by Jen of SewnNatural
Our new Thursday recipe/tutorial feature is off to a huge start with today’s chocolate cake recipe… and cookbook giveaway from Cynthia Lair, author of “Feeding the Whole Family – Recipes for Babies, Young Children and Their Parents.”
MARY’S BUTTERMILK CHOCOLATE CAKE
I found this recipe in a wonderful cookbook I highly recommend. Cynthia Lair’s “Feeding the Whole Family – Recipes for Babies, Young Children and Their Parents”. As a mom of a toddler, I’m always on the look-out for quick, delicious and nutritious recipes I can whip up to spice up our meal routine.
The cookbook is packed with simple recipes that excite the tastebuds, employ whole, organic foods and can be easily adapted for everyone around the supper table. You need not be a parent of little kids to enjoy this book – it would be a wonderful treat for anyone.
Check out Cynthia’s new humorous {+ fabulous} online cooking show CookusInterruptus, about how to cook fresh local whole foods despite life’s interruptions. You can also read her “baby food is not rocket science” article here about how it’s best to feed babies “family food”.
Note: For a dairy free version, substitute 1 cup soy milk with 1 tbsp lemon juice added for the buttermilk and use melted coconut oil in place of buttter.
image by elana’s pantry
Prep time: 45 minutes
Makes 2, 8-inch layers
2 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1/4 cup organic cocoa powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup of maple syrup
1 tbsp vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 375F. Lightly oil two 8-inch cake pans. Mix flour, cocoa, salt, baking powder, and baking soda together in a bowl. In a separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients and stir into flour mixture (do not overstir). Pour batter into cake pans. Bake for 30 minutes or a little less, depending on your oven.
I poured Cynthia Lair’s strawberry sauce on for added fruit, presentation and contrast. With strawberries being out of season right now (unless you’ve stored some away in your freezer from the last harvest), I’d recommend using pears, apples, whatever is freshest & has travelled the least distance to get to your plate.
image by anashruti
STRAWBERRY SAUCE
Prep time: 10 minutes
Makes 1 cup
1 pint organic strawberries
1 tsp lemon or orange juice
1 tbsp maple syrup, honey or agave nectar
Wash and trim strawberries. Place them, the juice, and sweetener in a blender and blend until smooth. Use at once or refrigerate the rest. Will keep a few days in the fridge.
|”Reprinted with permission from Feeding the Whole Family by Cynthia Lair”.
TODAY’S GIVEAWAY
Cynthia has generously offered one reader a copy of her book!
That’s Cynthia 2nd from left!
To enter today’s giveaway, simply visit CookusInterruptus and leave a comment about something you enjoyed or learned (one entry per person, please!). This giveaway will end at 9am EST on Sunday, and the winner will be announced soon after.
image by Bruce Tuten
COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED.
The winner (drawn at random) is… comment #12 Katherine Robb! CONGRATS (now you don’t have to go out and buy one!!)
I was going to make a chocolate cake this weekend for company and am excited to try this recipe.
Many thanks,
Tonya
Love eating local whole food, great cookbook!
Beccijo
http://www.beccijo.com
http://www.theenchantedcupboard.etsy.com
my mom gave me this cookbook when my first daughter was born. love the new cover art!
My favorite part about the CookusInterrptus site is that there is a section for seasonal recipes. It's great to have a place to go to that can help me figure out what to do with my local produce!
I learned that I want to cook like this – the foods look so good. I can't wait to learn more, and maybe even try to fit in some whole foods cooking . . . It's how I always want to eat, but I have to develop the habit, step by step. I also want me kids to eat this way too . . . Wish me luck.
The fried tofu looks sooo good! Would love to win the cookbook. I need all the help I can get 🙂
I like that the recipes that she has on the blog are divided amongst seasons and also who might be the ones who would enjoy the particular recipe.
msgb245 at gmail dot com
I can't wait to try the flourless pancake recipe. My daughter loves pancakes, but I would like a healthier alternative!
I LOVE the Menu section of Cookus Interruptus. I have a really hard time coming up with weeknight ideas, so this helps. Breaking the menus up by season has been a great help, too!
I went to the site and found this delicious
recipe for granola that I will try.
Maple Butter Nut Granola
Sounds sooo good! :0)
Sue
http://www.polarbearcreations.com
Ooh, yum, yum, yum!!! We'll make this one for sure!!
I'm buying this cookbook ASAP. It looks wonderful, thanks!
Oh my, this is making me hungry!!!
Gay's Mini Pot Roast with Many Vegetables
I will have to make it this weekend!
:)Angela
apenn97[at]hotmail[dot]com
http://www.marang97.etsy.com
Yummy chocolate cake. My daughter wants to make this over the weekend. Love the focus on whole, local foods.
What a fabulous website! I love using organic foods and there are so many great recipes 🙂 We actually make a batch of the pumpkin pecan muffins today and the kid love them! Looks like it's going to be a fabulous cookbook 🙂 Maybe I'll be lucky *grin*.
YUM! Can't wait to try this recipe
!
sara
http://busterandboo.etsy.com
http://woolies.etsy.com
Aha! I learned where my daughter's school gets its "Three Sisters Stew" recipe that parents make for the Sugar Plum Faire every year. I am interested in learning to make the poached pears in pomegranate sauce. My husband has made those with star anise sauce. Poached pears is just a good idea in general.
I love the cover. It makes me wonder about every recipe inside. At least I have the chocolate cake to tide me over.
Cheers,
Susan
Yummy, I just love the look of this cookbook and would be really happy to receive it.
Such an exciting giveaway, Thank you Jane xx
Wow! This recipe looks so yummy! We will have to try it out! I really like how Cookus Interruptus offers many different ways to search for recipes…it makes it easy to find what your hungry for!
Thank you for the recipe! I can't wait to try Joaquin's Lunch Box!
-Alessandra
Hi everyone!
#12 was drawn last Sunday and that person never got back to me with her contact info to claim the prize… so we drew again this evening and picked #10! Sue! You win the cookbook. Congrats.
Really looking forward to trying this out with my daughter. We love to bake together and i think this could well turn into one of our favs! 🙂 Thanks for sharing