I had started this post on another note. But then something prompted me to rewrite it in another way, to share a perspective – about different kinds of opinions,  about breaking internal barriers, about evolving times and then some more.
It’s interesting to hear many schools of thought from various bakers – how healthy baking is a fad or what we consume through our traditional bakes is not harmful or even better, there is nothing called healthy baking.
Has happened to me as well –Â healthy bakes are an acquired taste, they come to you over a period of time. Have you given it that time ? As I think back to my own approach, I know I can say this with absolute conviction – even the best of us can sometimes get trapped in the confines of our own minds, get tricked by our own taste buds, get slowed down by our own lack of courage.
But what if, just what if we opened the window of our mind a wee bit – If we simply make a small change? Instead of beginning with the mindset that they can’t be yum, let’s just re-align our minds to understand that they will be different. That’s it. You have taken the most important step.
Because you know what – closed minds will always lead to redundancies – no matter what area of work or passion you follow. Because the world is evolving and if we keep following rule-based baking and do not experiment with healthier ingredients, guess who loses – our family and friends, because they deserve healthier options and as the bakers it is our responsibility to make that change. Yes rules are good, but work with rules in a way that you put your wellness first and rules second. Not the other way round:)
So what’s YOURÂ next step ?
Blame it on your present lifestyle? You may have done that already.
Change food habits to suit present lifestyle – Have you done this yet?
Assure yourself of how we have grown up with these ingredients? You may have done that already.
Tell yourself that what you eat as you ‘grow older’ should change too –– Have you done this yet?
Oh but you eat all that stuff only of special occasions –You may have done that already.
Oh but you love your tea biscuits daily, so should you change that-– Have you done this yet?
So here’s a recipe to ease you into Healthy Baking (it does exist!)
Wholewheat Apple-Coconut Cake
1 1/2 cups of wholewheat flour
1 1/2 tsp of baking powder
1 large apple, peeled and grated
1/2 cup of grated fresh coconut
1/2 cup of coconut sugar
2-3 tbsp of honey
3 eggs
100 grams butter
1 tsp of cinnamon ( freshly grated)
Almonds ( chopped)
Method –Â
Preheat the oven at 170 degrees C.
Sift wholewheat flour, baking powder, cinnamon powder and keep aside. Grease and dust a 7×7 square pan.
Mix the butter, honey and coconut sugar with a whisk first then beat them well so that it becomes creamy. Add the eggs one at a time and beat well.
Add the sifted flour-bp-cinnamon mix into the tin. Lastly fold the grated apple, coconut and almonds into the batter gently. No need to beat at this stage.
Transfer it into the tin, bake at 170 C for 45 minutes, until it becomes golden brown. Cool it well before de-moulding it.
🙂
