Citrus Shortcake

Bake this lightly sweetened, sturdy cake-style shortcake in a square pan to use for both weekend desserts. You'll only need 7 of the squares, so freeze the remaining 2 for another use (or go ahead and pack them; consider them secret snacks for the cook), This recipe goes with Brandied Peach Shortcakes, Mixed Berry Trifle

Yield: 9 servings (serving size: 1 square)

3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon grated orange rind
1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
4.5 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1 cup)
2 tablespoons yellow cornmeal
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup low-fat buttermilk
Cooking spray

1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. Place sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended (about 5 minutes). Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add rind and juice; beat well. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour and next 4 ingredients (through salt), stirring well with a whisk. Add flour mixture and buttermilk alternately to butter mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture; mix after each addition.

3. Spoon batter into a 9-inch square metal baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan 10 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.

4. Cut shortcake into 9 squares. Reserve 4 squares for Brandied Peach Shortcakes and 3 squares for Mixed Berry Trifles; freeze remaining 2 squares for another use.

CALORIES 195 ; FAT 6.5g (sat 3.7g,mono 1.7g,poly 0.4g); CHOLESTEROL 61mg; CALCIUM 52mg; CARBOHYDRATE 30.8g; SODIUM 248mg; PROTEIN 3.8g; FIBER 0.5g; IRON 1mg

Cooking Light, AUGUST 2010