Peggy’s Fresh Goat Cheese
- 2 quarts fresh raw goat milk
- 2 teaspoons vegetable or animal rennet
- 1 tablespoon sea salt
- Pour goat milk in clean bowl. Add rennet and stir thoroughly (about 1-2 minutes).
- Cover bowl with lid or large plate. Place on counter away from direct heat for 24 hours.
- After 24 hours remove plate.
- Spoon off whey from milk that has now separated and thickened, (I use the whey for lacto–fermented canning and mayonnaise) leaving only the milk solids in the bowl.
- Place large piece of cheesecloth or thin tea towel inside colander.
- Place colander inside small bucket or bowl. Pour milk solids into the colander. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sea salt and stir well.
- Place plate on top of colander to cover. Place colander in bucket on counter away from direct heat for 24 hours.
- After 24 hours remove plate. Scrape cheese from sides of colander into center of cheesecloth or tea towel.
- Gather ends of cheesecloth and tie into a knot, leaving thickened cheese in a ball in bottom of cheesecloth.
- Hang cheesecloth on a hook above your sink or run a large dowel through the knotted cheesecloth and hang it over the top of a pitcher and let your cheese continue to drain for 12 to 24 hours, depending on how dry or creamy you prefer your cheese to be.
- Remove cheese from cheesecloth and store in refrigerator in glass container. Will keep for up to 2 weeks.
Utensils needed: large glass or plastic bowl, large plate to cover bowl, large piece of cheesecloth or thin tea towel, large mesh colander, and a small bucket or large bowl that colander will fit in but leave lots of room in bottom for draining the cheese, long–handled spoon or dowel and pitcher.
Buttermilk-Poppy Seed Muffins
- 2 cups sprouted flour (your choice)
- 1 cup maple sugar
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 1/2 teaspoons aluminum-free baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 cup whole buttermilk, preferably organic
- 3 large eggs, preferably pastured
- 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup organic butter, melted
- Orange Glaze
- 1 cup Powdered rapadura
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Combine first 6 ingredients in a large bowl; make a well in center of mixture.
- Whisk together buttermilk and next 3 ingredients in a medium bowl. Add buttermilk mixture to flour mixture, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Stir in melted butter.
- Spoon batter into a lightly greased or lined 12–cup muffin pan, filling three–fourths full.
- Bake at 375 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
- Cool in pan for 5 minutes. Remove muffins from pan to a wire rack and drizzle with Orange Glaze.
Jose’s Black Beans and Rice
- 1 pound sprouted black beans
- 6 thick bacon slices, diced
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 2 quarts chicken stock
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- lard
- 1 plantain, cut into ½" cubes
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 7 garlic cloves
- 2 shallots, coarsely chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, coarsely chopped
- 1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons roasted red bell peppers, chopped
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- Hot cooked sprouted brown rice
- Prepare Beans: Place beans in a large Dutch oven; add filtered water to depth of 2 inches above beans. Bring to a boil.
- Boil 1 minute; cover, remove from heat, and let stand 1 hour. Drain.
- Cook bacon in Dutch oven over medium heat, stirring often, 8–10 minutes or until crisp.
- Remove bacon and drain on paper towels; reserve drippings in Dutch oven.
- Add onion, 3 garlic cloves, and red bell pepper to hot drippings; cook, stirring often, 10 minutes or until tender.
- Add stock, next 3 ingredients, and beans; bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, stirring occasionally, 2 hours or until beans are tender.
- Meanwhile, prepare Plantain: Melt lard to depth of 1 inch in a 10" cast–iron skillet; heat to 340 degrees.
- Fry plantain 2–3 minutes or until golden.
- Drain on paper towels.
- Prepare Mojo: Stir together 2 garlic cloves and next 3 ingredients.
- Heat ½ cup olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat 2 3 minutes; whisk into juice mixture. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Prepare Sofrito: Pulse 7 garlic cloves and next 3 ingredients in a food processor until finely chopped.
- Saute garlic mixture in 1 tablespoon hot olive oil (or coconut oil) in a medium saucepan over medium–high heat 5–7 minutes.
- Add paprika and next 3 ingredients; sauté 1 minute.
- Spoon desired amount hot cooked sprouted brown rice onto individual serving plates. Top each with 1 cup black bean mixture and 1 tablespoon Sofrito.
- Drizzle each with a tablespoon Mojo. Sprinkle with bacon and plantain cubes.
Improved Pizza Crust
- 1 cup plus 3 tablespoons water
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cups sprouted flour (red wheat or spelt works best)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons honey
- 1 packet dry active yeast
- 2 tablespoons dried herbs of choice (optional)
- Place all ingredients in a food processor and mix well.
- Continue to blend for about 2 minutes.
- Let dough rise in processor bowl for about 1 hour.
- Remove dough from bowl and spread with fingers onto a baking sheet or pizza pan that has been lightly bushed with olive oil.
- Let dough rest for 15–20 minutes. Load with favorite toppings.
- Bake at 450 degrees for 12–15 minutes.
- Let pizza rest for about 5 minutes before cutting.
I like to preheat my oven for 1 hour with a pizza stone on the bottom shelf. Preheating for this length of time helps heat to evenly distribute throughout your oven for even baking of your crust.
Kamut Herb Salad with Feta and Hazelnuts
- 1 cup sprouted Kamut berries (my suggestion is to use sprouted berries)
- 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves, packed
- 1 cup fresh mint leaves, packed
- 1/2 cup feta, crumbled
- 1/2 cup hazelnuts, roasted
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (I use about 2–3 tablespoons)
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon honey or to taste
- salt and pepper to taste
- In a heavy saucepan, add 1 cup of sprouted Kamut berries with 3 cups of water.
- Bring to a boil and simmer covered until desired doneness is reached.
- Begin checking after 20 minutes to ensure berries don’t overcook.
- Sprouted berries will cook quicker than un-sprouted berries.
- Like wild rice, some backbone should remain.
- Soaking overnight reduces the cooking time.
- Drain and rinse the Kamut with cold water to cool the grains for the salad.
- Save time by making this the night before while you're watching TV or eating dinner.
- Roast the hazelnuts while the Kamut is cooking.
- Set the oven to 325 degrees.
- Spread the hazelnuts on the baking sheet and roast until fragrant, about 7 to 10 minutes.
- Wash cilantro and mint. Remove the leaves from the stem (optional). If you choose to skip this step, chop the herbs before measuring.
- In a large bowl, add the kamut, cilantro, mint, feta and hazelnuts. Add the dressing and toss to coat.
Peanut Butter Dog Treats
- 3 cups sprouted flour (your choice)
- 1/2 cup organic peanut butter
- 1 cup plus 3 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Combine oil, peanut butter, and water.
- Add flour, one cup at a time, forming a dough.
- Knead dough about 3 minutes.
- Flour a flat surface and roll dough out to ¼ inch thickness.
- Cut treats into squares of the size that will suit your dog (I use a pizza wheel, but you could also use a bone-shaped cookie cutter).
- Place on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Cool completely.
- Watch that tail wag!
Sour Dough English Muffins
- 3/4 - 1 cup of sourdough starter
- 1 teaspoon maple sugar
- 1 1/4 cups filtered water
- 2 cups sprouted red wheat flour
- 2 cups sprouted wheat or spelt flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- All of preferment
- Make the preferment 14–18 hours before mixing the dough. Leave out on counter.
- Mix the dough: Mix baking soda and salt into preferment. Knead in 1 to 2 cups of flour; stop adding flour as soon as dough is workable.
- Do a quick knead for 5 minutes. Do not add too much flour! This can be sloppy.
- Flour your work surface and roll out dough with a rolling pin until about ½ to ¾ inch thick.
- Cut out muffins with a cookie cutter or inverted glass; place on cornmeal-sprinkled parchment.
- Cover and keep somewhere warm; let rise for 1 hour – longer if they are not warm.
- Preheat frying pan on medium low. When you add butter it should sizzle.
- Butter your pan MINIMALLY.
- Cook muffins 4 minutes – down side should get brown.
- Flip muffins and depress SLIGHTLY if needed to flatten down side.
- Cook 4 minutes on other side.
- Adjust stove heat if muffins cook too fast/slow.
Candace’s Sprouted Spelt Bread
- 3 cups sprouted spelt flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon dry active yeast
- 1 1/2 cups filtered water
- Mix all ingredients in a glass or ceramic bowl.
- Stir until all is moist.
- Cover and leave on the counter for 12, 24, or up to 36 hours to allow it to ferment.
- Place a Dutch oven with cover or cloche in your oven and preheat to 500 degrees.
- While oven is heating, place a linen cloth on the counter and sprinkle with flour; scoop wet dough from bowl and let it plop onto the floured cloth.
- Sprinkle the top with flour and pat into a rectangle.
- Fold in all sides and turn over.
- When the oven is hot, drop dough into Dutch oven or cloche, cover and bake 30 minutes.
- Remove the Dutch oven or cloche cover and bake an additional 15 minutes.
- This is amazing crusty, soft on the inside, NY deli bread.
- Keeps well on the counter with cut side down.
- Marvelous toasted.
Quinoa: An Ancient Food Back in Fashion
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 organic onion, chopped
- 1 organic clove garlic, minced
- 3/4 cup sprouted quinoa
- 1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 cups homemade or organic chicken stock
- 1 14 oz. can organic garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
- 1/2 cup raisins, soaked in hot water and drained (optional)
- Stir together the olive oil, onion, and garlic in a saucepan over medium heat until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the quinoa, curry powder, salt, pepper, cumin, cinnamon, and chicken stock.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer 20 minutes until the quinoa is tender.
- Once the quinoa has finished cooking, stir in the drained garbanzo beans, toasted pine nuts, and raisins.
- Serve warm or cold.
Sprouted Millet Herbed Muffins
- 3 cups sprouted millet flour (can use wheat flour or a ½ and ½ combination)
- 2 cups whole organic buttermilk
- 3 organic or pastured eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/4 cup organic butter, melted
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried dill
- 1 teaspoon dried tarragon
- 1/2 teaspoon each, dried oregano, basil, and thyme
- In a large bowl mix flour and buttermilk into a batter.
- Thoroughly blend in remaining ingredients.
- Pour into well-buttered muffin tins or use muffin liners.
- Bake at 350 degrees approximately 35–45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of a muffin comes out clean.
NOTE: Check muffins at 30 minutes to ensure they’re not over browning on top. Do the toothpick test at this time. If need to bake longer place a sheet of aluminum foil loosely on top to prevent further browning.
Sprouted Black Bean Soup
- 10 slices (nitrite/nitrate–free) bacon, chopped
- 2 medium organic onions, chopped
- 6 cloves organic garlic, chopped
- 2-3 cups homemade or organic chicken stock
- 1 can (14.5oz.) organic chopped tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons fermented ketchup
- 2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 4 cups cooked sprouted Black Beans*
- Sea salt and pepper to taste
- Juice of ½ lime
- Chopped cilantro for garnish
- Sliced scallions for garnish
- Sour Cream for garnish
- Grated Cheddar for garnish
- Put the bacon into a large heavy pot and place it over medium heat.
- Cook until it starts to give up its fat, about 4 minutes.
- Stir in the onions and cook, stirring until they start to turn translucent, about 4 minutes.
- Stir in the garlic and cook about 1 minute.
- Add the chicken stock, tomatoes, ketchup, Worcestershire, and chili powder.
- Stir in the beans, turn the heat to high and bring all to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low and let simmer for 15–20 minutes to blend flavors and thicken soup.
- Stir in the limejuice.
- Serve with garnishes and your favorite sprouted bread or crackers.
- NOTE: Measure your 4 cups of black beans for this recipe after they've been cooked, not as dried beans.
*To cook sprouted black beans: Place 4 cups of dried sprouted black beans in a pot with 2 quarts of cold filtered water. Add 1 teaspoon of sea salt (optional). Bring water to a boil. Stir beans, reduce heat, cover and simmer about 30 minutes. Check the consistency of the beans (they’ll cook quicker than un–sprouted dry beans) after 30 minutes. Extend the cooking time until beans have reached the tenderness you prefer.
Carrot Cake
- 4 pastured or organic eggs
- 2 cups maple sugar (or sugar of your choice)
- 1 cup coconut oil, melted
- 2 cups sprouted white wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 cups organic carrots, grated
- 1 8- oz. package cream cheese
- 5 tablespoons organic butter, softened
- 1/3 cup rapadura or maple sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Beat eggs until fluffy; add sugar gradually.
- Pour oil into sugar mixture slowly; beat well.
- Sift dry ingredients together.
- Add to batter in 3 additions; beat well after each.
- Fold in carrots.
- Pour into 3 well-buttered 9–inch layer pans.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.
- Let cool 5 minutes and turn out onto a cooling rack. Let cool completely and ice.
- Using an electric mixer beat the cream cheese and butter together until light and creamy.
- Add the vanilla and blend.
- Add the sugar slowly to blend and then mix on high until the sugar has dissolved and the frosting is light and smooth.
- Spread between cooled cake layers and on top and sides.
Cranberry Apple Casserole
- 1 cup whole organic cranberries
- 1 1/2 cups un–peeled organic apples, chopped
- 3/4 cup maple sugar
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts
- 1/2 cup muscavado or coconut sap sugar
- 2/3 cup sprouted flour (your choice)
- 1/2 cup sprouted rolled oats
- 1/2 cup raw or organic butter, softened
- Combine cranberries, apples and maple sugar in an ovenproof baking dish.
- Mix nuts, muscavado sugar, butter and rolled oats with flour (will be like a moist paste. Add 1 tablespoon of water if needed) and pat on top of cranberry/apple mixture.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until browned and bubbly.
Sprouted Crackers
- 5 cups of organic sprouted flour (see below for varieties)
- 2 1/4 cups organic whole buttermilk or yogurt
- 1/2 cup organic unsalted melted butter (plus extra for greasing pan and brushing tops of crackers)
- 1 tablespoon aluminum-free baking powder
- 2 teaspoons sea salt
- Lightly butter 2 large baking sheets.
- Place flour and buttermilk in stand mixer and blend until slightly stiff dough forms.
- Add melted butter, baking powder, salt, and flavoring (see below). Blend well.
- Taking a fourth of the dough at a time, roll out to about 1/8 inch thickness on a floured surface.
- Using a knife or pizza wheel, cut crackers into squares.
- Place close together on a lightly buttered baking sheet. Brush tops lightly with extra melted butter.
- For dried crackers place in oven on lowest possible temperature (around 150 degrees).
- Leave in oven all day or overnight until completely dried. Will be crispy and full of flavor.
- For baked crackers place in oven preheated to 300 degrees.
- Bake for 30 minutes until lightly browned on top.
- Reduce heat to 200 degrees and let crackers continue to bake until completely dried and crispy (about 2 – 2 ½ additional hours).
Sprouted Flour Combinations:
all wheat, spelt (will be very crumbley), barley, kamut or mix. All sprouted sorghum flour w/¼ cup sprouted amaranth, equal amounts of sprouted oat and sorghum flour. Be creative.
Variations:
Rosemary/Walnut – to basic recipe add 2 tablespoons of ground rosemary, 1 tbsp. dried rosemary leaves, and ¼ teaspoon of walnut oil.
Sesame/Poppy Seed – add 2 tablespoons each of Sesame and Poppy Seeds
Cinnamon – add 4 tablespoons ground cinnamon, ½ tsp. cinnamon oil, and ¾ cup organic or maple sugar.
Cracked Pepper – add 2 tablespoons of cracked peppercorns. Sprinkle tops with pink Himalayan salt.
Herbed – add 1 ½ tablespoons dried dill, 1 teaspoon each basil, thyme, oregano, and tarragon.
Sprouted Wheat Breakfast Muffins
- 1 1/2 cups TYH Sprouted Red or White Wheat Flour
- 1/2 cup organic sugar or maple sugar
- 1 tablespoon aluminum-free baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 3/4 cup organic raisins
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3/4 cup organic canned coconut milk
- 1/2 cup filtered water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/3 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees and grease muffin tin with coconut oil or use muffin liners.
- In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients. In a medium bowl mix together the wet ingredients.
- Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients by hand just until blended, and then spoon into the muffin tin.
- Bake in a 400 degree oven for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool for 5 minutes on a wire rack then remove muffins from tin and let cool completely.
My Favorite Mexican Cornbread
- 2 organic or pastured eggs, lightly beaten
- 1/4 cup lard, melted
- 1 cup sprouted yellow corn flour
- 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
- 1 cup sour cream (whole fat)
- 1 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 3-5 jalapeno peppers, chopped
- 1 cup fresh or frozen organic corn kernels
- Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.
- Pour into a greased square glass baking dish (double recipe for a 9x13“ baking dish).
- Bake for 1 hour @ 350 degrees until lightly browned on top.
- Let sit for 5 minutes before cutting into squares for serving.
- This cornbread is simply the best!
- I serve it with hardy soups or chili in the fall and winter months.
Corn Tortillas
- 2 cups sprouted yellow corn flour
- 1 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 1/8 cups water
- 3-4 tablespoons lard
- Mix all ingredients well until a dough ball forms (about 3 minutes).
- If dough is a little crumbly add 1 tablespoon of water at a time until dough holds together well.
- Let dough sit, covered, for about 2 hours.
- Uncover and separate dough into sixteen pieces. Form the pieces into small, slightly flattened balls.
- Place a floured (using sprouted corn flour) plastic bag (gallon-sized zip lock) on a bread board.
- Place a ball of dough on top, then top this with another floured plastic bag and roll the tortilla out with a rolling pin.
- You can also use a tortilla press in place of the rolling pin.
- Slowly remove the top plastic bag, flip the tortilla over into your hand and slowly remove the second plastic bag.
- Place a dry iron skillet on a burner set at medium heat. Place a tortilla on the skillet.
- Once you begin to see some bubbles appear, take a spatula and flip the tortilla over to cook on the other side.
- Once the second side is a little browned, remove it from the skillet and place on a plate.
- Repeat the process and simply stack your finished tortillas. Store in zip lock bag.
- I refrigerate mine if not using them all.
Spiced Pumpkin Biscuits
- 9 ounces sprouted flour (about 2 cups), plus extra your choice of flour
- 1 1/4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons full-fat buttermilk
- 5 tablespoons cold organic butter, cut into small pieces
- 2 1/2 teaspoons aluminum-free baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 3/4 cup organic canned pumpkin, or fresh baked pumpkin, pureed
- 3 tablespoons honey
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Combine flour, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, and salt in a large bowl.
- Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse meal. Chill 10 minutes.
- Combine buttermilk and honey with whisk until well blended.
- Add canned pumpkin and blend well.
- Combine buttermilk, honey and pumpkin mixture with flour mixture until moist.
- Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface; knead lightly 4 times.
- Roll dough into a ½-inch thick 9x5" rectangle and dust top with flour.
- Fold dough crosswise into thirds. Reroll dough and repeat process.
- Gently roll or pat to a ¾" thickness.
- Using a biscuit cutter, cut about 14 biscuits from dough.
- Place biscuits 1 inch apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake at 400 degrees for 14 minutes or until golden.
- Remove from pan.
- Cool 2 minutes on wire racks.
- Serve warm with lots of butter.
Purrfect Salmon Balls for Kitty
- 1 7 oz. can salmon
- 1/2 cup sprouted yellow corn flour
- 3/4 cup sprouted wheat or sorghum flour
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 1 tablespoon or more chicken or fish stock
- Place all ingredients in a medium bowl. Mix well. I use my hands. Dough needs to be moist enough to hold together well.
- Shape into balls slightly smaller than a marble.
- Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
- Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
- Store in a zip lock bag in the freezer to up a month.
- Thaw a few at a time to serve and listen for the purring to begin!
Flour Tortillas
- 4 cups sprouted white wheat flour
- 2 teaspoons sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder
- 2/3 cup natural lard, cold, cut into chunks
- 1 1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons hot water
- Combine flour, salt, and baking powder; stir well.
- Cut in lard with a pastry blender or fork until mixture resembles coarse meal.
- Gradually stir in 1 ¼ cups of water, mixing well.
- Add remaining water one tablespoon at a time only if dough is too dry to handle.
- Let dough sit on counter, covered, for about an hour before pressing.
- Shape dough into 1 ½-inch balls; roll each out on a lightly floured surface into a very thin circle (or use a tortilla press following recommended directions).
- Circles should be about 6 inches in diameter.
- Heat an ungreased iron skillet or griddle to medium heat (about 375 degrees); cook tortillas about 2 minutes on each side or until lightly browned.
- Pat tortillas lightly with spatula while browning the second side if they puff during cooking.
Amaretto–Almond Pound Cake
- 1 1/4 cups organic butter, softened
- 3 ounces organic cream cheese, softened
- 2 1/2 cups maple sugar (or sweetener of choice)
- 3 tablespoons almond-flavored liqueur (Amaretto)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups sprouted wheat or brown rice flour
- 6 large organic or pastured eggs
- 1/3 cup sliced almonds
- 3/4 cup organic sugar
- 6 tablespoons organic butter
- 1/4 cup Amaretto (almond liqueur)*
- 2 tbsp water
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- Grease and flour a 12-cup Bundt pan.
- In a large bowl, beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed until creamy.
- Gradually add sugar, beating at medium speed until light and fluffy.
- Add liqueur and vanilla, beating just until blended. Gradually add flour to butter mixture, beating at low speed just until blended after each addition.
- Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating at low speed just until blended after each addition.
- Sprinkle almonds over the bottom of your prepared pan. Pour batter into pan over almonds.
- Bake for 1 hour 15 – 30 minutes (Oven temps vary. Mine tends toward 1 hour and 30 minutes for a successful toothpick test.
- I recommend you peep in on your cake at 1 hour and 15 minutes for first test.) or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
- During last 10 minutes of baking prepare Amaretto Glaze.
- Remove cake from oven and gradually spoon or brush hot Amaretto Glaze over cake in pan.
- Use all of glaze, allowing it to soak into cake after each addition.
- Cool cake completely in pan on a wire rack. Invert cake onto large plate.
- Bring sugar, butter, Amaretto, and water to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring often.
- Reduce heat to low and boil, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and use immediately.
Amaretto Glaze:
* Can substitute 3 tablespoons milk, 1 teaspoon almond extract and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract for liqueur to make appropriate for children and non-imbibers, but gently warm mixture of ingredients over low heat instead of boiling, stirring constantly until well blended. The liqueur in the cake batter will have had all its alcohol dissipate in the baking process.