I’m going to be honest with you: I stopped feeling inspired in the kitchen sometime last trimester. I’m still into eating, eating is great, but I just don’t want to be the one making the food. It takes so much mental energy to think of what to make. A few weeks ago, on a Thursday night when we had friends coming into town for the weekend, I realized with panic, sometime around 6 or 7 p.m., that we hadn’t planned ahead for dinner and now we had to think of something fast, and then our friends arrived, and I was starving, so we pulled out the Vitamix
PS! Send me all your easy recipes! And, should a miracle put me into nesting mode the next few weeks, I welcome all freezer recipes, too. It’d be nice to prep a bunch of meals ahead of time, theoretically, so tell me what you’ve got!
Lazy Easy Chocolate Cake + Date-Sweetened Chocolate Frosting
Adapted from the wacky cake recipe I posted in 2011 and this frosting recipe from 80twenty.ca
Makes one 8 x 8 cake, or about 9 servings
Ingredients:
for the cake:
1 1/2 cups your favorite all-purpose flour (I used einkorn
3/4 to 1 cup coconut sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup cocoa powder
6 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup water
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
for the frosting:
1 cup (about 7 or 8) pitted medjool dates
1/2 cup boiling water
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 tablespoon all-natural peanut or almond butter
Pinch of salt
Directions:
for the cake:
Preheat the oven to 350F degrees and grease an 8″ x 8″ pan. To mix the batter, you can use a mixer and a bowl or you can go laaaaazy and pull out your high-powered blender or food processor and dump all the ingredients inside. I first dumped in the dry ingredients, pulsed just enough to stir them together, then added the wet, using the Vitamix
for the frosting:
While the cake is cooking, get out a high-powered blender or food processor and add the dates and boiling water. Let them sit for 10 to 15 minutes; then blend until super smooth. If you’re doing this in a Vitamix, use the tamper to make sure everything gets smooshed around.
Add the remaining ingredients and blend again until smooth. Once the cake has cooled, top with this frosting and enjoy! Leftovers should be kept in the fridge.
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Helene @ French Foodie Baby says
Shanna, I can definitely relate to this feeling and the gratitude we feel for those willing to make us good food during those phases, my mother fills that role for me on a regular basis, and I for her, when she needs it 🙂 I feel certain your motivation in the kitchen will definitely return when Baby starts eating solids (if not a lot sooner), but I can imagine that seems such a long way away right now. That did happen for me in a big way. Anyway, a couple of recipes jumped to my head when reading the post. One is this very easy watermelon gazpacho which your Vitaminix will produce in seconds. Perfect with summer coming… http://www.cannellevanille.com/small-plates-and-sweet-treats/sharing-a-watermelon-tomato-and-almond-gazpacho-from-small-plates-and-sweet-treats/
And I saw a zucchini ceviche at our farmer’s market the other day: just cut up raw unpeeled zucchini with lemon, a little olive oil and lots of cilantro, it was kind of amazing and so quick! Enjoy nesting xo 🙂
Shanna Mallon says
Oh, thank you, Helene, both for the recipes and for the empathetic words. I love the way you’ve fed Pablo and raised him to be such a food lover, and I hope we get to do that, too. You’re right it seems a long way away! It’s so nice to hear wise words from people who’ve gone before and can speak with knowledge about how it all happens and keeps happening and you’ve just gotta ride it as it comes. Thankful for you!
Kate says
I LOVE the sound of this frosting! x
Shanna Mallon says
Try it! : )
Sophia says
I think however much one likes to cook and bake, there will inevitably be seasons when you don’t feel like it, especially when big things are happening in other areas of your life (like bringing a little human into the world!). And I agree with Kate, the chocolate frosting sounds divine – I have been baking brownies with only dates for sweetness recently and I adore them so I can just imagine how good and fudgey that frosting must be!
Shanna Mallon says
Oh, so true! Even when you love something, there are seasons when it gets overshadowed. That is comforting to me to hear, Sophia. Thank you!
Lori says
Shanna…I’ve never utilized my crock pot like I should until I decided one day to research HEALTHY recipes for it. I came across a brilliant idea from the search by a gal who felt the same way I did about crock pot usage….you still have to spend time in the morning or night before to prep the food before it goes into the pot. When you are tired at the end of the day or trying to rush out the door in the morning, this is just one more thing you don’t want to have to add to your agenda. She decided to take one afternoon to gather, chop and prepare all the ingredients for several recipes at one time. She placed each ingredient in their individual zip lock style bag, placed those bags into a larger zip bag, placed the recipe for the ingredients in its own separate bag, placed it in the larger bag and placed the “prepped recipe” bag in the freezer. The only thing I omitted was the liquid required from any of the recipes I found to preserve freezer space. In the morning, you pull a “frozen recipe” from the freezer and all that’s needed is to add all the contents to the crock pot, along with any required liquid. In a few hours on one Sunday afternoon, I was able to ready about 8 healthy meals and soups for the freezer for future use. With a new baby on the way for you and Tim, this might be a great way to prepare now so it’s one less thing to have to think about after Baby M arrives.
Shanna Mallon says
Lori! This is just the tip I need! Doing it. Thank you!
Jacqui says
Easy: chicken adobo http://www.happyjackeats.com/2010/11/my-familys-chicken-adobo-recipe.html
Freezer: BBQ beef sandwiches http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/braised_bbq_beef_sandwich/
Pregnancy/Mommy brain: A real thing. Baby’s taking evvvvverything, including brain power. And did you know that once he’s born, your hair could start falling out? Yeah, I think I’m going bald.
Shanna Mallon says
Oh, man, yes to the recipes and yes to someone else getting what I mean about mommy brain. It is so real. Also PS haha about the hair loss! Real talk I could lose an entire head of hair and it would still look full. #blessingandcurse
felicia | Dish by Dish says
Shanna!!!! Soon, soon soon!! So excited for you! I imagine it must be difficult to think of recipes to whip up with all the other things you need to think about! What an amazing and also crazy time!! But so happy for you (excuse all my exclamation marks!!).
sending plenty of Buenos Aires love,
felicia
felicia | Dish by Dish says
Btw, some easy recipes from my blog – hope they are worth adding to your library of easy recipes!
Rainbow veggie rolls (you can cook the veggies if you can’t eat raw):
http://dishbydish.net/2014/11/24/rainbow-vegetable-rolls-spicy-peanut-sauce/
Pan-fried tofu & soba salad (or use tempeh if you prefer):
http://dishbydish.net/2014/06/02/pan-fried-tofu-soba-salad/
Beef & onion stuffed bell peppers (or stuff with rice and beans):
http://dishbydish.net/2013/11/11/beef-onion-stuffed-bell-peppers/
Peach & arugula bruschetta (should you need to whip something easy for guests):
http://dishbydish.net/2014/12/29/peach-arugula-bruschetta/
ENJOY my friend!! <3
Shanna Mallon says
Thanks, Felicia!
Bethany says
I could not resist! This cake is in the oven right now. I think we are in the same frame of mind, friend. You may get a little push to cook or bake more towards the end – that tends to be my pattern. I made the Raw Berry Cream pie for Mother’s Day and pretty much demolished the whole thing by myself by Tuesday. And I’m waiting for my CSA basket of berries this coming weekend to make another.
For the frosting, if I don’t have any dates in the house would you recommend another method or recipe?
Enjoy your final days with your baby bump – they are precious!
Shanna Mallon says
Yay! I love that! My kindred! : ) And if you don’t have any dates, I’d do a simple whipped cream (either with cream or with coconut cream, sweetened with maple syrup) or another idea would be banana cream — have you seen this? http://www.thekitchn.com/bananas-the-new-buttercream-old-ingredient-new-trick-198691. Of course if none of those were doable I wouldn’t let that stop me from eating piece after piece on their own, haha!
Jennifer says
So excited for you! It’s so weird what happens to us during pregnancy. I went through a phase of wanting to cook, buying ingredients, and then getting grossed out by the idea of “ingredients.” I wanted to buy the ingredients, I wanted to eat the result, but something about looking at them in the cooking process was so repulsive that I actually had to throw them away a few times. So bizarre.
Hang in there! I’ll be praying for you.
Shanna Mallon says
haha! that actually makes perfect sense to me! comforting or troubling? haha! and thank you!
Katie says
Easy dinner ideas: #1 my husband pounds out organic chicken breasts for us once a week and marinates them in a freezer bag at lunch (he works from home). You can really just eyeball it – olive oil, lemon juice, soy sauce, red pepper flakes, sugar, garlic, balsamic vinegar. (loosely based on pioneer woman’s recipe for grilled chicken). Then we cook them off and eat on top of salad- super quick and flavorful! #2: Baked yams topped w/ black beans, cheese, sauteed onion/bell pepper, salsa & green onions- quick/easy and tasty. #3: frittata- this is my favorite “use up the fridge” recipe w/ whatever sauteed veggies you have laying around, eggs + milk, some fresh herbs, a little cheese (feta is great), bake at 400. Lastly #4: Again my husband usually preps this one for us: barbacoa beef recipe from gimme some oven- throw the ingredients in the slow cooker and it turns out great every time! We usually eat it in tacos. Hope those help! (I haven’t had “pregnancy brain” myself but I’ve heard about it from all my friends who’ve had babies!)
Shanna Mallon says
Oooh good ideas! I think I need to sit down and list out a bunch of recipes and just go through them one by one in prep. Seriously coming up with ideas is the toughest part so thank you for these!
Alicia says
Sounds like you’re just in non-kitchen nesting mode! 😀 I had some weeks like that too with feeling so uninspired in the kitchen, and then all my anxious waiting energy kicked in those last weeks and the kitchen became the best place to be, haha! This cake looks so easy + yum, and I’ve been hungry for some chocolate cake…this will do perfectly! Plus I love the date-sweetened frosting idea. (PS. I ate Medjool dates regularly throughout labor and I really do think it helped to keep my energy levels up…any excuse to eat those little morsels is good with me, hehe!)
Shanna Mallon says
haha! I think I’m still waiting for my croissant phase to kick in : ) And oooh that is good to know about dates during labor! Thank you!
Joanna says
Well, I love chocolate cake AND dates, so this is a winner for me. And you know what? I say use this hall pass to not think about food and meals or anything else but the baby. Everything else will still be there in 18 years. 🙂
Shanna Mallon says
hahaha! that sounds nice.
Kathryn says
I’m generally of the opinion that however you feel right now, you should just go with it. Whether that means cooking/not-cooking or doing/not-doing whatever you feel like. It’s all good. As for this chocolate cake? It sounds pretty perfect to me.
Shanna Mallon says
: ) I can always count on you for a sensible response. Thanks, K!
Amy @ Thoroughly Nourished Life says
A big simple and delicious cake sounds just like what you need right now.
And don’t worry about the lack of interest in cooking, your body is very busy doing something incredibly awesome: baking a human!
I’m sure once the little Food Loves Writing comes into the world you will get right back into the kitchen 🙂
Enjoy the last few weeks!
Shanna Mallon says
Aw, thanks, Amy!
Lindsey @ a honey blossom says
This cake looks great! I am always up for a new “everyday cake” recipe, and I love that this one has date sweetened frosting! It’s nice to have our sweets without consuming huge amounts of refined sugar. Thanks! 🙂
Elise says
Just had to say that I saved this recipe and told my husband today (as I’m in my 2nd trimester) that I needed a “healthy” dessert b/c I’m craving something. Came across this recipe I had saved and just read your comments about your baby brain and struggling. Its been so hard! I don’t want to cook or anything, just want to get take-out. I’m going to make this yummy looking dessert and savor it and the fact that I made something.
shanna mallon says
Oh, bless your heart, I remember those days so well. I’m so glad you found this cake and hope you enjoyed it. You will get through these days! Someday you’ll feel like you can think clearly again, haha! Wish you the absolute best!
Margaret says
I just bought dates and can’t wait to try making this frosting! I think I’ll put it on some cupcakes.
James Garvey says
dates, chocolate AND nut butter? who even needs the cake with frosting like that?
Who am I kidding? I do.