Honey Pecan Cake

Directions

1. Heat the oven to 350. Butter or spray a 9" round pan then line it with parchment. Place it on a baking sheet. Trust me.
2. Melt 2 tbs butter, 1/4 c honey and a pinch of salt together. Pour this mixture into the pan then sprinkle in 1 cup of pecans. You can be OCD and flip them all the same way. Or not.
3. Grind the remaining pecans into flour thusly: http://food52.com/blog/9162-how-to-make-your-own-nut-flours-without-making-nut-butter
4. Whisk the dry ingredients (including the ground pecans but except the sugar)together. Whisk the egg whites until peaks form.
5. Beat the butter and sugar together in a bowl large enough to hold everything until it is light and fluffy. Beat in the egg yolk, then the honey, vanilla, and buttermilk. Now stir in the dry ingredients, then gently fold in the egg white, deflating as little as possible. Gently spoon the batter into the pan - if you start at the edges the pecans are less likely to run up the edges.
6. Bake for 35-40 minutes until a tester comes out clean. Cool for a few minutes then flip onto your serving platter. Admire. This cake is great same day and also pretty darn good for breakfast the next morning.
7. Just a note - you are going to think that your cake pan and baking sheet are completely destroyed by burnt honey. They aren't. Just soak them a bit and they will clean right up!