30 December 2011

Celebrating First Blog Anniversary with Walnut Cake

One year ago on this day, I decided to venture into food blogging. Never did I expect it to give me so much joy. I still can't believe its been a year of blogging. It has surely made me find and try out many recipes which I'd have never attempted otherwise. Looking back,  it has been an amazing journey so far and I would like to thank all my readers and fellow blogger friends for the wonderful support and encouragement. Thank you all and wish you a new year filled with happiness, peace and togetherness.

Here is a healthy version of Walnut Cake. Walnuts are considered to be the king of nuts when it comes to health benefits especially related to heart and circulatory system. They reduce LDL (Bad Cholesterol) and increases HDL (good Cholesterol ). This is the first time I tried baking with olive oil and was surprised to note that there was no evident taste difference in the cake. (I was pretty apprehensive to use it) :) This reminds me of the famous quote by Mark Twain.

" The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don't want, drink what you don't like, and do what you'd rather not.''

So let's hope to cook, eat , drink and be merry to have a healthy year ahead. :)



INGREDIENTS

Wheat Flour - 1 1/2 cup
Barley Flour - 1/2 cup
Baking Powder - 2 tsp
Cinnamon Powder - 1 tsp
Clove Powder - 3/4 tsp
Nutmeg Powder - 1/4 tsp
Salt - 1/4 tsp
Baking Soda - 1/2 tsp
Extra Virgin Olive Oil - 1/4 cup
Eggs - 2 at room temperature
Walnut Chopped - 1 cup
Low fat Yogurt - 2/3 cup
Orange Zest - 2 tsp 
Orange Juice - 1/2 cup
Brown Sugar / Cane Sugar - 3/4 cup tightly packed

For Syrup
Orange Juice - 1/3 cup
Orange Zest - 1 small (1'' x 1'') strip
Brown Sugar/Cane Sugar - 1/4 cup tightly packed
Clove - 2

METHOD
Preheat oven to 180 degree C for 10 minutes.
Chop the walnuts into small pieces.
Prepare a 8 inch square baking dish with butter  and line it with parchment paper.
Spread the walnuts in it and toast it for 7 minutes. Remove and transfer it to a plate to cool.
In a bowl mix the dry ingredients - Wheat, Barley, Baking soda, Baking Powder, Salt, Cinnamon powder, Clove powder and Nutmeg Powder.
In a separate bowl whisk the eggs and brown sugar until smooth.
In a small bowl mix the yoghurt, orange zest and orange juice until smooth.
Add this to the egg mixture stirring well along with olive oil.
Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture in 2 batches. Stir just to blend.
Fold in 3/4 cup walnuts.
Bake  for 35 minutes or until the skewer inserted comes out clean.
In the mean time prepare the syrup.
Combine the ingredients in a sauce pan and bring to boil on medium heat. Stir in between.
Cook for 3-4 minutes until it becomes thick syrup consistency. Remove the zest and cloves and let cool.
When the cake is done transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Using a toothpick pierce on the cake at about 18 points.
Brush the syrup on the cake many times making sure that it seeps through the holes made.
Sprinkle the remaining walnuts.
Cut and serve.



Tips:
Chop walnuts into small pieces else the cake may crumble.
2/3 cups means 2 measures of 1/3 cup or as per British Standards 1/2 cup + 1 tsp
This is a medium sweet cake. So increase the cane sugar to 1 cup if you like it sweet.
Use freshly grated orange zest. Zest is the outer most skin of orange, lime or lemon. Just the colored part and not the white part. Use a zester / just use a sharp knife to peel the outer skin and chop fine.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!




Sending this to Julie's Event Christmas Delicacy



25 comments:

  1. Hello Rinku, Hope u had a wonderful xmas..Congrats on the first blog anniversary.. your walnut cake luks so yummy .. an ideal goodie to celabrate the day with:)....Mini

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  2. Congrats Rinku! Wish your blog many more b'days :) The cake looks great!

    Cheers
    Maria

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  3. Congrats Rinku! Wish your blog many more b'days :) The cake looks great!

    Cheers
    Maria

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  4. Happy blogoversary Rinku..nice healthy cake,loved the glaze..Happy new year...

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  5. Congrats Rinku for ur successful 1yr ............ ur cake looks delicious .......

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  6. Congratulations n Happy Blogoversary!

    That is a yummy n healthy treat, perfect choice to celebrate a great Blog!

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  7. Happy 1st Blog anniversary. Cake looks simply delicious and mouthwatering.

    Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

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  8. Beautiful post - lovely pics as always - all good wishes to u - keep blogging. wish u and ur family a happy and prosperous new year !
    btw ,rinku ur moms kootu curry was big hit with my guests last week :)

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  9. Lovely bake..soft one!!
    Happy blog anniversary ,Rinku..Wishing many more awesome recipes from you in 2012 !
    Wishing you a very Happy New Year !!
    You can also link it to my event
    Ongoing Event -Christmas Delicacy (15 Nov-31 Dec 2011)
    Erivum Puliyum

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  10. Happy anniversary,the cake looks simply superb and delicious treat,wonderful presentation.Wish you a Happy New Year.

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  11. Many Congrats on your blog anniversary.
    Cake looks scrumpticious.

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  12. Wow.. 1 year! very impressive. This is a very beautiful cake! Happy new year! :)
    -
    Kavi
    (Edible Entertainment)
    Ongoing events:
    Jingle All The Way &
    Microwave Easy Cooking

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  13. Congrats on your blog anniversary Rinku..and the cake looks super good.

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  14. Congrats Rinku..cake looks superb..yum

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  15. Love the Glossy Glaze on the Top, very interesting recipe of the Syrup...

    What else you need to celebrate this Double Celebrations other than this Nutty Cake....

    Happy Anniversary and Happy New year....


    -Mythreyi
    Yum! Yum! Yum!

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  16. Cake looks Yummy................
    Wish you a Happy New Year Rinku!!!!!!!!!!

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  17. cake is tempting me....lovely pic n healthy one

    wish u happy new year2012......

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  18. Congratulations Girlie!! Keep up the good work :)

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  19. Congrats rinku......awesome bake

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  20. Awesome cake,looks so inviting.
    Wish you n your family a happy new year 2012.

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  21. Congrats on ur blog anniversary Rinku, keep on going dear, walnut looks stunning and marvellous..

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  22. Congrats Rinku!!! And wishing u a happy new year ;)
    The cake is simply marvelous ;)
    Prathima Rao
    Prats Corner

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  23. Good post cake is very tempting & marvelous for anniversary cakes. are awesome.

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Thank you for visiting my blog and taking time to appreciate my work. Hope you have found the recipes you have been looking for. In case you face any difficulty writing comments or you would like to know any details about the recipes feel free to write to me at rinkuskitchentreats@gmail.com. I would be delighted to hear from you.
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Hope you will join me again in my culiniary journey.
Thanks!
Regards
Rinku