Quinoa and Honey Cake

by Diana

Quinoa has never been one of my best friends and I know I am not the only one who finds it slightly dull and challenging. We have a jar full of it that’s been sitting in our cupboard for the last year or so - a gift from my father in law, imported straight from Ecuador, quite a luxury- and I always felt guilty for not been able to use it, particularly as he is probably the only one who reads my posts! Also as I mentioned here before, I aim to adopt a waste-free cooking lifestyle so I have felt the pressure of getting my hands in that jar once and for all. 

In my search for flour alternatives - for the sake of fun rather than of the waistline- I came across this interesting and satisfying way of using the quinoa. The outcome was quite a filling cake,  still gluten full though, but great for breakfast or to enjoy after a light meal. I am sure a sugar free alternative would allow us to have it as a type of bread accompanying a healthy supper too but I’ll leave that choice to you.

Ultimately, after this experiment, my quinoa aversion seems to have vanished slightly now and soon I'll venture with another quinoa related recipe so that jar could be topped up once more.

© The Teaspoon

Chocolate Granola

by Diana

Granola takes me back to Sunday mornings back in Caracas when it was only the Avila and me- the city’s National Park. I have always enjoyed being the first one up in the morning, embracing the silence and solitude of the streets. During those years - approximately 15 years ago- it was safe enough for me to drive on my own to the start of the park’s popular track and to disappear in the mountain for an early hike and return home timely, when my dad, also an early bird, was just getting ready to buy the newspaper. We would then have breakfast together and spent the morning reading and talking whilst the rest of the house remained slept. Those were good times- probably my fondest memories of living there. 

At the entrance of the track there was a tunnel where you would always find a lady with a stand selling homemade coconut and passion fruit sorbets served in plastic cups and a guy, a distinctively hippie and smiley guy, making granola in some sort of hot pot and selling it to the hikers. The smell of the granola impregnated the tunnel, it was tempting and comforting and motivating enough to go to the summit with the rising sun. 

Over the years I’ve tried out so many granola recipes but none which I would ever repeat- until now! This is a simple, sugar and complications-free recipe that I hope will keep you company during those Autumn hikes to come. 

© The Teaspoon