#polarvortexrecipes

AILMENT: The polar vortex has forced you to stay inside, inhale nasty carbohydrates and watch so much TV that you’re developing Bob Costas eyes.

CURE-ALL: Healthier Citrus Pound Cake

For those of you living on the East Coast, or even in the Deep South, you’ve probably been affected by the seemingly endless barrage of winter storms. It’s no secret that people typically gain weight during the winter months, but this particular season has been exceptionally brutal. That’s why I’m offering you a delicious, healthier pound cake recipe that will both lift your spirits and prevent the winter muffin top. Pound cake got its name from the amount of flour, butter, eggs and sugar that went into the batter--a pound of flour plus a pound of butter plus a pound of eggs and a pound of sugar, yikes! This alternative pound cake is made with quinoa and spelt flour, fresh orange juice, buttermilk and natural cane sugar. The recipe makes one pound cake, but you could bake a few cakes and freeze them for the next storm.

INGREDIENTS: 2 large eggs 1/2 cup olive oil 1/2 cup buttermilk 1 heaping Tbsp. orange zest 1 heaping Tbsp. lemon zest 2 Tbsp. fresh orange juice 1 tsp. almond extract 1/3 cup turbinado sugar 1/2 cup organic natural cane sugar 1 1/2 cups quinoa flour 1/3 cup spelt flour 1/2 tsp. sea salt 1/4 tsp baking soda 1 tsp. baking powder

METHOD: Preheat the oven to 350ºF and grease a 9" loaf pan. Whisk the eggs, olive oil, buttermilk, zest, orange juice and almond extract together. In another mixing bowl, combine both sugars, both flours, salt, baking soda and baking powder and mix together. Add half of the wet mixture to the dry and stir to combine. Add the rest of the liquid mixture and stir everything together. Pour the batter into a prepared 9" loaf pan. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. 

ENJOY: Place a slice in the toaster and serve with fresh fruit, jam and whipped cream. Oooh oooh, serve with a dark chocolate syrup drizzled on top! Or wait... eat it with a dollop of your favorite yogurt on top.

The possibilities are endless!