Corey's Oatmeal Cake

This is an excellent winter cake - but this one is for my ma - in the states!

Corey's Oatmeal Cake:

2c Oats
3c boiling water
combine and set aside

2c sugar (I use 1 1/2 raw)
2c br sugar (I use Coconut Palm Sugar)
1c butter
cream and set aside

4 eggs
1T vanilla
combine and add to sugar mix

3c plain flour
2t bicarb
1T cinnamon
1t salt

mix all ingredients together well and pour into a 12" greased round springform tin.

Bake 180C or 350F for 40-50 minutes - test centre.

Meanwhile - topping:

2c Coconut
2c Nuts (walnuts/pecans etc)
2c br sugar
1c butter
8T cream
bring to boil 2 minutes.  Pour over a cooked cake and brown in oven till bubbly.

I won't bother putting the nutritional information here - except that it will all go directly to your thighs - no exceptions - no amount of running can burn a slice of this one off, so be sure when you make it you are sharing the majority of it!

xx

Sourdough - my new favourite book!

I have a love/hate relationship with sourdough.

Firstly I love it -I love the pants off it for so many reasons...  its easier to digest, it's treating grains the way that they are meant to be treated by fermenting, it tastes absolutely delicious,
oh I could go on...

Secondly I hate it - because it is usually wheat flour (in all the recipes anyway...) and I don't tolerate wheat very well - it makes me grumpy and gives me the farts -- what's worse than an uber grumpy gaseous pregnant lady? not much.  And it's damn hard to perfect in your own kitchen.  I've had a go and we were blessed with many very heavy doorstops.

Well my friends - I am sharing with you a loaf of Spelt Almond Bread from
Yoke Mardewi's super excellent book
Sourdough - From Pastries to Gluten Free Wholegrain Breads

It is a comprehensive book all about sourdough and it uses alternative flours.  Hoo-rah! 

 

:: all things allowing butter should be slathered so that there are teeth marks left on it,
in case you did not know. ::
Butter is not evil. Processed and refined foods are evil.
more on that later...

Inside this container holds beautiful bacterial sourdough starter. If you've ever attempted and failed with sourdough, or if you have always wanted to try it - get yourself a copy of this book. It's truly my new favourite on the kitchen shelf.
Right next to Sally Fallon's Nourishing Traditions and Nigella's Feast.


What are your favourite cookbooks? Can you choose just one?

Winter is upon us

...not a bad haul for my first attempt at growing sweet potato, eh?
There's heaps of little ones that I left in for next year's crop.  Couldn't believe the big ones that I pulled! 

This is a cake from a little cafe that used to be in Chico (California) named "Corey's" - this is their Oatmeal Cake.  I made it using Spelt porridge and it has the most wicked topping made with walnuts, coconut, brown sugar and butter. I've filled 2 containers full of slices for lunchboxes and we've all enjoyed a warm piece after lunch too. Mmm. This is a cake best stashed away in the freezer me thinks - it is very more-ish.

 

 

and these pictures are from my little overnight getaway with my darling friend Liz - at the Park Hyatt.  The architecture is astounding.  It is modern art deco and mimics parts of the body.  Twas a wonderful outing!

 

 

Oh Melbourne - how I love to be cradled in your charm and character and coffee!

Third Trimester now - Baby in just over 3 months!