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On a mission to make the best apple cake I can!

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While spending time in Victoria, I discovered a delicious apple cake at a coffee shop called the Nest. Now that I’m home, I’m trying to find a recipe that comes close.

This one turned out very good – and is a little lighter than the Nest cake which is not a bad thing! I also had some zucchini that I wanted to use up. Next time I make this, I think I will use a full teaspoon of cloves, and maybe add a half teaspoon of ground ginger.

cake with piece missing
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Zucchini Apple Spice Cake

Course Dessert
Keyword baking, cake, zucchini
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Servings 12

Ingredients

  • 2 c zucchini peeled and grated (I used one large zucchini)
  • 2 c Granny Smith apple peeled and grated (I used 2 apples)
  • 2 c light brown sugar
  • 2 each large eggs
  • 2 c all-purpose flour
  • 3 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp ground cloves
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 c vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 c walnuts toasted and coarsely crushed
  • 1 each Macintosh apple (optional) peeled, cored, and thinly sliced into wedges

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

  2. Lightly oil and flour baking dish.

  3. Peel, core and grate Granny Smith apples, and also peel and grate zucchini. Should have 2 cups of each.

  4. In large mixing bowl, beat eggs and sugar until smooth.

  5. Slowly add oil to sugar and egg mixture while mixing thoroughly.

  6. Add remaining dry ingredients (spices, salt, baking soda and flour).

  7. Mix grated apple and zucchini into mixture.

  8. Add nuts and mix into batter.

  9. Pour batter into baking dish. Gently evenly spread batter.

  10. Arrange apple slices as desired onto top of batter.

  11. Bake for 45 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.

  12. Server warm or cooled, and enjoy!

Zucchini Walnut Lasagna

Zucchini Walnut Lasagna

Food, Recipes, ,
Zucchini Walnut Lasagna
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Zucchini Walnut Lasagna

A Keto-friendly, vegetarian lasagna
Course Main Course
Keyword Keto
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients

  • 1 can tomato paste
  • 1 can diced tomatoes drained
  • 1 white onion finely diced
  • 2 carrots shredded
  • 3 cups mushrooms chopped
  • 2 large zucchinis
  • 1 cup toasted walnuts chopped in blender
  • 2 tsp thyme dried
  • 2 tsp oregana dried
  • 4 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 2 tsp sea salt
  • 2 tsp black pepper med-coarse grind
  • 750 g ricotta
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg ground
  • 2 cups chopped spinach
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
  • 1/2 cup parmesan reggiano grated
  • 10 grape tomatoes sliced
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves

Instructions

Prepare Zucchini

  • Slice zucchini lengthwise into 1/8" – 3/16" thick slices.  Lightly salt & pepper both sides of each slice. Let sit for a few minutes then dry slices with a paper towel.
  • Lightly oil a cookie sheet, or line sheet with a silicon cooking mat, and arrange zucchini slices in a single layer.
  • Setting oven rack so that cookie sheet will be 6 inches or so from broiler.
  • Broil on high for 5 minutes, remove from oven, flip slices and pat dry, then return to oven for an additional 3 minutes.
  • Line a cooling rack with paper towel, and place zucchini slices on it.  Repeat these steps until all slices have been broiled, and set aside.

Prepare Ricotta

  • Mix ricotta, 1/3 of the chopped spinach, and nutmeg in a medium size bowl.  You can add a little salt & pepper if you like.  Set aside.  (I intended to add an eqq to this as well but forgot – the lasagna turned out fine without it.)

Prepare Sauce

  • In one skillet, add a couple tablespoons of olive oil, and saute the onions and shredded carrot until translucent. 
  • In a larger, deep skillet, heat up two tablespoons of olive oil, and 1 tablespoon of butter, and fry the chopped mushrooms along with the thyme.
  • When mushrooms are turning golden, clear a space in the pan and add the tomato sauce, dried basil and oregano. and stir well.
  • When the tomato paste starts to deepen in color, add the drained tomatoes, and the sauteed onion and carrots, and toasted walnuts.  Stir well.
  • The sauce is ready when most of any liquid has evaporated.  Remove from heat and set aside.

Assembly

  • Set cooking rack to middle of the oven, and preheat to 350 degrees.
  • Lightly oil a 9 x 13 baking dish.
  • Put a very thin layer of sauce across the bottom of the dish.
  • Arrange one layer of zucchini slices
  • Spread one third of the sauce over the zucchini, followed by one third of the ricotta mixture followed by one third of the remaining chopped spinach.
  • Repeat the previous 2 steps.
  • Spread the shredded mozzarella, followed by the grated parmesan.
  • Arrange sliced tomatoes and fresh basil leaves over top.
  • Place lasagna into oven, and bake for 30 minutes, or until top starts to turn golden around edges.
  • Remove from oven when ready, and let cool for 15 minutes before cutting and serving.

Home Made Beef Pho

Recipes, , ,
Home Made Beef Pho
Recipe Type: Vietnamese
Author: ATK
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 8 cups beef stock
  • 6 cups water
  • 1 1/2 lb ground beef
  • 2 medium yellow onions, peeled and quartered – divided use
  • 5″ ginger piece sliced thinly – no need to peel
  • 6 star anise pods
  • 10 whole cloves
  • 4″ stick of cinnamon
  • 12 black peppercorns
  • 1 Kaffir Lime leaf
  • 1/2 cup fish sauce (divided use)
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp plain sugar
  • 1 lb thin rice noodles, soaked in hot water and then quickly boiled
  • 1 bunch cilantro
  • 3 scallions, green parts only, cut on the bias
  • 12 oz rib eye meat, very thinly sliced – easier done if frozen a bit before.
  • 1 jalapeno pepper sliced thinly, maintaining seeds and ribs
  • 5 oz bean sprouts
  • additional fish sauce (to taste)
  • 1 bunch Thai (or in a pinch regular) basil
  • 2 or 3 tbsp srirarcha (to taste)
  • Lime wedges from 2 limes
Instructions
  1. Place the ground beef into a large dutch oven and barely cover with water. Bring to the boil over high heat, turn heat down and simmer for a further 2-3 minutes. Strain off and discard the water (and associated scum). Rinse the beef, clean the dutch oven and return the ground beef to the dutch oven. Add the onion, aromatics, fish sauce, salt and sugar to the pot, followed by the beef stock and water. Stir to combine as well as possible. Bring to the boil and then simmer for at least 45 minutes.
  2. Strain the beef and other solids reserving the liquid. Discard the solids. Strain the broth again, this time through cheese cloth until clear.
  3. Soften the noodles in warm water for about 10-15 minutes, then boil them for 1 minute.
  4. Layer the noodles, some thinly sliced onion (from the remaining quarter), the scallion tops, cilantro and beef into preheated soup bowls. Fill the bowls with steaming hot broth
  5. Serve accompanied by sliced jalapenos, basil, srirarcha, fish sauce and lime wedges.