You may have noticed the cake appears to be upside down. It’s not.  I like the hard crunchy bit to remain on top. It’s my favorite part.

Everybody has a super power.

Mine is, I’m a believer.

I believe in everybody, and I believe pretty much everything everyone tells me. Atleast once.

Many might say this is not an extraordinary trait.  Certainly not one to be proud of. In fact, on many occasions I have been called GULLABLE.

Which I am not.

I just choose to believe that we are all here for love and peace, generally, and that people basically tell the truth.

EVEN vacuum cleaner sales people.

I know, your shaking your head at me.  I can feel it through the screen.  I can hear your words. I can sense your stares. But, I have a good reason why . . . . . I actually let one into my house.

1 week ago.

“Warwick,” I say, looking completely disgusted as I notice he’s wearing his shoes on the carpet.  “We are going to have to get these carpets cleaned PROFESSIONALLY.  I’m too tired to do it, and I’m sick of looking at them in this state.”

Warwick stares back blankly.

The following day.

The doorbell rings, and its some random lady. I’m guessing she’s selling something. I don’t know what makes me open the door, but I do.  I tilt my head, raise my eyebrow and give her the “What do you want?” look.

“I’m not here to sell you anything, I promise,” she blurts out. “It’s just that we are opening a new Kirby store in the neighborhood and we want to offer 15 free carpet shampoos to promote our new store that opens next week, in the shopping center next to Kroger.”

Now, I know what you’re thinking.  She’s lying. 

But me, with my super power is thinking, why would she be lying?  I’ll know if there’s no new store.  Sounds like a smart way to advertize. Plus. Plus, plus, plus.  I just mentioned to Warwick that we needed our carpets cleaned.  I’m sure this is just God filling my order.

So she comes in, assesses the areas, and promises to be back in 30 minutes with the carpet cleaning guys.

*it needs to be said here, that I would have never, never, never let strange people into my house had my husband not been home. This is quite unusual for me. But as I said, I thought maybe God was filling an order.

45 minutes later.

2 salesmen show up.  Kirby sales men. Dressed in slacks, button down shirts, and ties.  They don’t look like carpet cleaners.  But what do I know, maybe its comfortable to clean dirt and grit with the circulation in your neck cut off.

“Look,” I say. “IT’S THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS, I’m not buying a vacuum.  I just want my carpet cleaned.”

“Okay, okay. No problem.  You don’t have to buy a vacuum cleaner. We promise to make your carpets look new, no matter what.”

One of the salesmen leaves.  Promising to return later.

4 1/2 hours later.

That joker is still in my house.  My carpets are clean, but I don’t think he’s really convinced that I’m not going to buy a $2500 vacuum.

Maybe my salesman is defective. He keeps cleaning, and cleaning and won’t stop. I don’t think this can be a cost effective sales scheme.

I whisper to my mother that I’m about to kick him out, and she says she thinks he’s still here because they forgot to pick him up.  I tell him its time for him to go as he’s shining his vacuum cleaner. I’m not kidding. He was shining it like a shoe.

Slowly he gets his stuff.  He washes his hands. He takes the stairs like he’s crippled. He carries one tool at a time down the stairs. Finally, he’s out the door.

15 minutes later.  5 hours after he first stepped through my door.

He’s still standing in my driveway.  They forgot to pick that poor fella up.

On the upside.  My carpets are now clean.  My stairs are glowing.

Kinda strange how super powers work.  Not the way, you would intend say if you purchased them from a store.  I mean, you’d think I’d be able to see if people were telling the truth with my believability power. But actually, the believablity thing really works to get you free stuff.

It’s also good for making friends, turning your children into dreamers, and pretty much making your life rosier.

It also aids in seeing gifts that God sends to you in unexpected ways.

Oh, and if your worried about that poor sales guy.  He finally got picked up (30 minutes later).  Maybe he’ll think twice about running around with fibbers next time.

 –  – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –  – – – – – – –

 I have another super power.

It’s “Being able to Know Good Food”.

That’s a mouthful. Literally.

I can spot a good piece of grocery from a mile away.  And this one my friends, is about as good as it gets.

It uses seasonal oranges, at their peek here in H-town.  My mother – in – law has a tree.
Mixed with a traditional southern pound cake recipe.
This cake is gonna be one of your all time favorites.

It’ll make your dreams come true.
It’ll whiten your carpets.
It’ll make you not even care that you gained 4 1/2 pounds over Christmas break.

Yes, it can do all of that and more.
That’s why I’m naming it . . . . . . . .

MY FAVORITE NEW CAKE OF 2010.  Or 2011.
(I was supposed to write about this last week, but I kind got sidetracked losing a day with the Kirby people.)

Try it. You’ll love it.

Happy New Year!

Orange Pound Cake with Fresh Orange Sauce
adapted from Christmas with Southern Living

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons orange extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Powdered Sugar
Fresh Orange Syrup

Fresh Orange Syrup:

1/3 cups fresh orange juice
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon butter
1 1/3 cups fresh orange sections, about 5 oranges
Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour one 10″ bundt pan.

1. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer until creamy. About 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating only until the yellow disappears.
2. In another bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt.  Add to butter mixture alternating with buttermilk. You should begin and end with the flour mixture. Beat with electric mixture after each addition to insure that ingredients are incorporated. 
3.Stir in orange extract and vanilla.
4. Pour batter into a 10″ greased and floured bundt cake pan.
5. Bake for 55 minutes or until wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
6.Cool on wire rack for 15 minutes. Invert, and remove from pan, and cool on wire rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve with warm Fresh Orange Sauce.
7. While the cake is baking, make the glaze. To make the glaze, combine orange juice, sugar, and butter into a large nonaluminum skillet. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Stir constantly until sugar is completely dissolved. Simmer the mixture on medium/medium low heat until the mixture is reduced to 1 cup, about 15 minutes. Stir often. Remove from heat. Let cool slightly. If using immediately, stir in orange sections. Otherwise, cover and chill. Just before serving warm and gently stir in orange sections. Mixture keeps well in the refrigerator.