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  • karenofosu
    • Dec 1, 2015
    • 3 min read

Snugly December Love from The Woodland Orchards


Hello there!

Happy December from The Woodland Orchards.

This month:

We bring you a delicious winter recipe for spiced pear, plum and almond cake, thats gluten free AND vegan...yes we are that good!

We continue with yet another use of our star ingredient- flax seeds

Lastly news of our next up and coming, super exciting workshop on Sat 19th December 2015

Merry Xmas beauties

T.W.Oxx

This month the deliciousness keeps coming, including:

~ Gorgeous December Cake Recipe ~

~ Invitation and 15% off for December’s Exciting Natural Skincare Workshop - Body~

~ Superstar Ingredient of the month ~


~ Spiced pear, plum and almond cake

Ingredients

150g Gluten-free self-raising flour 100g ground almond

½ teaspoon cinnamon powder

½ teaspoon ginger powder

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

150g vegan spread or sunflower oil 150g unrefined brown sugar/xylitol/coconut palm sugar 2 tablespoons finely ground flax seeds

6 tablespoons of water 2 plums, stoned and sliced into thin wedges

1 apple, cored and sliced in to thin wedges

1 pear, cored and sliced in to thin wedges

Topping (optional) 5 tbsp homemade date butter paste (8 dates, 20ml water, 1 tbsp coconut butter and a few drops of vanilla) Lightly toasted flaked almonds, for scattering

Method/The Creative Fun

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Grease and line with baking parchment an 18cm cake tin.

  2. Melt the vegan spread until slightly softened

  3. Stir and whip in the brown sugar, xylitol or coconut palm sugar for 3 minutes

  4. Separately make the vegan ‘egg’ by mixing the ground flax seeds into 6 tablespoons of water to make a paste

  5. Add the gluten-free flour, ground almonds, vegan ‘egg’ mix, cinnamon, ginger and vanilla essence to the sugar and butter mix

  6. Layer a third of the mixture on the bottom of the greased and lined cake tin

  7. Layer some of the fruit wedges sparingly and cover in more mixture. Repeat the layering and finish with cake mixture

  8. Bake in the oven, at 180°C (in a fan assisted oven) for 35 minutes until the cake has risen and is golden brown on top. Insert a skewer or knife into the middle of the cake to ensure it is done (if it comes out clean it’s done). It will naturally retain some moisture due to the fruit content

  9. Optionally adorn your cake with date butter paste (made of dates, coconut butter, vanilla extract and a little water, sieved and brushed over the cake) before sprinkling almonds on top

(a bit of) Theory

~Cinnamon is great for helping regulating blood sugar through its action on insulin, good for women’s hormonal balance and helps tackle oxidants from, for instance, stress, pollution or metabolism.

~Ginger is a warming spice that helps sooth the stomach and helps circulation. It’s also great in a morning wake-up shot with a little fresh pressed apple and lemon juice.

***


• Invitation and 15% off code to December’s Exciting Body Natural Skincare Workshop. We’re giving you a yummy 15% off when you book Natural Skincare Workshops or Courses before December 10th 2015!

Here’s your pressie code: TWOlovesyouDec. Book Your Place Here.

You will be gently guided through the exciting and easy to follow workshop to make 4 wonderful products, plus a bonus for extra special occasions or...to treat yourself with, just because you deserve it.

You’ll be making:

1. Restorative Frankincense Body Lotion

2. Buffing Coconut and Brown Sugar Body Scrub

3. Effervescent Vanilla & Cocoa Bath Truffles

4. Luxurious Body and Massage Oil

And the *Bonus Product*

5. Shimmering Spiced Body Butter

What better way to get ready for the festive season, make presents or just have a well-earned fun break from xmas shopping!

***


• Superstar Ingredient and Material of the season – Last month we looked at flax seed as food and this month we look at a second use- in skincare products for glowing radiance.

Next month we discover what how the flax plant can be used for fabric. Certainly a plant to be celebrated!

~ Flax in Natural Skincare: Flax oil is deliciously rich and emolliating (meaning it helps smooth, soften and moisturise the skin). It is beneficial for use on dry skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis and has anti-inflammatory properties. It can also be used as a dry scalp or intensive moisturising treatment.

***


In our winter body Natural Skincare Workshop you’ll make nourishing and luxurious products for yourself or packaged and ready to give as gifts. So remember to book your place at December’s Workshop now and get even more off as a newsletter subscriber. Use your 15% off code: TWOlovesyouDec, by 10th December.

Happy December!

The Woodland Orchards xx


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