A lot
of lopped branches piled in our backyard has become a haven for the birds. I
have often noticed birds perched in the drying branches sometimes even removing and carrying dead leaves to make their nests. Yesterday we noticed a group of Babblers in
their usual noisy self. A family of three was rummaging in the pile of leaves, throwing
leaves with their beaks, presumably hunting for the insects that lay hidden
underneath the mammoth pile of leaves. The baby bird looked as big as the
parent birds. Parent birds would shove some food inside the baby’s mouth and
baby greedily gulped down the mouthful creating ruckus again for food.
 |
| The Baby |
This continued
for quite some time till the threesome flew to the adjoining field and we could
just hear the little one’s clamour for food.
Yesterday,
I baked a Spiced Walnut Cake.
The cake does not have butter. The sugar too, is on
the lower side. The spices give a lovely aroma to the cake.
Spiced
Walnut Cake
Recipe
originally from “Orange -Pistachio-Glazed Spiced Muffins"
recipe in the "Food & Drink" Magazine (spring 2011 edition)
Adapted
from www.foodtastesyummy.com
Ingredients
1 cup
all-purpose flour
½ cup
whole wheat flour
½ cup powdered sugar
1 cup plain
yogurt
1/3
cup olive oil
2 eggs
1
teaspoon baking powder
1
teaspoon cinnamon powder
½ teaspoon
baking soda
½ teaspoon
freshly grated nutmeg
½ teaspoon
cloves
½ teaspoon
salt
½ cup chopped
walnuts
1
tablespoon granulated sugar
Method
Preheat
oven to 180 degrees C. Grease, dust and line one 8 inch round cake pan
In a
bowl whisk together flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices.
In another
bowl beat yogurt, powdered sugar, eggs and oil till smooth.
Combine
flour mix and wet ingredients. Mix till well combined. Do not over mix.
Pour
the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle walnuts on top of the batter. Lightly
pat walnuts into the batter. Sprinkle sugar evenly on top of the batter.
Bake the
cake for 40 to 45 minutes till the top turns a beautiful brown or till a
toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool the
cake completely. Slice next day.
o my Goodness another a wonderful and beautiful click at your place.. i am truly in love with your walnut cake.. this is looking wonderful
ReplyDeleteThis would be very easy to veganise with egg replacer (a combination of starches) and non-dairy yoghurt. I have used soy milk and even home made sesame milk curdled with lemon juice to make a good replacement for yoghurt in baking. A lovely recipe and I love spice cake. We have our own birds hopping around trying to get their baby flying and interested in insects here on Serendipity Farm and you can hear the baby crying out to be fed at most times of the day. I would imagine his parents would be "fed" up with all of that noise! ;)
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