the cooked and the raw

This is a lovely moist cake for any time of the day. It’s definitely one of those breakfast components that gets me out of bed but I think it’s ideal to conclude a light meal, too. What I like most about this cake is the intense, unique ‘cinnamony apple’ smell that wafts through the house while the cake bakes… As usual I suggest using organic ingredients for a healthier, tastier, and more natural result… ;) 

Ingredients:

4 Golden Delicious apples, cut into chunks

1 cup wholemeal flour

1 cup ground Brazil nuts

1 tablespoon organic baking powder (I used cream of tartar)

1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder

¼ teaspoon whole sea salt

4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

6 tablespoons rice malt syrup

½ cup rice milk

Preheat oven to 180° C, lightly oil a 20 cm round cake pan and sprinkle with flour. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cinnamon, salt and baking powder. Place the olive oil, rice malt syrup and the milk in a blender and blend until combined. Add to the flour mixture and stir well. Fold in the apple chunks and the Brazil nuts and stir gently until they are incorporated into the batter (which should be rather thick). Pour the batter into the cake pan and bake for approximately 1 hour (use the wooden stick test for donness). Let cool before removing the cake from the pan. Enjoy!  

I had been thinking about hot chocolate for a very long time…until yesterday. Yes, I do have other forms of chocolate now and then…but hot chocolate is different, I can’t just have it without pondering. To me, it’s a real, fantastic treat. I always need to search for a ‘good excuse’ to have hot chocolate. Yesterday, I seriously considered to make some, as I finally convinced myself that I had not only one reason, but two! 1st, a friend was coming over and 2nd, around here, yesterday was probably the coldest day so far this winter…
My hot chocolate turned out great, velvety and glossy with a touch of cinnamon and nutmeg that made it utterly special…and since all the ingredients were organic, it couldn’t be healthier!

Ingredients (makes 2 servings):

1 cup unsweetened organic soy milk

80 g dark chocolate (mine was 85% cocoa solids and brown sugar sweetened), chopped

ground nutmeg (to taste)

ground cinnamon (to taste)

½ teaspoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon water

In a saucepan over low heat, combine the soy milk and the chocolate. Bring to a simmer and stir. When the chocolate has melted, blend cornstarch with water and slowly add to chocolate mixture. Stir constantly until you achieve the desired thickness. Remove from heat, add cinnamon and nutmeg, stir and serve.