Because today would be a great day to make a really decadent orange cake

My theory:
Cake with fruit, comprised of fruit, or sitting next to fruit is healthy and should be baked and consumed as soon as possible.

Little history about this recipe:
This was the blue ribbon winning recipe from the Plaquemines Parish Orange Festival. I don't know the year of the festival but it was given to me at least 10 years ago.

First Place
Mrs. Doris LeBouef

Orange Ribbon Cake
1 ½ cups sugar
½ cup butter
2 tbsp grated orange rind
2 ¼ cups sifted all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
½ cup water
½ cup orange juice
4 stiffly beaten egg whites
1 oz yellow food coloring

In a large mixer, cream together sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add orange rind. Sift together flour, baking powder, soda and salt. Combine water and orange juice; add to creamed mixture alternately with dry ingredients, beating well after each addition. Fold in egg whites.

Divide batter in half. To one half add yellow food coloring. Pour each half of batter into two greased and floured 8-inch round layer-cake pans. Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 25 – 30 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched with fingertips.

Cool 5 minutes; remove from pans. When cool, split layers and spread Orange Filling (see below) between layers, alternating yellow and orange colored layers. Frost top and sides with Orange Butter Cream Frosting (see below).

Orange Filling
½ cup sugar
2 tbsp cornstarch
1 ½ tsp grated orange rind
¼ tsp salt
¾ cup orange juice
¼ cup water
2 slightly beaten egg yolks
2 tbsp butter

In a saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch, grated orange rind, and salt. Gradually blend in orange juice, water and eggs. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and bubbles. Remove from heat; stir in butter until melted. Cool.

Orange Butter Cream Frosting
6 tbsp butter
4 ½ cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
1 tbsp grated orange rind
Dash salt
6 tbsp orange juice

In a small mixing bowl, cream butter, sugar, orange rind, salt and orange juice. Beat until smooth and creamy.