What Grace has been baking/listening to in Isolation.
Hello SWOP family and friends,
I truly hope everyone is keeping safe and sane throughout this wacky time.
Like many of you, pandemic life has brought about much reflection on my most treasured moments with special people.
It seems surreal to remember food with friends, like passing a warm slice of cake with my bare fingers or feeding someone a dipped corn chip while their hands are full. Pre-Covid-19 life meant heaps of this for me, I’ll never forget the chorus of “mmmmm”s or closed eyes when you share something truly delicious with a loved one.
Something I have taken great pleasure in during isolation is having ample time for cooking all of my favorite things and trying out a bunch of new recipes.
Baking for me is a beautiful relief from the madness, I love to play my favourite songs and have a dance or hula hoop break while said baked goods are in the oven.
I can’t wait to share again with friends in the future.
Until then, here’s a few of my fave fruity ones to bake at the moment and some special isolation themed songs to listen to while you make them.
Tahini & Banana Loaf
90g butter, melted
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 x egg
3 x Tbsp smooth tahini paste
3 x ripe bananas, mashed
1 1/2 cups self raising flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 xTbsp sesame seeds
Method
Preheat the oven to 180°C. whisk together the melted butter, sugar then thoroughly whisk in the egg, tahini, vanilla and bananas until combined. Stir through the flour and baking soda then pour into a baking paper lined loaf tin. Sprinkle over the tahini seeds and Transfer to the oven for about 45-50 mins or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
Once baked, allow to cool for 5 minutes before cutting a slice, extra trasty still warm with a bit of butter & a cup of tea.
Note: I usually make all of these cakes gluten free by substituting the flour/ baking powder with GF alternatives.
Coconut Passionfruit Cake
175g butter
1 cup caster sugar
3 x eggs
1/2 cup yogurt (greek or coconut)
1 cup self raising flour
1 cup desiccated coconut
1 tsp baking powder
pulp of 2 x passionfruit
Method
Preheat the oven to 170°C. Whip together the butter, sugar, eggs and yogurt until combined. Stir through the dry ingredients and the passionfruit, pour into a lined tin and bake in the oven at 170°C for about 40 mins or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
Enjoy while warm with a big dollop of yogurt on top.
Orange & Almond Cake
2 x oranges, washed & chopped
125 g butter
1 cup caster sugar
5 x eggs
2 cups almond meal
1/2 cup self raising flour
2 Tsp baking powder
Preheat the oven to 180°C.
Method
Simmer the oranges in some water for about 10mins or until soft, remove the seeds, drain the water & blitz in the food processor until smooth.
Whisk together the butter, sugar and eggs then stir through the almond meal, flour and baking powder, then fold through the oranges. Pour into a lined tin and bake for about 60mins or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
This one tastes perfect by itself however for a special touch make a little syrup by simmering the juice of an orange, with some zest a little water and sugar. Spoon some of this over when you serve a big slice to a loved one. :)
Stay safe,
Grace xx