HEALTHY CHOCOLATE CAKE RECIPE

Grease and base-line a 20cm round, loose-based cake tin. { I sprayed with cooking oil spray}

Heat the oven to 350F/180C/gas 4.

Sift together 250g (1 1/2 cups) plain flour {I used cake flour and didn't sift}, 4 tbsp cocoa powder, 250g (1 cup) caster sugar {I used xylitol for lower calories}, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) and 1/2 tsp salt.

In a separate bowl, mix together 5 tbsp (1/3 cup) of vegetable oil or apple puree {I used apple sauce}, 1 tbsp vinegar {I used apple cider vinegar}, 1 tsp vanilla essence {pure vanilla extract}, 250ml (1 cup) warm water.

Mix these into the dry ingredients until just amalgamated. Do not over mix.

Pour into the prepared tin and bake for 30-35 minutes until the cake has risen and springs back when pressed.

Serve the cake just as it is, or to make it extra special, top with Greek yogurt and raspberries.

{I mixed sugar free strawberry jelly with xylitol, some defrosted raspberries, and ricotta cheese together to make the icing. Then I topped the cake with light whipped cream.... My kids commented that the cake was "out of this world"...lol}

Steamed Eggs with Milk Dessert

Ingredients:

2 eggs

60gm white sugar (or to your taste)(2 -3 oz)

250ml milk (8oz)

Stir all.

Put in glass cups.

Steam till solidify.

Voila. Eat cold (put in fridge for a few hrs) or hot (let it cool for a moment).

For details: Christine's Recipes

Carob Brownies

1/2 cup butter, melted (I used canola oil for lower cholesterol)
1/2 cup carob powder
1 cup honey (I used agave nectar instead to keep the recipe low glycemic)
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

Direction:

Preheat oven to 350*F
Blend together melted butter (canola oil), carob powder, and honey (agave nectar or stevia) in a bowl. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well.
Add a sifted mixture of whole wheat flour, baking powder, and salt; mix well. Stir in chopped walnuts. Pour into a greased 8-inch baking dish.
Bake for 40 minutes. Cool on a wire rack before cutting into squares.
Makes 16 bars.

Nian Gao: Chinese New Year Dessert

My kids actually like for this to be called "chewy gooey bar".

Nian Gao (The traditional sticky rice flour cake, called nian gao which sounds like "moving up" in Chinese. Everyone loves moving up the corporate ladder for the year to come, so everyone loves to eat nian gao for Chinese New Year)

Ingredients:

1 & 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 stick butter, melted
2 tsp vanilla (I usually skip this)
3 eggs
3 cups milk (I usually use 1 can of coconut milk and 1 can of evaporated milk)
1 lb glutinous rice flour
1 cup chopped walnuts, if desired


Beat sugar, butter, vanilla, eggs and milk together in a large bowl.
After all wet ingredients are well mixed together, add glutinous rice flour - Mix well. (There may be lumps, don't worry about it)
Add chopped walnuts, if desired.
Lightly grease a 13X9X2 cake pan. Pour batter in pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
Cool completely before cutting.


Special Tip: Rinse knife under water before cutting to avoid sticking.