Here’s a fruity filled beginning to 2010, a year that’s already beginning to look good. The year that we just wrapped up was filled with goodness too, ever so satisfying. The high points being blogging with friends, Food Blogger Connect, Twitter and macarons! Who would have dreamt that life would change monumentally with a microapplication called Twitter?? I’ve made breakfast club pals, macaron pals, laundry club pals, dragon pals and even snail pals!
Food blogging led to fabulous new friends, and some I was actually able to meet at the Food Blogger Connect! We exchanged gifts there, BIG TIME, and so came the idea of this absolutely delicious dessert! This is one from the heart, and is thus sweeter. It tasted so good!!
I used the praline from Pamela and cranberries from Jamie, both fine foodies and fab friends from France. As a matter of coincidence, I had apples on hand and was browsing one of my favourite French food blogs, Bea‘s La Tartine Gourmand. I just had to make this comforting cake. Bea’s blog is heart warming, just like I love it … full of connections, memories, family, food and gorgeous pictures. If you need a dose of inspiration, do head straight here! Vive la France!!
Twittering with food bloggers offered things to make life even better this year. I am delighted to have joined up for a wonderful challenge Ten in 10: ten Weeks to Healthy in 2010, the brainchild of a wonderful blogger Lori @ Recipe Girl. What is this all about?
It’s about wanting to feel healthy. Everyone has a different vision of what being healthy means. Some want to lose weight, some feel that they’re already at a comfortable weight but they would like to make a commitment to exercise, some would like to eat healthier, etc. Everyone will have their own individual goals for this healthy challenge.
Read about it here, and you can join in too.
I have penned down a few goals that I hope to work towards…(easier than putting down New Year resolutions LOL!)
- Eat healthy
- Increase vegetables in meals
- Decrease non-vegetarian options on the table to 2 days a week
- Make more stuff at home vs store bought to decrease preservatives, & my carbon footprint
- Stick to local & seasonal food
- Use more fruit in the daily diet especially for the kids
- Focus on fruit and natural sugars in dessert
I have learnt to look at food in new ways. Fruit have become a HUGE part of my baking life, and I aim to include vegetable in the roll call too. I am waiting for a recipe of brownies with sweet potato that my sister has promised to mail me. Broccoli has been won, and I have my sights set on cauliflower. I can say from recent experience, persistence pays with kids; I can see them battling their veggies less now!
Apple,Cranberry and Praline Cake
Adapted minimally from this recipe from La Tartine Gourmand
Ingredients:
3 large apples
2 oz dried cranberries (soaked in hot water for 20 min)
3 eggs
7 Tbsp butter, melted (1/2 cup)
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt (or 1/2 tsp fleur de sel)
75gm plain flour
1/3 cup + 1 Tbsp vanilla sugar (or light brown sugar)
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup nut praline (optional)
Method:
Sift the flours with the baking powder and keep on the side.
Soak the cranberries in hot water for 20 min, then drain.
In the meantime, peel your apples, remove the core and slice them thinly.
Preheat your oven at 180C.
Break the eggs in a large bowl and beat them with the sugar and salt, until light.
Add the melted butter and the rest of dry ingredients. Mix well but not for too long, until everything is incorporated.
Add the apple slices and half the nut praline.
Butter a round 9.5″ mold and pour in the apple batter.
Top evenly with the cranberries and nut praline.
Cook in the oven for 30 to 35 min. Remove and let cool for a few min before unmolding on a large plate. Eat it lukewarm, it is even better.
Watsonville, CA (January 13, 2009) – The California Strawberry Commission today announced the availability of the free “STRAWBERRIES” mobile app for iPhone and iPod Touch users featuring more than 50 mouth-watering strawberry recipes from some of the most popular food bloggers and chefs from around the web. Individually selected for that “wow” factor, these recipes will inspire families, foodies, cooks, the health conscious and strawberry lovers everywhere to get even more creative with strawberries.iPhone and iPod touch users can now access different strawberry recipes complete with vivid food photography and step-by-step directions to create that special dish for those around you. The free app neatly categorizes recipes under Snacks & Appetizers, Breakfast, Cocktails, Main Courses, Salads and Sweets. Recipes range from traditional favorites, such as shortcakes and pies to more exotic dishes like strawberry dumplings, salsa and ceviche.Individual recipes can be shared with friends, family and online networks by simply posting the recipe to Facebook or Twitter with the click of a button. Recipes can also be emailed to anyone for viewing or printing.
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What a beautiful cake! I love to bake with fruits as well, they add so much flavor and texture. Good luck with 10 in 10. Those are some great goals!
Your cake looks awesome and you've got some great resolutions. Best of luck in the new year.
Very inspiring post Deeba! One of my new year resolutions was to make sure I get my 5 fruit &/or veg a day into my diet. Also, I see that the FBC gifts are the gifts that keep giving! I'll be using Jamie's chocolates in one of my next post…
Hey Deeba,
Lovely cake!! I am joining a CSA this year to induce more rigor on seasonal ingredients in my cooking! I am really looking forward to that.. perhaps I should take the 10 in 10 challenge as well! will only help me stick to a healthy plan! 🙂
Awesome dessert…absolutely love it!
sensational deeba! i just love that you added the praline to the top. it's true twitter and the social media network has been nothing but enriching for me! hugs!
This cake looks delicious!! I am going to try to do this recipe. I hope the result is half as good as yours.
Regards from Spain
Hey Deeba!
Long time, no comment from me! How are ya? Happy New Year!
Loving the look of this cake – imagining these flavours and drooling over it!
Ruth
Your blog looks scrumptious, and you have so many amazing things on here!! I just started up my own baking blog, and I would appreciate it if you would take a look and follow it!
http://yummycakesbylizzie.blogspot.com/
Lizzie
A splendid cake! that combo is terrific!
Good luck for the challenge!
Cheers,
Rosa
Delicious looking cake Deeba and it's really sweet you have combined your gifts from Pam and Jamie in the same recipe. Good luck with Ten in 10, I am doing it too.
Awww, this Dragon loves you too. xo
That is a beautiful confection my friend!!
The cake looks delicious! I will definitely need to try this soon – baking with fruits always makes me feel that it's less unhealthy. 😛
I love Bea's blog, you're right in saying she's amazingly inspirational.
The cake looks gorgeous! Good luck with the challenge =)
Good luck with the challenge the cake with fruits looks gorgeous.
I love you deeba…YOu've got a snail club? tell me more!!! I WANT IN MAN! Hehe.
Lovely post- totally my flavors. I'm going to bookmark this and make it soon.
Hi, Deeba! Thank you for another beautiful post, and for sharing your "get healtier" goals. I'm following along with http://www.therecipegirl.com too. BTW, I love your teapot. Very elegant.
Jessie at The Hungry Mouse just posted a cauliflower and cheese recipe that the kids might like http://www.thehungrymouse.com/2010/01/06/cauliflower-gratin-with-toasted-walnuts/ – I love cauliflower and most veggies, raw or cooked. Like you, I'm going to be adding more veggies and less meat to my meals this year.
Good luck to us all for getting healthier in 2010! "See" you soon on Twitter. {ddh77} Dani
We could all stand to eat more healthily Deeba. Fruit is definitely an excellent way to go.
Ohhhhh warm out of the oven does sound amazing! Good luck with your goals! I need to work cauliflower in to our diet too!
Deeba, I've been AWOL…and missing soooo much. (Happy Birthday wishes to your beautiful daughter!); her birthday cake is scrumptious looking. 🙂
Apples, cranberries and nuts? How can anyone go wrong with that trio of goodies? Oh, that's easy-peasie, they can't! I am so going to have to make this item.
Happy New Year to you, dear. (I just discovered the new blog…YIPPEE! Kudos to you and Jaime, I hope to join the fun after I organize a few details. It looks like unbelievable and challenging fun.)
Hi Deeba – wishing you and your family a great new year ahead! And what a great way to start – by sharing us that beautiful cake recipe!
Am so glad ure gonna get healthier than you already are……
[which will mean my kitchen n oven will also get healthier by virtue of the demonstration effect… Lol… 🙂 ]
deeba this is a gorgeous, gorgeous cake, i want to eat it right this minute. best wishes to you for your list- i love all yor ideas and will steal a few- for eg. i want us to eat non veg food less often as well, and eat less preservatives. congrats on being included in the free STRAWBERRY mobile app for iPhone and iPod touch! hugs, shayma
Delicious-looking cake! The fruit in it looks fantastic. I'm downloading strawberries now. Can't wait to have a look!
We share some of the same goals- I've got some serious work ahead of me. Your cake looks so tempting!
Gorgeous cake, sounds fabulous! Good luck with your healthy goals!
this sure is a great 10 in 10 recipe! i am being unhealthy and eating naughty things but if I had some of this, it would make up for that? 🙂 love the pictures. beautiful as always. And yay to FBC and our Twitter breakfast club. hasn't it changed our lives already?! heh heh xx
Deeba.. You are a genius!! The cake looks stunning..And i loved your resolutions too. Have a great year ahead and keep inspiring!!
I like your list of goals, and apple cake sounds like a nice way to eat your fruit. Nut praline is such a nice addition!
Beautiful cake Deeba. Yes Bea's blog is an inspiration and so is yours!
Congrats on being the Top50.
Gorgeous looking cake Deeba, good luck with teh ten in 10.
Beautiful as ever, Deeba. Wishin you all the best with your "healthy" goals this year.
Yum! I love fruit in baked goods. Great start to 2010.
Happy new year Deeba, & good luc with 10 in 10….Cake looks so beautiful….love to read your blog…
I saw this picture Deeba and I knew it had to be you! This cake is so beautiful.
Laura
Your photos are stunning!!!
Wow all ur recipe are so good and hats of to u…keep it up:)
Wow – that looks fantastic! Also reminds me in some ways of the pear & cranberry upside down cake that I make from (where else?) the Ottolenghi Cookbook!
Congrats on making it to the I-phone app! Cake looks delicious, you really put to great use all the stuff you got back from FBC 🙂
Hey there! I’ve been reading your weblog for some time now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Porter Texas!
Just wanted to tell you keep up the fantastic job!