with a spatula, and lightly pour in the flour and almond flour, the baking powder, and a pinch of salt.  Mix to combine.  Then mix in the orange juice and peel and whatever flavoring you have settled on.  (Go ahead and splurge on the fiori - you'll want to put it in so many things.)  When it's all well combined, gradually and gently fold in the beaten egg whites (remember those?) until it's all homogeneous.  Pour into the pan and even out.  Put into the oven and bake about a half hour (but check in 20 minutes) until all golden and it bounces back in the middle.  When done, put it on a rack.  Now you can make the:

glaze:

• 1/2 cp. orange juice - ditto on the fresh-squeezed
• 1 tsp. grated orange peel
• 2 cps. powdered sugar
• another few drops of the fiori de sicilia
• 2 TB rum (optional but worth it)

Just whisk all of this together until the sugar dissolves and it's smooth. After the cake is out of the oven for 10 minutes, spread this evenly over the cake - it's OK if it runs down the sides - and let it soak in.

It's not gorgeous - though it is perfectly delicious - so think about cutting it into squares and placing them on a beautiful plate to make it more festive.  Also offering to go with it: sliced oranges mixed with orange marmalade, whipped cream or creme fraiche (there goes the health part), etc.