EVENT: FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP
THEME: #245 LOVE FOR COFFEE
The theme name is so apt when it comes to hubby and me, as we both love coffee. Having said that, I’m a little surprised that I really don’t have that many recipes on the blog where I’ve used coffee powder or granules as an ingredient. However, that has been taken care of to some degree with the coffee and walnut cake that I prepared for the theme.
FoodieMonday/Bloghop Theme
Before I get into the whole coffee story a reminder that the FoodieMonday/ Bloghop group members decide on a theme and post a new recipe every Monday. For this week Sasmita who blogs at First Timer Cook suggested that we use Coffee to make our dishes. General consensus was that it shouldn’t be the famous Dalgona Coffee that everyone is trying out at home, including myself. cannot believe how just three ingredients coffee powder, water and sugar can create such a airy foam. Now we all know the Coffee is a Pantry Essential Ingredient in most homes…it certainly is for me. Having said that, I am so missing the South Indian Filtered Coffee.
Coffee and Kenya
Mention the word Coffee and most certainly the name Kenya will come up. During our travels (my feet are itching to get on a flight!) one of the things that hubby and I love is visiting small local cafes to enjoy coffee. Most Cafes in Canada or UK also sell freshly ground coffee blends and the minute we read Kenyan Coffee, can’t help but get excited. Go to Starbucks (well when we get back to normal!) and Kenyan Coffee is there. Most of the coffee plantations in Kenya are still owned by small scale holders. The main areas where coffee is widely grown in Kenya are:
- Mt. Kenya region: Thika, Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Kiambu, and Muranga
- Eastern Region: Embu, Meru and Machakos
- Western Region: Bungoma, Mt Elgon
- Rift Valley Region : Nandi Hills
Kenya grows both the varieties of coffee, Robusta and Arabica. Kenyan coffee is world famous because of its bold, high, smooth acidity with a mellow after-taste similar to wine. It is the world leader when it comes to exporting Arabica Coffee.
What is Coffee?
Coffee is a brewed drink from the roasted beans. These roasted beans are the seeds of berries from the Coffea Species. The roasted beans are processed into granules or powder which is then brewed with water. Basically, coffee is bitter and contains caffeine. Its the caffeine that gives the ‘kickstart to the day” for many.
Most Interesting Coffee -Kopi Luwak
It has to be the Luwak Coffee that is widely available in Indonesia. However, popularity as a tourist attraction has resulted in the animals being abused. Basically, the Luwak or Civet cat(Asian Palm Civet) eats coffee berries. These berries are then fermented as they pass through the intestines of the cat. The cherries are passed by the cat in their faeces along with other waste. The beans are collected from the faecal matter, washed and roasted. Understably, it is one of the most expensive coffee!
A Collection of Recipes with Coffee that might interest you:
- Cold Brew Coffee with Cardamom by Sasmita
- Homemade Cold Coffee
- Eggless Coffee and Cream Muffins
- Coffee Cinnamon Churros
- Biscuit Pudding
- Pumpkin Spice Latte
- No Churn Coffee Almond Ice Cream by Renu
- Eggless Tiramisu Mousse by Swaty
- Dalgona Coffee by Archana
- Chocolate Affogato by Preethi
- Easy Mocha Semifreddo by Archana
- Cocoa Coffee Mini Bundt Cake by Poonam
- 2 minute Coffee Cocoa Mug Cake by Kalyani
- Coffee Cookies by Sujata
- Cold Coffee with Coffee Jelly by Aruna
- Coffee Chocolate Muffins (baked without an oven) by Narmadha
- Cold Coffee without Ice-cream by Priya
- Coffee Panna Cotta by Sasmita
Memories….
During our first trip to Bali, along with breakfast we were served Bali Coffee. Its consumed without adding milk. Not knowing how it should be drunk, I stirred it after adding sugar. The coffee granules all floated up and then drinking the coffee was not such an exciting experience. The villa manager then explained how we should enjoy it… add sugar, stir, wait for the granules to settle and then sip. Next day coffee was so much better.
During our visit to Thailand, the most flavorful coffee and sweet! was whenever we wanted a cool drink. Condensed milk and boba are added if you ask for coffee. Sooo delicious and cooling too.
I will never forget the excitement on my mum’s face years ago when hubby told her that he would like to take her out for coffee. She got ready, we walked down from home to Broadwalk Shopping Centre, Edgware. She was smiling from ear to ear. When I asked her why she was so happy? Her reply, “Its the first time someone has taken me out for Coffee.” I was totally surprised. So I told her that she does go out with my dad often and her reply was “yes but for snacks and tea, not coffee!”
My recipe for the theme: Coffee and Walnut Cake
I really wanted to make the famous Affagato, the Italian dessert. Its one of the easiest and yummiest but unfortunately on the list of my online shopping I didn’t get Vanilla Ice Cream. So that recipe will have to wait for a while. Hubby insisted that I bake a cake, I personally was not too excited by the suggestion. However, that changed when I took a bite of the baked Coffee and Walnut Cake. Can’t remember when I baked a ‘proper’ cake. Usually its the mixture of dry and wet ingredients that I follow….the easy way! Believe you me, the traditional way of creaming the sugar and fat, whisking in the eggs and then the flour produces a cake texture that literally melts in your mouth. I used this recipe as a guidance.
Ingredients Required For Coffee and Walnut Cake:
- Coffee – a strong brewed coffee. I used Dorman Medium Roast Granules. I added 2 tsps to ⅓ cup of hot water and allowed it to rest for at least 10 minutes. You can use coffee of your choice or any instant coffee powder.
- Wheat Flour – I replaced the plain flour from the recipe I followed totally with wheat flour.
- Eggs – large ones, remember leave them out to reach room temperature
- Butter – I used butter, but you can replace it with oil. Need some also for the icing.
- Baking Powder
- Salt – added a pinch to balance the sweetness
- Walnuts – Make sure you roast them lightly. Chopped walnuts to add into the batter and also some for topping
- Cinnamon Powder – for flavour
- Sugar – I replaced the refined white sugar with brown sugar
- Coffee Icing – totally optional but highly recommend it.
- Icing Sugar – for the icing or glaze.
Dietary Tips:
Egg Free Option:
For this particular cake I have not tried out the eggless version but replacing the eggs with yogurt should work well. For one egg the replacement is ¼ cup plain yogurt +½ baking powder.
COFFEE AND WALNUT CAKE
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 1½ cup wheat flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp cinnamon powder
- ⅛ tsp salt
- 100 g butter, softened I used salted
- 1 cup brown sugar soft
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup cold brewed coffee strong
- ¼ cup milk
- ½ cup walnuts roasted and chopped
Coffee Icing (optional):
- 1 cup icing sugar
- 1 tbsp butter softened
- 2 tbsp cold brewed coffee strong
Instructions
Preparation of the cake:
- Preheat the oven to 160°C.
- Line a 8"X4" loaf tin with parchement paper. Or you can lightly rub butter all over the inside. Dust with flour. Tap the tin to remove excess flour.
- Sift flour, cinnamon powder, salt and baking powder together into a bowl.
- Mix the brewed coffee and milk.
- Take a mixing bowl and add butter and sugar.
- Cream the butter and sugar till its light, fluffy and becomes pale in colour.
- Add one egg and whisk well. Add the second egg and whisk.
- Add ⅓ of the flour mixture. Mix till the flour is incorporated into the mixture.
- Add half of the coffee and milk mixture. Mix well.
- Add ⅓ of the flour mixture and mix till the flour is incorporated into the mixture.
- Add the remaining coffee and milk mixture. Mix well.
- Add the remaining flour mixture. Mix till the flour is incorporated into the mixture. The batter will be sligtly thick.
- Pour the batter into the prepared tin.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes or till a skewer or toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- If it is not done by 50-60 minutes, lower the temperature to 100°C and let it bake for a further 5 minutes.
- Take the tin out of the oven and let the cake cool in the tin for 10 minutes.
- Carefully remove the cake from the tin and place it on a wire rack to allow it to cool down completely.
Preparation of the Coffee Icing:
- Mix sugar and butter with a whisk or a fork.
- Add the coffee brew ½ tbsp at a time till you get a thick paste.
- Enjoy the cake with some coffee or tea.
Pin for Later:
A little request:
If you do try this recipe then please either
- add a comment below,
- send a picture to my email mayuri.ajay.patel62@gmail.com
- tag me as #mayuri_jikoni on Instagram
- or tag me on Twitter as #Mayuri1962