Grapefruit Cornmeal Cake

Cake

• 12 tablespoons butter, melted & cooled
  
• 1 1/2 cups flour
  
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  
• 1/2 cup cornmeal
  
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
  
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
  
• 3 large eggs
  
• 1 tablespoon finely grated grapefruit zest
  
• 1/4 cup fresh grapefruit juice
  

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9 inch cake pan.
2. Whisk together dry ingredients.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, zest and juice. Slowly whisk in the butter.
4. Slowly add the butter mixture to the dry ingredients, whisking until well blended.
5. Smooth batter into prepped cake pan. Bake for about 40 minutes, or until tester comes our clean.
6. Cool cake in pan for 10 minutes. Invert onto rack, flip right side up and cool on rack for another 30 minutes before glazing.
7. Notes: A medium grind cornmeal gives the best texture. I use the fantastic organic, heirloom "Bloody Butcher" cornmeal from Happy Belly Farms. As with a pound cake, the butter flavor is pronounced, so I use the best quality I can fine. Currently, I'm partial to hand-rolled Amish-style butter. A bigger pan can be used, adjusting baking time downward.

Glaze

• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
  
• 1/4 cup fresh grapefruit juice
  
• 1/4 cup poppy seeds
  

1. Whisk the 3 ingredients until smooth. Pour/smooth over the warm cake. Let glaze set, about 30 minutes.
2. Note: Use a baking sheet under the rack to catch the copious glaze run-off. Or, glaze the cake directly on a rimmed serving plate - less pretty, but more delicious glaze can then pool on the plate.