30.9.11

may contain nuts


I often think Pinterest has a lot to answer for. I go through stages with my 'pinning' and am currently as obsessed with it as I was when I first joined this time last year. I say it has a lot to answer for because it is filled with the most wonderful possibilities for inspiration. Be it beautiful fashions to swoon over, must-have home wares, new places that need to be travelled to and much much more and all this makes me think I want it all. Then there's the food and suddenly I feel the need to cook.

My family were especially pleased yesterday, because I found a delicious recipe on Pinterest for a cake that's all but gone already yet will be made again and that's a fact. Our children have several allergies, including gluten and grains, which means puddings and cakes are not the simplest of things to provide but this one ticks all the boxes, plus it's healthy too .. not to mention delicious! I tweaked the original just a little to suit the kids, and converted the main into 'english speak'!


Carrot and Coconut Cake

300g ground almonds
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 inch piece large cinnamon stick, ground (or 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder)
50g coconut oil, melted
50g honey
1 inch piece vanilla pod, ground with a little of the coconut oil
4 medium eggs
1 medium (approx 100g) carrot, grated
1 medium (approx 200g) courgette, grated
1 medium (approx 135g) apple, grated


Vanilla Cream

100g cashews, soaked a few hours then drained/rinsed
100ml fresh apple juice
1 medjool date, pitted and roughly chopped
1/2 vanilla pod, scraped (save the remains for vanilla sugar)

Preheat the oven to 180C. Grease a 9 inch cake tin. In a large bowl combine the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl combine wet ingredients. Pour wet mixture into the dry and stir to incorporate. Pour into prepared cake tin and cook for about 50 minutes, or until a cocktail stick inserted into the centre comes out clean.

To make the cream, put all the ingredients into a fast blender and blitz till completely smooth. Smooth it on top of the cake when cold, or serve on the side. That's it!


Having extolled the benefits of cooking with coconut before, I use it in all our baking, principally because it is gluten free but also because it tastes so good and does your body a favour too!

Changing the subject, I was flattered to be contacted by be@home a couple of weeks ago, asking if they could feature me in one of their 'best of the web' articles. You can check it out here if you like and you may like to read their tips section too. There are some interesting hints to be found there!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend, the weather here is amazing.

17 comments:

  1. Your cake looks delicous. I may have to take a run up to it with my baking skills!
    xx

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  2. I am trying my hardest to resist Pinterest because I keep hearing how addictive it is and I really don't have time to fit in any more!...
    Your cake looks beautiful...I think my daughter would like to have a go at this...she is the real baker in our house
    Well done for your feature too!
    Wishing you a lovely day in this beautiful late Summer sun,
    Susan x

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  3. Mmmmm that cake does look good! Lots of good things over on Pinterest. :)
    Congrats on the feature, the Model will be looking an increase on her salary. ;)
    Happy weekend Kate,
    Vivienne x

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  4. I keep finding delicious recipes on Pinterest and then cursing them as they are in cups and I find that never turns out well. This looks delicious!

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  5. Ditto!
    I am still in love with pinterest as the first day I discovered it!
    I am trying to collect yummy recipes lately, and I might try and make this one! Sure does sound delicious!
    I also read your article and it is lovely! Congratulations!

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  6. Your cake looks scrumptious, and if it wasn't for the ferocious nuts lurking within (both my daughters have a severe nut allergy, the sort where an epipen has to be carried everywhere, and and are also allergic to gluten and wheat) I would definitly be greasing my baking tin and enjoying a morsel or two. x

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  7. Yay.....much congratulations too. x

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  8. Yes, I feel the same about Pinterest. It is my go-to place for happy thoughts! Great cake and am now off for a read - congrats and happy weekend x

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  9. Well that's cake for tea this Sunday sorted ! Congrats on the be@home feature ... very well deserved:D

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  10. Yum - to Pinterest - it has a lot to answer for.

    Happy weekend,

    Nina x

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  11. looks yum ,I will make that on on the weekend

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  12. oohh I love a bit of pinning too but have to ration myself. Coconut is also fab for making cakes moist, fab ingredient!

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  13. mmmmm gluten free cake xxx off to repin that one!

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  14. I am TRYING to resist the charms of Pinterest but failing happily ;-)

    Now feel free to chortle madly at my stupidity. Would you believe I was also contacted by be@home and I erased the mail thinking it was another hoax....

    You may well laugh at me now!!!

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  15. Looks yummy! I, too, cook without grains, sugar, or dairy, mostly for my son's sake. It's always good to find new recipes!

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  16. Yum. I'm interested that you use coconut oil. I've never cooked with it. I have spent too much time on Pinterest though and need to break the habit fast!

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There's nothing like a comment to stop me feeling like I'm talking to myself. If you leave one here I'll pop one back here too, so don't forget to come back and continue the conversation ..

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