Prones & Cake

I will not call myself careless or irresponsible. I prefer saying I am prone to my flaws like it isn’t something I can necessarily help. I am currently prone to accidents (those walls move and that carpet jumps up when I walk), losing things (I KNOW I set it right there), OCD tendencies (those spots on the counter multiply against me), and well I am sure some other things. However, when one of my “prones” turns into a devastating situation that I somehow miraculously recover from or learn a lesson, I make sure it doesn’t reoccur. Those “prones” are funny like that huh?

Where am I going with this? My losing things prone (I am kind of making a new noun here but I think it works for this piece. Feel free to borrow) got me in a huge mess today. I thought I lost my engagement ring. I don’t think I have ever been so distraught. I couldn’t fathom how something so priceless, so irreplaceable was gone.

After turning everything in my world upside down over a something that turned my life right side up, it was found. It’s a crazy story, but hey, I know you’ve come to this blog for the food. Which I don’t blame you ‘cause I kind of enjoy it myself. So I’ll get to the goods.

When Greeks lose something we pray to St. Fanourios to help us find it. I am not kidding you, it works. As thanks we bake a cake. I know it’s a shocker that us Greeks decided to lope eating into this mix. But all the more reason to break out the pans and preheat the oven. And as you might have guessed, the recipe is very old and so not gluten free. That won’t stop me from giving thanks!

I crossed my fingers that my gluten free “thanks for helping me find my ring due to my losing things prone” wouldn’t fall short. That blessed dude found something very dear to my heart.

I think I would have made ol’ Fanourios proud and would have loved to share a slice with him. It was a last second cake so easy substitutions were necessary. It kind of had a sponge-like texture if you will. My husband had a slice, I had a slice, and then our new neighbors popped in as a surprise and enjoyed it as well! Get this…they’re Greek too!

Welcome to America Myrsini!

Here is the original recipe that I based mine on. Surely he wouldn’t want me to bake a cake and not eat it right? My fanouropita is below!

http://www.sprint.net.au/~corners/Aug97/StFanourios.html


Gluten Free Fanouropita (cinnamon, walnut cake)

Ingredients

• 3 ½ cups gluten free flour mix (I used Pamela’s baking mix)
• 1 tbs vanilla
• 1 tbs cinnamon
• 12 tbs orange juice
• ¾ cup vegetable oil
• ½ cup water
• 2 tbs organic sugar
• ½ cup grated lemon peel
• ½ cup chopped walnuts

Directions

In a large bowl combine your gluten free flour mix and cinnamon.

In a medium bowl beat oil, sugar, orange juice, lemon peel, and water. Add to the flour mix and beat very well. Fold in your walnuts.

Grease a medium round pan (I used earth balance) and pour in the batter.

Bake at 350 F for 30-40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown or when your toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the middle of the cake.

Remove and let cool for 10-15 minutes. Say an extra little thanks to that wonderful Saint that helped you with your lose things prone.

Plate, slice, and chow! Add a little dusting of confectioner’s sugar on top if you so please. My husband isn’t a huge fan so I omitted.

*It is said the cake tastes best if left for 24 hours, but who on earth can wait THAT long? Hehe

Kale Coma

Miss me? I am sorry I have been away. Between moving into my new house, getting cooking supplies unpacked, and well, a busted phone which holds the camera I have been relying on, I had a minor hiatus. No worries though because I am back in business and October happens to be my favorite month. Pumpkin shavings will adorn my side porch tomorrow as I chisel my spooky designs for my front porch Halloween décor. Butternut squash will be bursting with bold flavors in my oven. Apples happily sit piled in my fruit bowl and all the doors will be open letting the beautiful breeze brush my hair off my face as I feverishly cook for our weekend camping trip.

Back to the present day though. I arrived home today without one clue on what to make. Being that we attended a concert last night something warm and comforting was definitely on the menu. That and I have been in a tizzy to use anything that might expire while we are away. I despise wasting food. Maybe that is the reason I glutinously cleaned my plate today…Sure, I will go with that.

For produce I had to use up a large bushel of kale. My boiling pot is still MIA so brown rice would serve as a nice bed. And comfort? That comes in the form of a gooey, cheesy, sauce. I have made vegan cheese sauces in the past with great success but I really didn’t want to prep too much. With the basic ingredients in mind I threw together the one below and behold, a success was whirred up in my vitamix.


Cheesy Kale & Brown Rice

1 bushel of kale, stems cut off
2 cups brown rice
Cheese sauce (see below)
Vegetable broth
Pepper to taste

Easy Peezy Cheezy Sauce:

• 2 tablespoons earth balance, melted
• 2 tablespoons ground pepper
• 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• ½ cup nutritional yeast
• ½ cup vegetable broth
• 1/3 cup cashews, chopped
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions:

Prepare brown rice and set aside. I used boil in a bag brown rice because of my time crunch.

Prepare cheese sauce:

Add all ingredients in the vitamins and blend on high until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed. It will be very thick but no worries, it will thin when added to recipe.

In a medium saucepan add about half cup vegetable brown and warm. Add cheese sauce and stir. Keep adding a little vegetable broth until it becomes thinner in consistency. I like a thick creamy sauce so I didn’t add a lot but if you like thinner add more.

Add kale to the pan and coat with the sauce. Saute until tender, about 10 minutes. Add rice and combine. Serve with a dash of ground pepper on top! MMMMMM.


Enjoy!! Confession, I had two helpings. I blame it on my tiny Halloween plate!

Busted

Brief post to say that my blog posting will be back to normal now that I have a new phone! My old phone got in a fight with our new kitchen floor and lost. Shattered screen, no more photos...nothing. OUCH! I am back in the game though and my pots and pans are finally stocked. Stay tuned for a recipe soon!