Today is my birthday, twenty three years old.
This day last year Jesse and I were terribly homesick. We missed the New Zealand winter and spent the Canadian mid-summer day indoors with the curtains closed, a fireplace crackling away on YouTube and a rainy soundtrack playing. This time around we are much more accustomed to the Northern summer, the endless sunlight, the incessant heat and the monster mosquitoes. Still, we often find ourselves returning to that feeling of homesickness. It’s a strange thing – like we are constantly swapping between wanderlust (continue travel and adventures) and homesickness (head back to New Zealand to our families and friends).
It’s hard to forecast where we will be in six months. But we must continue to live the now, as we easily get caught up in planning for the future. My sweet, sweet husband once again threw me a make-something-from-scratch dinner party on Saturday night. It was beautiful to see so much effort and reminded us that we have created some fantastic friendships while living up here.
A couple of weeks ago I was interview by Radio National in Australia (you can hear the program here!) and last week I was featured in a small article in our local News North newspaper. The article was titled Where to find chocolate quinoa cake, New Zealand food blogger opens healthy hockey cafe in Norman Wells. It was nicely written, sure, and I did feel honoured to have such lovely things written about me. But there is so much more to the cafe than I was able to reflect in both the radio interview and the newspaper article. There is the behind-the-scenes support, the couple that have invested SO much, and had the passion to see the cafe set up in the first place, the town that provides the facilities free of charge, the youth Hockey Teams for whom this is supporting, the locals who donate fresh produce, appliances and grocery items to see the cafe’s success, the husband who buys milk and eggs from the store when I run out, the librarian who stocks the library with fantastic cookbooks to encourage the foodie inspiration, the customers who rave and offer constructive feedback on the dishes (those are my favourite!).
So to say thank you, I am sharing the said Chocolate Quinoa Cake. The recipe is from a book at our local library (which has the best food section!). This cake is a real hit. It is fudgy and moist, popping with quinoa seeds and carrying a rich, deep flavour. It is wheat free, offering a great alternative to those intolerant customers (there are a surprising number of allergies in our town). The great thing about this recipe is it can all be whizzed in a blender. I make a little extra quinoa when I make my Curried Apple Quinoa Salad (recipe to feature soon) which goes straight into the fridge until this cake beckons.
And just like last year, I quote Lora Brody: “Don’t wreck a sublime chocolate experience by feeling guilty”. Enjoy!
Moist Chocolate Quinoa Cake
From Quinoa 365: The Everyday Superfood
Serves 8 – 10
The cake will puff up while cooking and sink on cooling. This is good – it means the centre is only just cooked and will remain soft and fudgy. Careful not to cook all the moisture out of it as it will be dry. It is perfect with natural yogurt (and a sprig of mint!). To lighten it up a little I imagine the sugar could easily be subbed for a natural sweetener (honey?) and the butter for coconut oil. I hope to try this out myself soon.
2/3 cup quinoa
1 1/3 cup water
1/3 cup milk
4 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
¾ cup butter, melted and cooled
1 ½ cups white or cane sugar
1 cup cocoa
1 ½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
Bring quinoa and water to a boil. Cover, cook for 10 mins. Turn off heat and leave for another 10 mins. Fluff with a fork and let cool.
Preheat oven to 180˚C. Grease a 24cm cake pan and line with parchment paper.
In blender combine milk, eggs, vanilla. Add 2 cups quinoa and the melted butter and blend until smooth. Add sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt to the blender and blend until well mixed. Pour into pan and bake for 40 – 45 minutes until knife inserted in centre comes out clean.
So much wisdom in the kitchen for 23! Happy Birthday! Thank-you for sharing you recipes, etc. as I change to made from scratch cooking.
Shucks – thanks Cindy. Love hearing from others who have turned to made-from-scratch!
Happy birthday! To you and me both… today is my birthday too! No wonder we have so much in common, except that I wish I was still counting in the 20′s, hehe. Congrats again on the cafe and the beautiful life experiences being served with it
I hope you had a great day too! Thank you
Happy Birthday Christina! Classic it is my birthday today too! Though its the 16th here. AND I made a chocolate cake too which I will post this week. I love the idea of a quinoa cake, I bet it is super moist. Have a great day x
Fancy that! Look forward to your chocolate cake – no doubt something a little bit different that I will be wanting to try out myself. Happy Birthday for the 16th!
I had no idea you were so young! Great post!
It doesn’t feel so young from my side! Thanks Mimi.
Happy birthday Christina! Here’s to many more adventures and just as many homecomings
I love hearing about the behind-the-scenes at your cafe – small towns are so great, and this really sounds like a labour of love for the whole place. Your cake sounds delicious – I’ve been wanting to try this recipe for a while myself.
Give it a go – I have no doubt you will enjoy it Thanks so much for the support, the blog-ship and the recipe inspiration! It sure is a labour of love – sometimes more labour, but always plenty of love!
I made this cake for my Mum’s birthday party this weekend – it went over so well! Thanks for the nudge I needed to finally try this recipe
Yay!
Happy birthday! What a delicious looking cake! Hard to believe you’re so young!
Happy Birthday, Christina! Congratulations on the success of your cafe, and best wishes to you and J!
Hi from Australia, I love your photography!
You do mean 3/4 Cup of butter?
Yes! Sorry – amended!
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