Carole Walter's Double Chocolate Cake with Dates and Walnuts

175 g dates coarsely chopped
250 ml boiling water
1 tsp baking soda
200g plain flour (rice flour works well too)
1 1/2 tblsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt
225 g unsalted butter at room temperature
200 g caster sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla essence
125 g chopped walnuts (5mm pieces)
125 g plain chocolate drops

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.  Butter a 33 x 22 cm tin.  Line bottom with baking paper.

Place the dates, boiling water and baking soda into a food processor and process until fairly smooth and thick.

Sift the flour, cocoa powder and salt together.

Using an electric mixer, cream the butter until very light, then add the sugar 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until pale and fluffy.  Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in the vanilla essence.

Fold in the flour mixture alternately with the pureed dates, beginning and ending with the flour.

Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and spread evenly.  Sprinkle with walnuts and chocolate drops.

Bake for 40-45 minutes.  Leave the cake to cool in the tin.

The photo is from another person's blog - it's the same cake.

Mexican beans/lentils

1 onion
1 clove garlic
1 large carrot, diced
1 green capsicum, chopped (I used celery the other night, Amy)
1 tsp chilli
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp sweet or smoked paprika
1/2 tsp cinnamon
tin of chopped tomatoes
3/4 cup dried green lentils (OR 1 tin of refried beans plus 1 tin of other beans of your choice like kidney)
1 cup water
fresh coriander

Method 1:
Fry onion until golden. Add garlic, cook for 1-2 minutes. Add vegetables and saute on a low heat until they soften. Add the spices and cook for 2 minutes.

Now add the tomato, lentils and water.  If you are using canned beans, only use 1/2 cup water.

Simmer on a low heat until the lentils are cooked.  Usually takes about 40 minutes.

Serve with coriander.

Method 2:
Saute ingredients as before.  Add the lentils, tomato and water and bake in the oven, covered for 40 minutes.

Method 3:
Using other dried beans such as aduki, black beans, chick peas etc.

Soak the beans overnight in water. Boil them in new water for however long each one takes (or pressure cook them).

Add the cooked beans to the dish with the tomatoes - just add 1/2 cup of water and won't need to simmer for as long because they are already cooked.  Just enough to make a nice sauce.

Lewis's Famous Guacomole

2 ripe avocadoes
2 cloves garlic (don't be shy)
juice of 1-2 limes (or lemon)
chilli
salt and pepper - generous amounts
4 cherry tomatoes
handful of fresh coriander

Blend all these things in a food processor until desired consistency ie. smooth or chunky.

My Famous Carrot Dip

3-4 grated carrots
1/4 cup olive oil
juice of 1 lemon
handful of mint leaves

Blend all these things in a food processor.  May need to add extra olive oil and lemon to make a good consistency.  It wants to be light and juicy.