My grain free sheet cake

Going grain free is a scary proposition for some people because, cake. Who can live without eating cake? Well, apparently I can, because I have for the last four plus years. The truth is though, going grain free does not mean you have to go without cake. There are many options to make cakes without grains, like my new favourite, which is a cinnamon sheet cake made with mostly eggs and almond flour. Sorry vegetarians/vegans, will try to revisit this another time to find an option (that works!) for you.

The recipe fits perfectly into the smaller of these lovely stainless steel baking trays which I absolutely recommend because I have not been disappointed with the outcome (even though I have literally over-cooked them every single time - I need an oven with a timer - I want one like this.) and how easy it is to clean up this tray - plus the mirror finish just wows me every time I look at it!

Because I hate when I have to scroll too far for recipes, I am putting this one right here and you can continue to read on below if you wish.

Ingredients and instructions

4 eggs (plus lemon/lime zest)
3 tablespoons (or more) cinnamon
½ teaspoon sea salt
1½ cup erythritol
¾ cup maple syrup (or ½ cup coconut oil and honey)
2 teaspoons baking soda
4 cups super-fine almond flour
½ cup coconut oil, melted
1 tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)
1 cup buttercream frosting (optional: try this mix)

Set oven to preheat: 350°F.

Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and grease the sides with coconut oil.
Place eggs & zest, cinnamon, salt, erythritol, ACV, and (honey & coconut oil or) maple syrup in a large bowl and whisk together until mixed.
Fold in: baking soda and half of the almond flour.
Add the ½ cup coconut oil and remaining almond flour then mix well.

Scoop the batter onto the parchment paper in the prepared sheet pan and spread into an even layer.
Bake 30-35 minutes or until golden brown on top and it passes the toothpick test.
Turn off your oven (if necessary) and then allow the cake to rest for ~10-15 minutes until cool.
If using frosting, spread the frosting on the cake and then chill for ~20 minutes to set. Slice and enjoy.
Tip: If there is any cake left, store in the refrigerator.

My sheet cake recipe was adapted from a vanilla cake recipe I found online and since I didn't have vanilla extract I improvised the recipe and turned it into a cinnamon flavoured cake which is the version I continue to make, because vanilla (or vanilla extract) is kind of an expensive ingredient for me  to use on an everyday cake - although I would love to try that version some day. 

What I love about this sheet cake recipe is its simple adaptability to grain free components perhaps because it is flat and also because of how forgiving the recipe is in terms of measurements. I have yet to actually properly measure most of the components and still the cake comes out great and tastes great! Can't beat that.

Also, I appreciate that the "frosting" can be made in a way that is also compliant to my way of eating. Truthfully though I have yet to try the frosting as I am experimenting with a dairy free life these days and most of the ones I would like to make start with whipping cream or something like that, but the cake has been really tasty without frosting.

Check out my dedicated blog for grain free recipes here.

My story of computers

In the old days, Dell and Microsoft had my vote - they seemed to be fairly reliable from my limited experience with them. Nowadays, I trust no brands. Every brand has to prove itself because one thing that seems to be consistent is their complete inconsistency in quality. If you disagree, please tell me which brand does not appear to be this way.

Worse too, now Microsoft has been gradually restricting what users can accomplish with systems over time, becoming more and more like the Apple counterparts which gave no credit to intelligence in end users and limited everything. So much for improvement with time.

When shopping for computers, it is difficult to know what to choose. Most have some sullied review or two, even though the overall rating may be above four stars. There is also the cost, which tends to limit what I can afford to purchase. Perhaps if cost wasn't a factor, I would find that I could still rely on one brand or another? I'm willing to be disabused!

Next on my mind is the issue of the environment. It bothers me to no end that instead of getting more reliable and lasting longer, computers, like most devices, are lasting a shorter period and requiring replacement faster. For devices that rely on plastic that is not getting recycled in any significant quantity, this does not bode well for the environment. And we thought plastic bottles were a problem. Is anyone looking at Microsoft or Apple and all those phone makers, too numerous to name and asking them to make their products more environmentally friendly? Shouldn't someone be asking that question? At least with plastic bottles, I can simply choose not to buy and use my reusable glass or stainless steel bottles. What am I to do about a computer?

Some keyboards don't even outlast the computer they came with. Why is that? We also have the concern of laptops with their built-in keyboards, which means you have to be careful because if you spill something on it, you may end up needing a whole new computer. I'm having to consider investing in one of these little protectors, just to be sure this does not happen with my laptop. Don't get me started on the computer mouse devices. I've changed two already on my work computer and have at least two at home that conked out so I had to replace them, because, do I know anyone who fixes them? If you do, drop me a comment below. All in all, computers (if they haven't been profiled yet by Story of Stuff, they should be) and phone are a necessary evil but their makers need to take responsibility for what they are putting into the environment and they need to do it now, not later.

Something you believe needs to exist...

Is there something you believe needs to exist?
Don't let yourself talk yourself out of it. Take the time. Steal it from things that are merely urgent. 

If you wait for "a better time" you'll never do it. 

Whatever small, symbolic start you can make this instant, make it. "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Take that first step.

Mark the flutist, Phil the guitarist, Dave the audio tech and Sean the graphics guy are happy they stole the time from their too-busy schedules to bring DeepFlute Dulcinea into existence.

Excerpted from the Monday Morning Memo by Roy H Williams - 11/6/2006 

When you have taken the time and created and beta-tested, check out this webinar on Samcart and sign up so you can share it with the world because the world needs your gift.