Moist Date and Almond Loaf

Collections. We all have them, whether its shoes, first edition novels, old coins or miniature cars. Some people collect historical stamps, vinyl records, coffee mugs, leather jackets or exotic species of fish. My sister stocks up on fashion magazines as if at the world may run out at any moment, overflowing from her many bookcases. While our mother -who is openly against collections due to fear of becoming a hoarder- has accumulated what some may call a collection of delicate china crosses that hang in her bedroom.

As for me? I am in love with cook books. Sandwiches, entrees, vegan, desserts, nutrition, cupcakes, smoothies, salads, raw foods, traditional cooking, modern diets, high tea, comfort foods, if its worth making then chances are that I've got a cook book on the subject. I guess with a love of photography and a passion for food, an obsession with culinary publications is no surprise. 

So with winter just around the corner, I decided to try a recipe from the newest addition to my  ever-growing collection, the 'Petite Kitchen' cookbook by Eleanor Ozich. After having visited the young mother/blogger/chef's wildly successful cafe 'Mondays' far too many times, I knew that her first cookbook was a must-have. With a beautiful rustic and homey theme, the recipes are healthy, wholesome, simple and delicious. 

Naturally sweetened with dates, this Loaf is dairy, gluten, refined-sugar free and with only 6 ingredients and 5 steps it's simple to whip up for an afternoon tea snack.

Ingredients
• 4 free-range eggs
• 1 cup medjool dates, pitted
• ¼ cup extra virgin coconut oil, or butter
• 1½ tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 cups ground almonds

To decorate
• Slivered Almonds

1. Preheat the oven to 160C, and grease a loaf, cake or muffin tin.
2.Add the eggs, dates, coconut oil or butter, baking soda and vinegar in to a food processor or blender. Process for a minute or so, until the batter is smooth and creamy.
3. Place the ground almonds in a large mixing bowl then fold the wet mixture in until well combined.
4. Spoon into the prepared loaf, cake or muffin tin, then decorate with the almonds
5. If making a cake, bake for 40-45 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean when inserted. For muffins, bake for 25-30 minutes.
Will keep for 2-3 days in an airtight container.

So escape those winter blues (or celebrate the summer if you're on that side of the globe) 

and give this deliciously easy recipe a go!

 xx

Obsessions.

Cereal magazine. A beautiful magical place where travel, lifestyle, photography editorial work and minimalism meet and hang out. Reading this magazine is like eating a decadently rich chocolate truffle. I literally want to eat the pages. But then again no because one issue costs $20NZ and that is far too expensive to be chewing on any of the waxed Bristol-born pages. Elegantly written, cleanly designed and stunningly photographed I’m yet to find a fault with this quarterly travel bible. If this doesn’t make you want to find the cheapest flights to places like London, Sweden, Sicily or Charleston I don’t know what will. So prepare yourself for strong feelings to visit places that you have never heard of and can barely pronounce as well as a desire to throw out all your belongings and live in a white empty room. 

What has brought on this particular obsession? Recently I had a much overdue but very simple epiphany of the importance of being inspired. How is one expected to ever pursue their dreams or live a life they love if they don’t actively spend time surrounding themselves with things they find of great value? Immersing and enriching your life with influences that you are passionate about is often overlooked and forgotten. Constantly in school, university or work we are given books to read, media to watch and art to appreciate, but how often do we take time to spend time around beautiful and insightful things? How often do we take a moment to look at something because it is pleasing, or read about something because it is inspiring? 

So take that time. Indulge in something beautiful. Buy a magazine because its well designed, or write a list of quotes that make you feel inspired. Eat your favorite food or finally get around to reading that book about that thing that you want to know about. Just take the time.

Have a beautiful week everybody xx