Lemon Spice Cake

Lemon Spice Cake Vegan

Dry ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups plain flour

• 1/4 cup dark brown sugar

• 1 cup raisins

• 2 tablespoons cacao or top-grade cocoa

• 1 tablespoon instant coffee

• 1 dessert spoon baking powder

• 1 teaspoon creme of tartar

• 1 dessertspoon cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon cardamom

• 1 cup slithered almonds

Wet ingredients:

• 3/4 cup maple syrup

• 1 cup mashed banana or apple puree

• 1/2 cup extra virgin coconut oil

• 1 tablespoon of Cointreeau-orange liqueur or brandy

• 1/2 cup honey

Method:

1. Preheat oven slow moderate

2. Line square cake tin

3. Mix all dry ingredients except slithered almonds.

4. Blend all wet ingredients.

5. Blend until light and fluffy

6. Combine wet and dry ingredients

7. Ladle into the prepared tin

8. smother the top with almonds

9. Bake about an hour or till straw comes out clean

10. Remove from oven, leave in the tin

11. Pour syrup over the surface while the cake is still hot

12. When cool remove from tin and put into an airtight container

13. Best left one day before eating. (I prefer two days)

14. Serve by itself or with Berry Compote.

Make Syrup:

• juice of 2 lemons

• 3/4 cup rosewater

• 2 tablespoons honey

Method:

1. Simmer honey and lemon juice 1 minute

2. remove from heat, add rosewater

Berry Compote

Put any amount of berries into a pot over low heat, add a little brandy or fruit juice, then sugar to taste. Bring to simmer, squeeze a lemon and add juice to taste. Serve hot or cold.

Health Benefits of Berries:

These tiny gifts of nature keep their health-giving properties whether cooked or raw. Berries are powerhouses of nutrition because they contain high levels of phytochemicals that help protect us from cell damage. According to research published in the neurology journal, tests show that those who eat a minimum of two servings of berries per week have a 25% less chance of developing Parkinson's disease and have good memory retention.