I felt challenged today so researched for a recipe using . . . broccoli . . . but not as a vegetable or savory side dish but in a cake! I have made cakes with tomato, with garbanzo beans, carrots and thought about how one with broccoli would turn out.
I actually found a couple of recipe but ended up putting together my own version and as I type, it is baking in the oven so I can't give you a final verdict on the experiment yet!
Broccoli-Carrot Cake
8 ounces steamed and pureed carrots (can use baby food, too)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup finely shredded carrots
1/3 cup finely shredded raw broccoli
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup ground walnuts
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Zest and juice of two limes
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 large egg
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Vegetable oil spray a round 8 x 1 1/2-inch cake pan or whatever works for you.
Put all the ingredient in a large mixing bowl and with a wooden spoon thoroughly mix until just blended. Spread into prepared pan and bake for approximately 25-30 minutes.
My cake just exited the oven and it smell very good and looks pretty with the bits of orange and green peeking through the golden crust. The cake isn't light but it rose enough to be tender. I'll have to get the final verdict from my panel of 'experts' as in family! My daughter is on a health kick and downing all kinds of green drinks so she should be game to try my low-fat 'vegetable' cake.
Okay, 'ages' isn't that long for a human but it sure goes fast in a kitten's life. I discovered pictures of Marcela from her youth to just yesterday. Also rediscovered pictures of her brother and sister. As an update, the orange cat is living happily in a mobile home in San Diego and treats said mobile home as his jungle gym. The gray cat is as sedate as she was as a kitten and rightfully resides in a convent.
I just finished a baby blanket for a friend. I usually make quilts for newborns and sort of went a different route this time . . . except I made the baby a quilt, too! I enjoyed working the middle pattern and then went off on my own 'designs' for the border and finished off with a picot stitch to form the triangular edging.
It was payday so we splurged and got fresh Mozzarella for our cheese pizza on Friday. For other toppings, I seared some baby peppers and garlic. Some of the last fresh tomatoes from my husband's garden were called into play for the sauce which was used fresh with the addition of a couple spoonfuls of pesto. The presentation met with favorable reviews from my food critics and one of my children even waited around for the second pizza to exit the oven for an extra piece. Amazing . . . I was in a hurry the next day and ate a sliver of pizza cold and it was still very good.
