Monday, October 25, 2021

Are you ready for a Hike?

 
I hope you're not tired of seeing the Swamp Sunflowers! 


We found some in the most unexpected place! 


Halpata Tastanaki Preserve from the hwy 200 trailhead is DRY! The trail is soft white sand in places!


But we saw more of the sunflowers there than the wetter areas at the Pruitt Trailhead.


They've put up a new sign, which looks nice and we will walk to the right of this photo along the sandy trail to begin and make a loop.

OK! Now let's switch gears! We still order our groceries online and pick them up at Walmart! Easy peasy!


And this week, our shopper gave us a bag filled with freebies. What a nice surprise! Thanks Walmart!

We usually just stick with grocery items but this week, I put a Wilton Bundt pan in the order. And for less than $9 I have a new bundt pan for my favorite cake recipe!


Thanks to my blog friends at The Low Carb Diabetic here, I have a cake that I can eat! YAY! I am allergic to sugar and usually just do without dessert but now I have this apple cake to enjoy! Here's the link to the original recipe HERE.


I cut it into serving sizes and freeze them in a ziplock bag. That way I can take out just one serving, thaw it and even put a few drops of water on top and microwave it for 15 seconds to eat it hot! 

Here's the recipe!

Apple Cake

8 servings
1 1/4 cup (140 g) blanched almond flour
1/4 cup (24 g) coconut flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. xanthan gum
1/2 tsp. sea or kosher salt
1 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
3 apples, peeled, cored and sliced thin
1/4 cup (56g) butter or ghee, room temp.
1/2 cup xylitol or Swerve powdered
1/4 cup juice from lemon (about 1 and 1/2 lemons)
4 eggs, room temp
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch Bundt pan with oil (well)
2. In a small bowl, add almond flour, coconut flour, baking soda, xanthan gum, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Put aside.
3. In a standing mixer with the paddle attachment, add the room temperature butter and sweetener (xylitol or Swerve). Beat on high for 3 minutes until it is light and fluffy.
4. Turn the mixer to medium high and add 1 egg at a time, making sure it’s incorporated into the batter before adding the next. When all eggs are added, add the vanilla.
5. Add half of the lemon juice. Add the dry mixture to the bowl, mix and then add the remaining lemon juice.
6. Fold in the apples with a spatula. Batter should be light and airy. Add to the Bundt pan and spread to even out the top.
7. Bake for 35 minutes until edges are slightly brown and toothpick comes out clean.
8. Place on a cooling rack for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, take the cake out of the pan by placing the cooling rack over the pan and flipping it over.

And take my word for it....it is AMAZING!
 
I've tried a few brands of almond flour and I've had good results with all of them. The one I used for this recipe had some coconut flour mixed in so that worked good!


Have you had a good week too?

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE . 

Also I like Thursdays HERE.   

48 comments:

Vee said...

I would never hike this place alone so it is good to enjoy the swamp daisies with you. Glad that you have a recipe you can enjoy. I made a rustic apple tart over the weekend, which was very tasty. Wonder if you could make pastry with the flours you use.

jp@A Green Ridge said...

Really like your sunny grouping of flowers you two found! And now, I cannot stop thinking about that darn APPLE CAKE so it's been added to my TTD list!!...jp

MadSnapper said...

you can never show too many sunflowers for me. they make me feel happy. i spent a few minutes trying to pronouce the name of the park. ha ha on me. the cake sounds delish

Edna B said...

I love your sunflowers, and that cake sounds delicious! You have a super day, hugs, Edna B.

Tom said...

...apple cake and yellow flowers, what more can you ask for?

David M. Gascoigne, said...

I was interested in Vee's comment above. She is probably far safer walking there alone than in a street in most cities.

Karin M. said...

Das ist eine schΓΆne Fotoserie...leuchtende Farbe...
und der Kuchen sieht sehr lecker aus..
LG. Karin M.

Beside a babbling brook... said...

Never too many sunflowers!

And they make a lovely header too.

Hooray for a cake you can eat.

I have not had much luck with baking, for G/F, myself. I guess I prefer to get small-ish loaf cakes, baked in the great G/F grocery kitchen.

We do most of our grocery shopping with Order on line and pick up.. Our store is a Hannaford.

πŸπŸŒ°πŸŒ»πŸ‚πŸŽƒπŸ‚πŸŒ»πŸŒ°πŸ

Inger said...

Yellow flowers cheer me up, love the sun flowers. After blogging, I will enter my Walmart pick up order for pick up tomorrow. I got a nice little bag like that for Christmas, it was quite a surprise.

Debbie said...

such a pretty path...i like the sign, letting hikers know what they might be lucky enough to see. the swamp sunflowers are so pretty, the mosaic of them is unique and beautiful!!

we food shop through stop n shop and have the food delivered!! the cake looks so delicious, i'm glad you found something you can enjoy. jans blog is great!!

Olde Dame Holly said...

I will never get tired of seeing those pretty yellow swamp sunflowers! The cake looks great! I agree about Walmart - very easy to order and go pick up. Except they have gone down to fulfilling only about 1/2 of each order now -- shortages -

eileeninmd said...

Hello,

The swamp sunflowers are beautiful, such a cheery sight. The trail and park looks nice, a pretty sky day! Your cake sounds delicious, thanks for sharing the recipe! Enjoy your day and the week ahead!

Carol @Comfort Spring Station said...

is this flower the same thing as dune sunflower?

Terri D said...

Your cake looks good! Nice that you have a sweet you can enjoy! I love those swamp sunflowers! A new favorite! Have a great week! xo

Ricki Treleaven said...

I love your floral photos...they truly brighten my day!

Connie said...

I'm always ready to take a hike with you. Hike and dessert, I ask you, what is better than that?

Billy Blue Eyes said...

They look like big yellow daisy's we have in the UK. Sounds a nice cake but I'm not sure you could have eaten the Victoria Sponge I made tonight

Linda said...

I truly do love your swamp sunflowers!!
Summer was sitting outside at the campfire circle making her Walmart order to pick up tonight. She's been getting too tired so last night she crashed and burned and stayed in bed until noon today. I believe she's gone to El Dorado to pick the order up now. Was it you who said this is where you are from? It is certainly beautiful here and we are having a great time!

kathyinozarks said...

Hi, I am so glad you found me again and dropped by for a visit-it has been awhile, and I had also started up a new blog as well. I enjoyed your post. I do like keto sweeteners to cut back on the sugars and carbs, and having to bake gluten free for me they work well with that flour too. My oven broke last month-what a bad time of year to lose my oven-sigh. Loving those flowers too Hugs Kathy

Gillena Cox said...

The swamp sunflowers are bright and cheerful.
Thanks for dropping by and linking up at Monday WRites today

MuchπŸ’œlove

Lowcarb team member said...

I never tire of seeing sunflowers, they are such a cheerful, colourful flower.

I am SO PLEASED you enjoyed the apple cake recipe, it is a winner :)
Many thanks for the link back to the low carb diabetic blog.

Enjoy your week (and the apple cake).

All the best Jan

Ann said...

Freebies are always nice. That apple cake sure does look good.

happyone said...

The flowers are beautiful.
Are you allergic to all sugar or just white sugar? What about sugar in fruit?

Jenn Jilks said...

I love the flowers!

DVArtist said...

Hi I don't know how I love your blog. The flowers are lovely, I would like very much to hike that area. Ohhh yes Jan is fabulous over at Low Carb Diabetic. some of the best recipes. Have a very nice evening.

Lorrie said...

The swamp sunflowers are so bright and pretty. It's been a grey dark day here, so I'm happy to see sunny yellow flowers. I'd love to hike that area. Your cake looks delicious, and I'm glad you found a recipe that you can eat. Enjoy every mouthful!

Blondie's Journal said...

I admire your sense of adventure and finding beauty in hiking! I hope to get into that once my crazy back has healed. Seeing new to me flowers and plants would be fantastic!

I've only ever ordered paper goods from Walmart. Since I'm vaccinated, I've gone back to doing my shopping in person with a mask of course, which is required in most every place. I loved the convenience of having groceries delivered, not so much the cost. And I'm super picky about fruits and vegetables and the shoppers weren't too knowledgeable on freshness. I'm still very grateful to them for helping me when I needed it. 😊

Jane x

stardust said...

Hello! Your swamp sunflowers look so lovely and outstand in the bokeh background. I love your kaleidoscopic mosaic of them (#2), as always. I’m happy for you that you got able to enjoy desserts. As the weather gets comfortable, I feel increased eating appetite. Let's enjoy hiking and eating!

Yoko

Marcia said...

That must be so hard to be allergic to sugar. I'm assuming it's different than being diabetic.

Wish we could have taken our friends on some hikes but he was not up to walking for more than 30 minutes at a time. What a change from when we last saw them and did Barcelona together in 2019. GO slow years have definitely hit him and he's the youngest of the four of us.

Nice that weather change has happened for you to hike daily.

Jeanie said...

Swamp flowers and apple cake -- what's not to love in this post? It's all perfect!

Veronica Lee said...

Your swamp sunflowers are very pretty.

Yummm! Your cake looks delish!

Rajani Rehana said...

Beautiful blog

Angie said...

Diane - who could ever tire of your swamp sunflowers? I like how they have little curling tendrils. Is that a new header as well? Gorgeous! I am having an awesome week; we have been in the UK since Saturday, visiting my in-laws, and it has been a blast so far. Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday!

Carla from The River said...

Hi,that is a great idea freezing the cake in one serving size.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos.
Carla

Creations By Cindy said...

Love those flowers! So pretty. I always enjoy your pictures. Girl, that cake looks yummy too. WOW! I may have to try that one. I am not sure I could keep up with you hiking girl. You are the woman of hiking to me, You do inspire me. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

Lea said...

Beautiful flowers!
The Apple Cake looks delicious!
Have a blessed day!

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

I've never heard of swamp daisies so you taught me something!!

That's cool about the store giving you free stuff!! I love free stuff.

Danice G said...

The cake looks delicious! I love apple cake, and bundt cakes. Thanks for the recipe, too.

Red Rose Alley said...

The apple cake looks scrumptious. I like your new bundt pan. I'm glad you are able to still buy groceries on line. Once I moved to the mountains, they don't have that service any more, so I have to do it the old fashioned way and go to the store! haha But I go very early when no one is around. It's sometimes nice to browse and look at all the goodies. Your apple cake looks so moist and Yummy, and that's a good idea to put some in the freezer and eat it later.

Your sunflower photos are so pretty Diane, and I really like your Header
today. : )

~Sheri

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

The swamp sunflowers are so bright and pretty! The sugar-free apple cake looks delicious, and perfect for this time of the year. I also like Jann's low-carb recipes.

John's Island said...

Hi Lavender Dreamer, I don't think I would ever get tired of your Swamp Sunflower photos! They are so good. You are lucky getting out to such neat places for photo opportunities. Halpata Tastanaki Preserve looks excellent. Thanks for sharing your story about Walmart shopping, the Bundt pan, and the Apple Cake! Hope you are enjoying these days of autumn. Take good care. Best wishes from Seattle! John

BeachGypsy said...

Love this post and those beautiful beautiful bright sunflowers!! I'm curious how you pronounce the name of the reserve/hiking trail? Hope your week is going great---we got some cool Temps last night!!!----loved it! Hugs!!

Rain said...

I never tire of seeing swamp sunflowers! They are so lovely! ♥

www.self-sufficientsam.blogspot.com said...

I think of you every time they mention Brian Laundry and I wondered if you had ever hiked that reserve where he was found? Pretty awful situation. I'm not allergic to anything so I am grateful for that! Glad you found something you can have for a little treat! I've gotten several free bags of goodies from Walmart and I usually send thenm to the grands. Have a great week!

PaintedThread said...

Pretty flowers! Free stuff is always good. :-( I like your Bundt pan!

gluten Free A_Z Blog said...

I never tire of seeing beautiful flowers and it continues to amaze me about the diversity of nature in Florida. Your bundt apple cake looks delicious and will keep the recipe. Have a good week.

Teresa said...

Interesante receta. Besos.

DeniseinVA said...

I will never get tired of seeing your cheerful, sunny flowers. They are gorgeous! Good for Walmart! Your cake looks delicious! Jan has some great recipes on her blog and I am putting this on my list now. Thank you Diane and Happy November!