Food For The Gods (A Filipino Date & Walnut Bar)

Food For The Gods (A Filipino Date & Walnut Bar)

Recipe source : Adapted from here

I was searching for Filipino recipes when I came across this cake. I find the name, " Food for the Gods" most unusual for a cake! Having said that, I remember having eaten this before. I searched my memory and it clicked back to a party many moons ago. The hostess was very proud to serve " Food for the Gods" which she had specially ordered for the occasion. She went round ensuring that her guests tasted this cake and she loved the look of surprise on her guests' faces as she mentioned the name of this cake!

I love the walnuts and chopped dates which made this cake chewy. 
This is truly sweet and decadent!

Ingredients

1 cup plain flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup dried dates, pitted and chopped
1 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup sugar
1 tbsp honey
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped

 Sugar, chopped walnuts and brown sugar

Dried dates. 

Chopped these and use only one cupful

Preparation

1.  Preheat oven to 180 degree C. I used a 9 inch square tin lined with parchment paper.
2.  Sift flour, salt and baking powder into a small bowl. Transfer half of this mixture to another bowl and dredge the chopped dates in it.
3.  Combined melted butter, brown sugar, sugar eggs and vanilla extract in a large bowl. Mix until batter is uniform. Add honey and mix again.
4.  Fold flour into the batter. Lastly fold in chopped walnuts and the dates which have been dredged in flour. 
5.  Pour batter into the prepared tin and bake in oven for 25 minutes or until done.
6.  Cool completely before slicing into bars.

I am submitting this post to Asian Food Fest  : Philippines

Hosted by Swee San of The Sweet Spot

Banana Walnut Cake 核桃香蕉蛋糕

Banana Walnut Cake 核桃香蕉蛋糕

Recipe Source :  From Ann Yeoh of La Manila cake shop, the recipe was featured in Flavours Magazine 

I read somewhere that walnuts are good for the brain, retards the aging process and prolongs longevity. No matter whether it is truth or fiction, I just love to eat walnuts.

Bananas are a definite no-no for people who are on diet. Most people believe that they contain high calories. However, I was told by a practitioner of Chinese herbal medicine that bananas are very good for the pancreas and is believed to be able to prevent diabetes. Her advice is of course not backed by scientific research.

One thing  for sure which I can vouched for is bananas and walnuts go very well together. This cake is very delicious indeed!

Ingredients

187g butter

150g sugar

3 eggs

300g super soft flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1 cup mashed banana (the banana must be fresh and ripe)

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions

1.  Preheat the oven to 160 degree C. 
2.  Grease a loaf pan and set aside. 
3.  Sift flour, baking powder and baking soda together. 
4.  Next, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. 
5.  Add eggs, one at a time. 
6.  Add sifted flour alternately with banana and walnuts. 
7.  Pour mixture into pan and bake for 30 - 35 minutes.

Fresh and ripe bananas

Super yummy !

Cookies : Cranberries-Chocolate Chip Cookies 酸果蔓朱古力曲奇

Cookies : Cranberries-Chocolate Chip Cookies 酸果蔓朱古力曲奇

I found this recipe in a magazine while waiting for my turn at the dentist's. I forgot to take note of the name of the magazine as I was busy copying down the recipe. I have switched many of the  ingredients used in the original recipe. This end result is just lovely.

 Yummy! mouth-watering!

Forget about cholesterol !  I use real butter 

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 stick butter, softened
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup castor sugar
3 tbsp light syrup
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups walnut, toasted and chopped
1 cup dried cranberries
1 1/4 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

 

1.  Preheat the oven at 190 degrees C
2.  Cream butter, sugar and syrup until just creamy
3.  Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Mix well
4.  Add in the flour in batches, beating between batches
5.  Add in the walnuts, cranberries and chocolate chips
6.  Refrigerate dough for 15 minutes
7.  Brush baking trays with butter or margarine or spray with vegetable oil
8.  Drop rounded tablespoonfuls of dough onto prepared baking tray, 5 cm apart.
9.  Bake cookies at 190 degrees C for about 15 minutes 
10.  Return the remaining dough into the refrigerator until it's time to bake the next batch
11. Cool cookies and store them in air-tight containers