Drunken Cake

Rum Syrup
2 large eggs
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons grated orange peel
1/4 cup butter, melted
Orange segments (optional)
Mint sprigs

Prepare Rum Syrup; set aside.

Beat eggs and sugar until thick and lemon-colored. Add flour,, baking powder, orange peel and butter. Beat until well blended. Spread batter in a greased, floured 9-inch cake pan with a removable rim. Bake at 375 degrees F until cake just begins to pull away from sides of pan and center springs back when lightly pressed (about 20 minutes).

Set warm cake in pan on a rack; set rack over a plate to catch any drips. Pierce cake all over with a fork. Slowly pour Rum Syrup over cake; let cool. Just before serving, remove pan rim; garnish cake with orange segments, if desired, and mint sprigs. Makes 8 servings.

Rum Syrup
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 tablespoons light or dark rum
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a small pan, mix sugar, orange peel, orange juice, lemon peel, lemon juice and cinnamon. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil, stirring, just until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool, then stir in rum and vanilla extract.