Carob Snack Cake with Tahini Maple Frosting

I made a snack cake and did so for a couple reasons. The first reason is cake and the mr loves him some snack cake so you know. Secondly is what else is there to do when you are basically suck inside because it is so cold that if you leave the house for more then15 minutes you are risking frost bite. (Ok so I have been going for my morning runs in the -20 degrees but that is different because I am running and getting relay hot. Once I come back I stay back.) It only makes sense to have the oven going for both reasons and who doesn’t want to get down with baked goods all winter.

Flavor wise, this snack cake is carob, not chocolate, although it looks like it. If you have never eaten carob it tastes somewhat chocolaty but way more fruity, less bitter, more sweet, more nutty. It is just really good. And it pairs really well with maple and tahini so that is the frosting situation. A cake of good flavors that is easy to throw together and you get to enjoy the residual heat from the oven…It is a no brainer. Basically what I am saying it that you should be making this cake. It only makes sense.

Now to the snack cake!

The stuff. Carob powder, flour, baking powder and soda, salt, oil, boiling water, vanilla extract, sugar, vinegar , tahini, and maple syrup.

Make the cake batter. Mix dry ingredients into a big bowl then in a separate bowl mix the oil, sugar, carob, vanilla. vinegar and boiling water together until completely incorporated. Dump the wet mixture into the dry and mix until incorporated.

Pour batter into a well greased and lined cake pan and pop into the oven to bake.

And baked it gets. Pop it out of the cake pan and place on wire rack to cool.

Now make maple tahini frosting. Just wish the two ingredients together with a fork and a splash or two of hot water until completely combined and creamy like frosting.

And frost cooled cake.

And for good measure add a sprinkle of sea solt and some sprinkles because why not.

And now you eat it because that is why you made the cake.

-c

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Carob Snack Cake with tahini Maple Frosting

makes one 10 inch round

• 1 1/2 all purple flour

• 1/2 cup carob powder

• 3/4 cup white sugar

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 cup oil

• 1 cup boiling water

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• 1/4 cup tahini

• 3 teaspoons maple syrup

• sea salt and sprinkles (optional)

Preheat oven to 375.

Grab a big mixing bowl and add in the flour, baking soda and powder, and salt and mix together. In separate bowl mix the carob, sugar, vanilla, vinegar, oil, and boil water together until completely incorporated and the sugar and carob start to dissolve. Pour wet mixture into dry and whisk until just incorporated. Pour batter into a well greased and parchment lined 10 inch round baking pan. (or a pan of similar size)

Place cake into oven and bake for 25-28 minutes , checking at 25 with a cake tester to see if it comes out clean.

Once baked, remove from oven, let cool for a minute in the pan, then pop out and finish cooling it on a wire rack.

To make the maple tahini frosting simply take the two ingredients and whisk them together with a tablespoon of hot water in a bowl with a fork until creamy. If the mixture seems to thick, add in another splash of hot water. The consistency should be a bit thinner then actually frosting, more like a thick glaze.

Once cake has cool frost it. Sprinkle top with a pinch of sea salt and add some sprinkles, if you want.

Then eat.

Left overs can be stored in airtight container for 5-7 days at room temperature.

Sweet and Spicy Trail Mix

The other morning I made a big patch of trail mix. Basically for the mr for when we go camping, but that didn’t stop him from eating some, not camping, but watching tv. So you see trail mix is not just for the trail! HA

A big batch of snack for any snack related needs. This trail mix is a mixture of Chex and Cherrios, pretzels, walnuts and seeds, and dried cranberries all seasoned up with some maple and smokey and spicy chili. Sweet, savory, crispy, deliciousness. What else can you ask for when snacking on a trail mix? Nothing.

To the trail mix!

The stuff. A big ass bowl of cereal. I used Cherrios, and wheat and rice Chex. Also have pretzels. walnuts, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, maple suyrup, chili powder, melted vegan butter, and salt.

Mix together the melted butter, maple, an chili powder.

Drizzle the wet mixture all over the cereal and nuts (not the cranberries) and toss until evenly coated.

Dump the mixture onto a lined baking sheet and spread it out evenly and sprinkle with salt. Pop into hot oven and bake for 3ish minutes, removing and toss after 15. After 30 minutes, keep in oven but turn oven off and crack door. Let mixture cool in oven for 15 more minutes.

And once you pull it from the oven, toss in the cranberries .

That is it.

Now it is time for you to trail mix it up.

-C

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Sweet and Spicy Trail Mix

makes about 10 cups ( a good amount to share or have on hand for a week)

• 5 cups plain Chex cereal (wheat (if not gluten free) rice, and or corn)

• 2 cups plain Cherrios

• 2 cups pretzels (any shape will do and use gluten free if you need to)

• 1 cup raw walnuts

• 1/2 cup sunflower seeds

• 1 cup dried cranberries

• 1/3 cup real maple syrup

• 1 tablespoon chili powder

• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne powder (Optional. Adds a little more heat)

• 2 tablespoon vegan butter melted

• 1-2 teaspoons flakey sea salt

Preheat oven to 325.

In a large bowl, mix together all the cereals, the pretzels, the walnuts and sunflower seeds. In a smaller bowl mix together the melted butter, maple, and chili powder. Drizzle the wet mixture all over the cereal mixture and toss with a spatula until everything is evenly coated. Dump and evenly disputemixture onto a lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt.

Place mix into preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes, carefully removing from the oven at 15 minutes and mixing it around. At 30 minutes, keep in oven but turn heat off. Crack oven door and let mixture cool for another 15 minutes then remove and let cool completely. Once cooled, toss in the cranberries.

Eat however much you want and then store the rest on a airtight container. Should be good and crisp for a week.

Savory Carrot Dill Waffle Iron Fritters with Creamy Maple Mustard

The other day I went to grab the cookie cutters out of the pantry and had to move the waffle iron out of the way. That is basically the only reason I used the waffle iron. And just like every single time I grab it out to use, I wonder to my self why the hell I don’t use it more. Maybe it’s time to move the waffle iron to a bette spot in the pantry.

So anyway these carrot waffled fritters. Theyare so so so freaking good! I could barely stop eating them before I got a chance to take a couple pictures. So simple, yet so satisfying. Carrot and dill are such a great combo and when made into a crispy fritter situation with chickpea flour and dipped into with the maple mustard. WOW! I was going to make most of this batch for the mr for dinner but I ended up eating more then half (so I ended up making him a waffled sandwich too).

I think these carrot dill waffle fritters might just be the reason the waffle iron gets a new spot in the pantry. Heck I might even leave it out for while because I am definitely making another batch (or 3 of these before I put it away)

Now to the carrots waffle fritters!

The stuff. Carrots, a small onion, dried dill and garlic powder, chickpea flour, water, salt and pepper, maple syrup, brown mustard, vegan yogurt, and a little oil.

Maple, mustard, and vegan yogurt get mixed together and that is that. Set aside.

Shred carrots and onion into a bowl. Add in the chickpea flower, spices, a pinch of salt and pepper, and a bit of water and mix until evenly incorporated.

Ready to go

Lighy oil hot waffle iron and scoop a portion of the batter in. CLose iron and cook until the top and bottom are browned and crispy. (Use your iron settings but also check to see how the iron is cooking)

Crispy and brown and smelling so good. Remove form iron.

Fritters can go straight to plates or on a rack… Whatever you want.

But eat them. Dip or cover them in the maple mustard sauce (it is so good!) and be happy.

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Savory Carrot Dill Waffle Iron Fritters with Creamy Maple Mustard

serves 1-3

• 3-4 carrots ( 2 1/2 to 3 cups shredded)

• 1 small onion

• 3/4 cup chickpea flour

• 1 1/2 easpoon dried dill

• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

• salt and pepper

• 1/3 to 1/2 cup warm water

• 1 tablespoon REAL maple syrup

• 1 1/2 tablespoons brown mustard

• 1/3 cup plant based plain yogurt

• tablespoon or so of high heat oil

Preheat waffle iron.

Mix maple, mustard, and vegan yogurt together in a small bowl and set aside.

Shred carrots into a large bowl until you have 2 1/2 to 3 cups of shedded carrot. Then shred the onion into bowl as well. Mix around then add in a pinch of salt and pepper, the dill, garlic powder, and chickpea flour.Mix tighter with lesser amount of water until everything is completely incorporated. Add a bit more water if the mixture is still dry.

To make the waffle fritters , lightly oil the iron and add a large scoop of the batter to the iron while it is hot then close and cook until the fritters are browned and crispy. Once cooked to you liking, remove the waffled fritters and place on a plate or rack and continue with the rest of the batter until it is gone.

Serve right away or warm and serve with the creamy maple mustard. Dip it in or scoop it on… It’s all good!

Fenugreek Ginger Tea

Besides begin a coffee addict, I am also a super big tea drinker. At least 1, if not like 3 cups a day. And when I say cups, I mean a 32oz ball jar of steaming hot water with a tea bag of some sort in it. And sure, I will use the same bag twice or leave in an old bag and add a new bag. Or with loose leaf, I’ll end up just eventually swallowing it all. What can I tell ya. That’s my truth. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Anyway, tea. I have a shit ton. Bags and loose leaf, but sometimes what I would call "conventional tea flavors” do not sing my fancy. That is when I will dig around in my spice jars and pull stuff out to make or add to a tea.

Fenugreek. A seed. A great tasting seed. I usually use it in my chilis and curry dishes, but lately, I have also been brewing it up with (and without) fresh ginger to drink because it is fantastic. Ginger of course is spicy and earthy, but fenugreek, while also being really earthy, also has a sweetness to it and tastes kind of like real maple syrup. Now doesn’t that sound great? That’s because it is great.

So if you are feeling a little something different and tasty and maybe just so happened to have some fenugreek in the old spice cabinet, give this tea a try. A perfect for and cosy drink for cold winter afternoon.

To the tea!

The stuff. Water, fenugreek, fresh ginger, and an orange.

Dump water into a pot and add in fenugreek seeds. Place on the stove and bring to a boil, then turn the heat to low and simmer.

Cut up the fresh ginger into small chunks and take a few ribbons of peel from the orange.

After the fenugreek has had a 5 minute head start in the water, add in the ginger and orange and keep simmering for another 5 to 10 minutes. (longer time for stronger tea)

A tea decoction.

Strain the tea into cups, squeeze in a little fresh orange juice, and go curl up o the couch.

It’s tea time.

-C

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Fenugreek Ginger Tea

makes 2 cups of tea

• 2 teaspoons fenugreek seeds

• 1 inch chunk of fresh ginger

• an orange (optional)

• 4 cups water

Place water and fenugreek seeds in a pot and place on stove. Bring to a boil then turn heat down to simmer for about 5 minutes. Cut up ginger into small chunks and peel a few ribbons of orange zest and place into pot. Continue to simmer for another 5-10 minutes (longer for stronger tea). When you are ready to drink, strain into cups, squeeze in a little fresh orange juice, and drink.

Acorn Squash Spice Cake With Maple Frosting and Walnuts

I have been making at least one cake, if not 3, a week for the past month. Last week I did not have a cake that I needed.to make, so what did I do? I made a cake.

I might have an alternative motive here, I have started my winter squash stash, and already it is looking pretty impressive. I have delicata, acorn, kombucha, and sugar pumpkins littered all over the house. As of now I think I have a count of about 27. Some came fro the garden, some from (and still coming, all winter long) from farm share, and some came from when they went on sale at the grocery store and I filled the shopping cart up. The cashier checking me out thought I was crazy, but I get that a lot. (Like when I buy 20 heard os cabbage.. it’s like I scare them) The alternative motive is that some of the squashes don’t have the shelf life of some of the others so I need to get on to eating the ones that don’t last as long, like the delicata and pumpkins, which I am doing, gladly might I add. So while I am eating those, I figured I would use up an acorn squash for cake because well, I don’t want to have a million acorn squash laying around and I am just too busy eating the pumpkins to get the acorn. And this is why I made an acorn squash cake.

What does acorn squash cake tase like? Basically like pumpkin cake. Every time I make any sweet thing with any squash other then pumpkin, no one really seems to notice the difference, but that is not to say there isn't one. I would say that acorn has a slightly sweeter and nutter flavor then pumpkin so you might get a more flavorful flavor out of an acorn squash. And really, if you like pumpkin, your gonna like the acorn. And people love them some maple frosting so smothering that along with walnuts on this cake, well I know made some people really really happy.

That’s the real reason why I made this cake. To make some people happy. Jeeze, I am just so nice. Ha HA!

The stuff. A roasted acorn squash. flour, baking soda and baking powder, spices of cinnamon, ginger and a pinch of nutmeg, salt, oil, soy milk, brown sugar, white sugar, and a little apple cider vinegar.

Start by pureeing your squash If you haven’t already which basically involved removing seeds and skin (save seeds to rest, eat skin, it delicious) and blending the squash until smooth.

You are now ready to cake. Add squash puree and oil into bowl with the sugars and mix until completely combined. Whisk together all the dry ingredients then add in the sugar, squash, oil mixture to the wet along with the milk and apple cider vinegar. Mix until just combined then stop mixing so you don’t over mix.

Batter then gets poured evenly into two greased and lined cake pans.

And into the oven they go.

Golden brown and smelling all nice and cozy. A tester in the middle making sure that they are cooked completely.

Cakes get popped out of pans and and placed on a rack to cool completely. In the mean time, make the frosting. Powdered sugar, salt, vegan butter, maple syrup, and maybe a splash of soy milk (you might or might not need it). And don’t forget the walnuts.

Sugar, salt, butter, and maple get beaten together until creamy and smooth.

Toasted walnuts get chopped into bits.

And now it’s cake assembly time. Place one completely cooled layer on a cake plate and spread half the frosting on top. Sprinkle with half the chopped nuts. Place second layer on, spread rest of frosting on top, and sprinkle with the rest of the nut.

And done.

Now eat.

Enjoy the fall weekend and all the squash.

-C

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Acorn Squash Spice Cake With Maple Frosting and Walnuts

makes and 8 inch 2 layer cake

For the Cake

• 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

• 1/2 cup white sugar

• 1/2 cup brown sugar

• 1/3 cup neutral oil

• 2 cups acorn squash puree*

• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 tablespoon cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon ginger

• pinch of nutmeg

• 1 1/2 cups plant milk (I used soy)

• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

  For the frosting

• 3 cups powdered sugar

• 1/2 cup earth balance or any vegan butter

• 1/2 cup real maple syrup

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1-2 teaspoons plant milk (if needed)

• 1 cup toasted walnuts

Note. For acorn squash puree. roast an acorn squash by place entire squash into oven at 425 degree for about 1/2 hour or until fork tender. Once cooked, cut in half, let cool a few minutes, then scoop out all the seeds. Remove skin and blend the squash until smooth.

Preheat oven to 350

Place brown and white sugar into bowl along with the oil and squash puree. Mix until completely incorporated. In a larger bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda and powder, salt, and spices. Pour wet mixture into dry almond with the soy milk and apple cider vinegar. Mix until just completely incorporated then stop to prevent over mixing.

Grease and parchment line two 8 inch cake pans. Pour batter evenly between pans then place into oven for 30-35 minutes or until Depp golden brown and a tester stuck into middle of cakes comes out clean. When it’s done, remove from oven, let cook a few minutes, then remove from cake pans. Place on a wire rack o cool completely.

While cake is cooling, make the frosting. Beat together the powdered sugar, salt, maple, and earth balance until nice and creamy. If the frosting seems to thick, add a splash of milk, to thin, add a 1/4 cup more of powdered sugar.

Chop walnuts into small bits if they are not already.

Once cakes are completely cooled, assemble. Place first layer on cake plate and spread 1/2 the frosting onto first layer and sprinkle on half of the chopped walnuts. Place on second layer, spread the rest of the frosting on top, and sprinkle on the rest of the nut. And that is it. Now you just need to eat it.

Store any left overs in for a day on the counter, but any longer place in an airtight container in the fridge. I even froze a few pieces and the mr loved them frozen to if you like frozen cake…..