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SPICED CARROT AND ORANGE CAKE



    Had some friends coming over last week for tea and that’s enough reason for you to whip up something so decadent and delicious. Made Spiced Orange and Carrot Walnut Cake with zesty cream cheese frosting... I make this often as carrot cake is a family favorite. Its zesty fluffy dreamy cream cheese frosting pairs just right to cut through the sweetness of carrot cake.


    It certainly is a crowd pleaser dessert which goes so well whether you serve it for tea or as a dessert...it’s super delicious!! I topped it up with basil shoot and leaves which are blooming beautifully in my garden.


    The cake plate I used is a mystery...I must admit, I bought it few years back, but somehow I wasn’t very convinced with my purchase and it was hiding behind in my crockery cupboard, pulled it out and thought of using it the other day...and to my surprise it just looked an absolute stunner. So so happy that I chose this to present my cake...what do you say??

    SERVES: 16-20 servings

    PREP TIME: 20 minutes

    BAKING TIME: 30 minutes



    INGREDIENTS

    • 175g unsalted butter, room temperature

    • 1 cup soft brown sugar, firmly packed

    • 3 eggs

    • 1 naval orange, zested and juiced (1/3 cup)

    • 2 medium carrots, washed peeled and grated

    • 2 cups self-raising flour

    • 1/2 tsp baking soda

    • 1/2 tsp baking powder

    • 1/2 tsp salt

    • 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder

    • 1/4 tsp nutmeg, freshly grated

    • 1 cup walnuts, chopped

    Cream Cheese Frosting:

    • 4 oz/125g cream cheese (full fat), room temperature

    • 95g butter salted, room temperature

    • 1/2 cup icing sugar

    • 1/2 tsp vanilla essence

    • Zest of 1 orange

    For Garnish:

    • 6-8 Dehydrated orange circles

    • 6-8 walnut halves

    • 5-6 Fresh basil leaves



    MET

    1. Preheat oven to 180°C, grease and prepare the 9” ring pan with butter.

    2. In an electric mixer bowl, beat butter, sugar and zest together with paddle attachment until it’s light and creamy in texture, add eggs one at a time and beat them for 2 minutes.

    3. Add orange juice and mix for another minute, don’t worry if the mixture curdles.

    4. Remove bowl from machine.In a separate bowl, sift together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon powder and nutmeg; now add these dry ingredients to the butter mixture in two batches and fold with spatula to combine well and make lump-free batter.

    5. Fold carrots and walnuts in batter until well combined, and take care not to over mix it.

    6. Pour the batter in greased and prepared pan, bake it in pre-heated oven for 25-30 minutes or until the the skewer comes out clean. Leave it in pan for 10 minutes, remove on cooling rack to cool cpmpletely.

    To Make Frosting:

    1. In an electric mixer bowl, whisk the cream cheese for a minute till it’s smooth and creamy; add butter and whisk for 2-3 minutes until the butter and cream cheese are smooth and fluffy in texture.

    2. Add sugar, vanilla and zest, blend for another 1-2 minutes until well combined and has thick spreadable consistency.

    3. Spread the frosting on the cooled cake and decorate with extra chopped walnuts, dried orange slices and basil leaves.

    4. Let it set in the fridge for 20-30 minutes and serve.


    COOK'S NOTES:

    • Remove the cake out of the mould or baking pan after leaving it to cool for 10 minutes in the pan. If you remove immediately, it will break and if you leave it too long in pan, the cake will sweat and will have a soggy crust.

    • The cake should be completely cooled before frosting it.


    ROASTED CAULIFLOWER, ALMOND AND FRESH TURMERIC SOUP



      Do you love soups like I do? I actually love having soups in my dinners most days. Not only during winter months, soups are quite a regular meal in my house. My husband and I enjoy soups in our dinners with a light salad or sometimes a crusty bread to go along.


      This creamy roasted cauliflower soup is so comforting and full of nutrition. It’s quite a flavorful soup made with wholesome ingredients, all plant-based and gluten-free. Roasting the cauliflower gives that extra flavor to this hearty soup.


      To make it very creamy while keeping it vegan friendly, all you need is soaked up almonds blitzed to a purée, this adds that luscious creaminess without adding any cream to it.


      Adding fresh turmeric to the soup gave that extra nutrition and slight hint of earthy fresh note to this soul food.


      Roasted garlic is also added to balance the colic produced from cauliflower.


      I can’t wait to share my recipe which will definitely add on to your list of favorites. Happy souping day!


      SERVES: 4

      PREP TIME: 15 minutes

      COOKING TIME: 15 minutes

      BAKING TIME: 25 minutes

      PASSIVE TIME: 6 to 12 hours



      INGREDIENTS


      For Soup:

      • 1 medium sized / 700g cauliflower head, sliced 0.5 cm thick

      • 1 garlic pod, whole

      • 1 medium onion, chopped

      • 1” piece fresh turmeric root

      • 1/2 cup almonds, soaked and peeled

      • 1/2 cup water

      • 3 1/2 cups almond milk

      • 2 cups vegetable stock

      • 2 tsp lemon juice

      • 3 1/2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

      • 1 tsp sea salt


      For Garnish:

      • 2 fat cloves of garlic, thinly sliced

      • 1 spring onion, sliced

      • 3 tsp extra virgin olive oil

      • 1 tbsp toasted almond slices

      • 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

      • Few small roasted cauliflower slices, reserved


      METHOD

      1. Preheat oven at 220° C.

      2. Tip the sliced cauliflower in a rimmed large baking tray, drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil and toss it to coat lightly. Sprinkle 1/2 tsp salt on top. Spread cauliflower in single layer.

      3. Trim about 1/4 inch off from the head of garlic pod and expose the tops of garlic cloves. Place the pod along with cauliflower in the baking tray. Drizzle half tbsp of olive oil over exposed surface of garlic.

      4. Place the baking tray in hot oven and bake for about 25 minutes or until cauliflower is tender and roasted.

      5. Once cooled slightly, squeeze out the garlic cloves from the skin. Reserve few small cauliflower slices aside for garnishing.

      6. In a small grinder, tip almonds and water and grind them to a fine paste.

      7. In a large saucepan, warm remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil, add onions and sauté for 2-3 minutes until translucent.

      8. Add the roasted cauliflower, garlic and grated fresh turmeric and salt, sauté for a minute. Add almond paste, almond milk and vegetable stock to the cauliflower, stir to mix.

      9. Bring to boil, cover with lid and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove and add lemon juice.

      10. Let cool slightly for 3-4 minutes, blend with hand blender or in a blender jar to make smooth and creamy textured soup. Season with some extra salt if required.


      To Make Garnishing:

      1. Warm 1 teaspoon of oil in a small pan, add sliced garlic, roast for a minute until light golden in color and remove from pan.

      2. Now ladle the soup in serving bowls, garnish with reserved cauliflower slices, roasted garlic slices, spring onion and almond slices.

      3. Drizzle 1/2 tsp olive oil and a pinch of black pepper.



      COOK'S NOTES:

      • If you can't get hold of the vegetable stock, add a heaped tablespoon or a knob of vegetable stock mixed with 2 cups of hot water instead.

      • For a non-vegan alternative, vegetable stock can be replaced with chicken stock instead. A dash of butter can also be added for an extra flavour.



      FALAFEL



        These falafels are my take on traditional falafel recipes which are naturally vegan, gluten-free and vegetarian friendly. My introduction to these Middle Eastern appetizers were first done 22 years back in Australia, when an Iraqi friend opened up her restaurant and showed me how to cook this most delicious comforting appetizer.


        Moving into the Middle East developed my love for these gorgeous crispy green balls even more.


        These falafels are best made with dried and soaked chickpeas, not canned. Canned chickpeas go mushy and would be soggy in texture. These are a good source of vegetarian protein traditionally served with a dipping sauce called ‘tahini’ made with sesame paste, garlic and lemon which makes the best combo served either in pita pockets or wraps with fresh salad.


        If you are watching your diet and counting on your calorie intake, these can be easily made in air fryer or baked in the oven too. For your convenience, I have shared the recipe of how to and bake and air fry them in the tips.

        YIELDS: 25 pieces

        PREP TIME: 10 minutes

        COOKING TIME: 15-20 minutes

        PASSIVE TIME: 6 hours to overnight



        INGREDIENTS

        • 1 cup chickpeas

        • 1/2 tsp baking soda

        • 1/2 tsp baking powder

        • 1/2 tbsp plain flour

        • 1 tsp cumin powder

        • 1 tsp coriander powder

        • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper or chilli powder

        • 1 small onion, chopped

        • 4 cloves garlic

        • 3-4 tbsp of parsley, chopped

        • 1/2 tsp sesame seeds

        • Salt to taste

        • Oil for frying



        METHOD

        1. Soak chickpeas overnight or for 6 to 8 hours; drain and put in food processor.

        2. Add all other ingredients except sesame seeds and baking soda; blend to make coarse paste. Now add sesame seeds, baking soda and powder.

        3. With the help of falafel instrument or ice-cream scoop, shape them in thick disks or flat balls and deep fry in medium hot oil for 2 to 3 minutes each side until golden brown.

        4. Serve as it is with tahina sauce or make pita pockets with salad and tahina.



        COOK'S NOTES:

        • Falafels are best cooked with soaked chickpeas. Do not use canned chickpeas to make falafels as they will go mushy.

        • If you are conscious about your calorie intake you can make baked falafels in the oven or air fry them.

        • In the Oven: Bake the falafel balls at 200°C for 18-20 minutes, flip and bake for another 15 minutes.

        • In the Air Fryer: Spray the falafel balls with non-stick cooking spray or oil and bake them at 180°C for 20-22 minutes.


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