Maple Macadamia Cake

Maple Macadamia Cake

Recipes like this just make me happy.  I spent most of the day outside today with my family and we had a late lunch of grilled turkey hot dogs around 3pm.  So once we were all back inside and dinner time was getting close, I knew that no one would want a big meal and I certainly didn't feel like cooking anything much.  But I did feel like baking and trying out an idea I had stirring around in my head using home made nut butter as the base of a recipe. Initially I had intended this cake to be chocolate, but knowing my kids would be eating it close to bedtime on a school night, I thought that something without a dose of caffeine might be better.  (Definitely plan to make a chocolate version soon as well).  So I grabbed a few ingredients out of my pantry and fridge and literally made this recipe up on the spot.  I had my husband jot down the measurements as I eyeballed everything and hoped for the best.  And my hopes were answered.  This is one of the most delicious, moist and flavorful yellow cakes I have ever made, and it is gluten free and full of super healthy macadamia nuts.  My daughter had hers with some Nutella "frosting" but it is perfect plain as well, and great for an after dinner snack or a quick breakfast. And it was all mixed together in my food processor which made clean up a breeze.  I can't say I was completely surprised by how good it came out, but I am smiling with pride, and a happy tummy,  just the same.

Chocolate Macadamia Nut Butter

Chocolate Macadamia Nut Butter

This is basically the same recipe as my chocolate walnut butter, but using creamy, buttery macadamia nuts instead. I honestly prefer the flavor of walnuts, but know that eating a variety of different protein sources is good and macadamia nuts are definitely one of a kind when it comes to flavor, texture and nutrient composition.  They contain high amounts of mono unsaturated fats, fiber, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, zinc and selenium, as well as many important B-complex vitamins such as niacin, thiamin, riboflavin and pyridoxine (vitamin B-6).  This recipe does contain a decent amount of maple syrup, so it isn't perfect, but I ate it mostly as a dessert and considering what I could have eaten instead, this is a much healthier, and ridiculously delicious, option.  I even mixed it into smoothies, oatmeal, and added it to peanut butter sandwiches for a little extra something.  I do plan on making some nut butters with considerably less sugar, so look out for those posts in the near future!!

Tropical Granola

Tropical Granola

This granola literally tastes like a tropical vacation in a bowl.  With a bit of crunch.  It is a variation on the more basic Maple Cinnamon Granola recipe I posted last week, but using coconut oil for the fat, coconut nectar for the sweetener and incorporating the tropical flavors of dried pineapple, unsweetened coconut flakes and raw macadamia nuts. The result is a very rich and hearty breakfast cereal that I would especially recommend for anyone who plans to work out post breakfast and wants something that will keep their energy levels high and their hunger at bay without feeling weighed down.  Because macadamia nuts are very soft and buttery I would not recommend roasting them along with the oat mixture (pecans and walnuts seem to withstand the roasting process a bit better).  I know that macadamia nuts can be pricey, but I found a good brand at my local store for less than $5, probably because they are completely unprocessed and have no added oil or salt.  So they are perfect for this recipe.  If possible, try to find dried pineapple with little or no added sugar as well as unsweetened, hopefully organic, coconut flakes.  The macadamia nuts alone are the nutritional all star in this recipe, with high amounts of mono unsaturated fats, fiber, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, zinc and selenium.  They also contain many important B-complex vitamins such as niacin, thiamin, riboflavin and pyridoxine (vitamin B-6).   So although you may feel like you are eating a bowl of paradise and indulging in something too good to be true, rest assured that this colorful granola is the perfect way to treat yourself at the beginning (or end) of a long, hopefully productive, day.