Chocolate Quinoa cake AND Symptoms of Inner Peace

My 5 year old son, Will woke up early this morning. TOO early. "Time to get up Mommy," he sang out to me as he bounced around my bed. I cracked an eye open to peak at the clock beside my bed and groaned, "Will, it's too early to get up." With that he crawled into my bed and curled up next to me, wrapping his chilly bare feet around my legs. Oh to only have another 15 minutes of deep sleep would have been heaven, I thought.

As if he had read my thoughts, he promptly kissed me on my forehead, which is our sacred place for kissing one another. He has tried a number of times to kiss me on my lips but I always tell him that is where Daddy kisses me and I want my children to have their own special place to physically show love. We have chosen the third eye area which seems so appropriate since he is so much "in" soul.

That kiss, warmed my grumpy spirit and I started to think about the upcoming day. My monkey brain turning already. As soon as I wake up and am somewhat conscious, it likes to take over and run my life. It was going to be a busy morning getting Will and Grace ready for school and on the 8 am bus and then  since the high school bus no longer picks up in our area, (don't get me started) I would have to drive Harrison to school. Then return home quickly, get the little girls ready, drive our oldest son to the University bus stop and then the twins to preschool. So much rushing in such a short amount of time.

Will interrupts my running silent dialogue and asks, "can I start the bath mom?" I look at the clock again and see now it is time to get up so reluctantly I say, "oh all right." He pops out of our warm cocoon and a moment later, I can hear water running in the bath.

We have a morning ritual before the little girls wake up. Will and I like to have a bath together. We have been doing this since he was around a year old and sadly I can see the end coming since he is now in school and getting too old to bath with his mom. (Usually around kindergarten time, at least in our house, that is usually the signal for more modesty) But for the present time, he is still my bath mate.

One good thing we did when we built our house was install a really big, deep tub in our master bathroom and it has been delightful bathing with our  little ones over the years. I'm a bath person. I could spend hours in there and in the old days, before children, I used to read whole novels in one sitting, (or rather bathing) replacing the hot water every hour or so. I hardly think about those days now for having a sweet little boy to bath with and chat the morning away is so much nicer in my opinion.

Here is a glimpse into our master bath...you can get a tiny sense of the tub etc that I could while away my days...or chat with my little people while they are enjoying a ritual bath.

When I think the bath must be full enough I get up and see Will in his birthday suit and poised on the edge of the tub. He is deep in thought and looking out of our large bathroom window. It looks straight down the lake which is below our house. My husband always says, how many houses do you know where you can sit on the throne and look down a lake? Did I mention the back of our house is private too? So this is where I find Will this morning. I ask him, 'what's up Bud?" and he turns to me with a glowing smile and says with tons of enthusiasm, "Isn't nature BEAUTIFUL Mommy?"

This is the view of the lake from our lower deck..outside the back of the house...it's not exactly the view out of the bathroom window...which is even better...but gives you an idea.

I walked over to the edge of our tub to look down the lake. We have lived above the lake for over 20 years and although this was one of the main reasons we built our house here, I often take it for granted. It's only when we have people at our front door and their mouth is gaping open as they look through our house, out to this panoramic view of the lake, that I stop to appreciate the view. But this morning I stopped to see it anew. White mist is lingering over the glistening grey/blue water and the sky is starting to glow lighter and brighter as the promise of another lovely fall day begins..

I looked down at my son's blonde curls and was in awe at his coming. His BEING. At his ability to always bring me right back to the moment appreciating beauty of the here and now. This awareness reminded me of the 12 Symptoms of Inner Peace I used to recite regularly to ensure I was in that state. I haven't looked at those signs in years because I am often reminded daily, through my children's eyes, how spectacular earth is and how blessed I am to be alive.

In case you don't have a daily reminder, check out the 12 Symptoms of Inner Peace. How many can you count occurring in your life lately?


                                             

SYMPTOMS OF INNER PEACE

by  Saskia Davis

Be on the lookout for symptoms of inner peace. The hearts of a great many already have been exposed;  and it is possible that people, everywhere,  could come down with it in epidemic proportions. This could pose a serious threat to what, up to now,  has been a fairly stable condition of conflict in the world.

        

         Signs & Symptoms of Inner Peace

A tendency to think and act  spontaneously rather than on fears based on past experiences

An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment

A loss of interest in judging other people

A loss of interest in judging self

A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of   others

A loss of interest in conflict

A loss of  ability to worry

                                                         

Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation

Contented feelings of connectedness

with others  & nature

Frequent attacks of smiling 

An increasing tendency to let things

happen rather  than  make them happen

An increased susceptibility to love extended  by others  and  the uncontrollable urge to  extend it

WARNING

If you  have  some or all of the above symptoms, be advised that your condition of inner peace may be too far advanced to be curable. If you are exposed to anyone exhibiting any of  these symptoms, remain exposed only at your own risk.     © 1984

     

                                                       

Isn't that GREAT?

And if you would like to add to your Inner Peace quotient, check out my recipe for Chocolate Quinoa Cake.

You won't be able to contain your smile once you taste a bite of this moist, decadent cake.

This recipe was given to me by my soul sisters, Yania. She made it for one of our Sacred Book club meetings. She is one of the most conscious consumer of healthy food products I know, other than my oldest daughter Alyssa.  This is now a regular favourite in our house. I hope you like it too.

Yania's Chocolate Quinoa Cake

You will need the following ingredients:

The only other thing you need, not shown is sugar and salt

 Ingredients:

2/3 cup white or golden quinoa

11/3 cups water to cook quinoa

1/3 cup milk (any milk will do but we use almond milk)

4 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla

3/4 cup butter melted and cooled (you could also use coconut oil which would give it a nice taste)

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 white or cane sugar (this was originally 11/2 cups but was cut in half and is still great)
11/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Directions:

Bring Quinoa and water to a boil in a medium saucepan. cover, reduce to simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Keep moist. Turn off head and cool a bit.

Bring quinoa and water to boil, put lid on and then simmer on low heat for 10 minutes

Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease two 8 inch round or square cake pans. Line with parchment paper.

Combine milk, eggs, and vanilla in a mixer/blender or food processor. Add 2 cups of cooked quinoa and butter and continue to blend until smooth.

Adding the cooked quinoa to the milk, eggs and vanilla

Whisk together the sugar, cocoa, salt, baking powder and baking soda in a medium bowl. Add the contents of the wet ingredients and mix really well. 

Mixing the sugar, cocoa, salt, baking powder and baking soda together

Divide batter between pans and bake on centre oven rack for  40 minutes. The key is to not over bake. Our oven, like Yania's whipped this cake up in less time than that...30 minutes for us until the toothpick came out clean. 

I just sprayed my pans with a cooking spray but next time I'm going to put down parchment paper

Let sit for 5 minutes in the pan and then turn cakes onto a rack to cool completely. I put our cakes into the freezer for a bit because I wanted to ice them quickly and serve the cake after dinner. It was great because it was easier to frost.

I put jam between the layers and frosted it with a traditional chocolate icing, topping it with dried cherries and a few almonds. The next time I make this, I'm going to make the cake with coconut oil and also make the chocolate icing with coconut oil as well...did I mention I love coconut. But let your taste buds be your guide. My husband would also like me to make a chocolate mocha icing another time as he loves coffee and then I would put a few chocolate coffee beans on top as a garnish.

I added little pieces of dark chocolate to the icing for a little extra something...topped the cake with dried cherries and almonds

This cake is so moist and wonderful. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

And when you eat it, think of a blonde little boy who loves life and who lives in a state of Inner Peace...he inspires me daily.

It's all good!

And serving up my little man first who reminds me that chocolate cake adds to our Inner Peace

What a nice way to end a wonderful day!

I hope you try this healthy and yummy chocolate quinoa cake....and while you are eating your piece, enjoy a song that Will and I like to sing before bed...."I see skies of blue, clouds of white, the bright blessed day and the dark sacred night....la, la,la, la...la".

(If you are using an Apple product, you may not be able to view the following but hopefully this link will bring you to the YouTube video, Louis Armstrong's song, "It's a Wonderful World."

It's a WONDERFUL world!

Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful.

Blessings from Hope