Coconut, Lime and Courgette Cakes

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These light summery cakes are packed full of zesty lime and cooling coconut flavours… I have made a cream cheese icing but you could use icing sugar and lime zest or coconut icing instead.

2 free range eggs
2 floz / 1/4 cup of maple syrup (you could use honey, agave nectar or 100g of sugar)
zest of 1 small lime
200g finely grated courgette (zucchini)
150g white spelt flour (you could use rice flour or plain flour)
50g desiccated coconut
2tsp baking powder
1tsp bicarbonate of soda

For the Icing:
150g cream cheese (you could use ricotta)
juice of half a lime
2 tbs honey
3 tbsp desiccated coconut

Whisk the eggs until they are light and fluffy and doubled in size, then whisk  in the maple syrup, followed by the courgette and lime.

Next fold in the flour, coconut, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda. Once all combined transfer into muffin or cupcake tins and bake at 180c for 25-30mins.

(I used muffin cases when I made these, but because the mixture is low in fat it tends to stick to the paper cases… I would recommend putting them straight into greased tins)

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Snowdon – Artists and their Studios

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Frank Auerbach by Lord Snowdon, 1962

Here are some selection of photographs taken by Lord Snowdon in the 1960s of British Artists. You can see more photographs taken by Snowdon between 1962 and 2005 here on the Snowdon Review – a beautifully curated new website which catalogues his photographs, designs, objects, books and ephemera.

Lucian Freud by Lord Snowdon, 1963

Ivon Hitchens by Lord Snowdon, 1963

I also came across this page on Pinterest with more photographs of artists in their studios including De Kooning, Francis Bacon and Monet.

Chocolate Chip (& Carrot) Muffins

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These gluten and dairy free cakes are packed full of chocolate chunks and have a sweet and light texture thanks to the addition of grated carrot.

3 eggs
160g demerara sugar
250g finely grated carrot
2tbs coffee
120g rice flour
50g ground almonds
40g cocoa powder
2tsp baking powder
100g chopped dark chocolate

Preheat the oven to 180c and line a 12 muffin tray with paper cases.

Using an electric whisk, beat the eggs and sugar in a large bowl until really pale and fluffy. You want the mixture to be voluminous and airy (try and beat them for about 5mins)

Next whisk in the finely grated carrot, coffee, ground almonds, cocoa powder and baking powder until well combined. Next fold in the chocolate chunks.

Spoon the mixture into 12 muffin cases and place the tray in the oven for around 25-30mins.

 

Chilled Carrot and Coconut Cake

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This cake is really light and refreshing as well as being made from totally wholesome ingredients. It is best served chilled because of the coconut icing. The sugar is replaced by maple syrup, plain flour by spelt flour and the butter by coconut oil.

The biggest difference with this cake is the icing…. made purely from coconut milk and a little honey. You will need to purchase a full fat variety of coconut milk and ensure that the can has been chilled for at least a couple of hours in the fridge so that the milk separates. It is this solid part (that floats to the top of the tin) that is used for the icing.

1/2 cup (4 floz) of coconut oil (melted)
5/8 cup (5 floz) of maple syrup
3 eggs
140g raw carrots grated (the texture of the cake will be lighter if the carrot is crated on the finest setting)
175g white spelt flour (I used this one)
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg

2 tins of full fat coconut milk (chilled and separated)
1 tablespoon of honey

In a bowl whisk the coconut oil and maple syrup until you have a thick mixture that looks like caramel. Add the eggs and whisk a little more. In a large bowl combine all the dry ingredients. Make a well in the centre and add your liquid mixture – folding gently until combined.

Pour mixture (it will be quite sloppy!) into a baking dish – I used a Pyrex lasagna dish. Place in the oven for at 180c for around 30 – 40 mins. The cake will be ready when a knife comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool completely.

Meanwhile take the coconut milk out of the fridge. You want to use the hard solid part of the milk that should be floating on top (you can use the left over liquid as a refreshing drink or use it in curries or to cook rice in) Whisk the solid coconut milk until it is smooth and add the honey. Then pour this mixture over the cake. Keep the cake in the fridge and serve chilled.