Winter is slowly tiptoeing into a glorious Spring. We have been fortunate to get that last bit of extended cold. For a food obsessed person it always means latching on to the last of the pleasures of the season. I thoroughly enjoyed the extended time we got fresh peas, red (Delhi) carrots as they call them, cauliflower and lovely greens. Winter is also the time to go a bit overboard with nuts and dried fruits which are a bit heavy and hot in nature. As the weather gets hotter, you automatically tend to gravitate towards more cooling foods.
One of the best winter cakes is a decadent Date & Walnut Cake that goes perfectly with a nice cup of tea. I love my tea-time and I like to savour my tea slowly, reflecting on the day, preferably viewing a glorious sunset. Nothing like a good cake to accompany a good cuppa! I love baking this cake in winter. Often I buy dates with great enthusiasm and then find no-one has eaten them. I am the only person in our house who loves this raw kind of food so rich in iron, magnesium, potassium, copper and dietary fibre. It is a perfect dessert on it's own. I keep them at an accessible place and keep munching on them passing by. And dates in a hot cup of milk (to which you need not add sugar) is the perfect antidote to frayed nerves of any kind or insomnia for that matter. I can assure you, you would sleep like a log after that. Nutrition wise, Walnuts have the highest antioxidant activity. This is because of vitamin E, melatonin and plant compounds called polyphenols, which are particularly high in the papery skin of walnuts. They are a super source of plant based omega 3 fatty acids and are good for controlling weight, diabetes, blood pressure, ageing and brain health.
Anyway coming back to the cake, I baked this old favourite after a long time. I am a decent baker but a moody baker. I need to be in the mood, I like baking mostly in cool weather, I have to have some motivation and incentive to bake good stuff. Well most of the time some OTT praise from kiddo is incentive enough. This was appreciated a lot this time, so thought of sharing this recipe before winter bids us good bye for a good part of the year and our kitchens turn into an oven!
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 Eggs
- 250 gm Dates
- 1/2 cup Oil
- 1 Cup Refined Flour
- 1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar
- 1/2 Cup Walnuts
- 1/2 Cup Vanilla Essence
- 1/2 tsp Cinnamon Powder
- 1/4 tsp Baking Powder
- 1/2 tsp Soda-Bicarb
METHOD:
- Deseed the dates and chop them. Soak then in 5 tbsp of hot water with the soda bicarb for half an hour.
- Sift maida or flour with baking powder.
- Mix dates and chopped walnuts with the flour gradually ensuring even mix.
- Beat oil and sugar till creamy.
- Beat eggs in a separate bowl till fluffy.
- Add half of the flour mixture and half of the beaten eggs, to the sugar and oil mixture. Blend well with electric blender.
- Repeat step to finish. Add essence and cinnamon powder, blending lightly once in the end.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 150 degrees C for 45-50 min.
- Test with knife if perfectly cooked.
- Remove cake from oven and let cool before cutting.
