Afternoon Delight: Jen's Spiced Tea and Ooey-Gooey Dates & Macadamia Nuts Teacake

The scene: overcast skies and cold winds outside. Indoors, Jim Brickman's Christmas piano melodies playing softly in the background, the warm glow from the fireplace, the blinking of Christmas lights on the wreaths adorning the mantel, the wonderful aroma of spiced tea paired with delectable teacakes chock full of macadamia nuts and dates. A great book in hand. Sipping my warm cuppa tea and sinking my teeth into the rich, moist, dense and flavor-packed cake. Ah, my Saturday afternoon bliss......



I am definitely in the holiday mood right now. There's just something magical about the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving and Christmas. Smell of pine cones, juniper and winter greens from the surrounding outdoors mixed with the sweet scent of cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, fennel, cardamoms from my kitchen wafting through the entire house. Heavenly.

This is one of my few self-concocted recipes. It's a twist to the spice cake recipe and my own combination of nuts and dried fruits. It can be quite a splurge to use macadamia nuts but then again, holiday season comes only once a year! You can substitute with walnuts but believe me, adding macadamias is well worth it! You can substitute the dates with dried figs or raisins. Also, you can totally omit the nutmeg flakes or just substitute with coconut flakes. This is not a fluffy type of cake - it's that time of the year to enjoy a more dense, rich and fruit-cake-like sort of cake. Give it a try. Enjoy it with the spiced tea (recipe below). If you're not already in a holiday mood, this cake and spiced tea should get you there.


Jen's Dates & Macadamia Nuts Teacakes

2 sticks (1/2 pound) good quality European butter
1 1/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 Tbsp molasses
3 eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 cup chopped macadamia nuts
1 cup dates, pitted and chopped
1/2 cup nutmeg flakes (or coconut flakes)

Method:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F
Oil and lightly flour an 8 x 3 loaf pan (I also used mini loaf pans so I can give some away as gifts)

Combine dry ingredients. Take 1/8 cup of flour mixture, dredge the dried fruits & nuts
Using electric hand or stand mixer, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy ~ 3 mins at medium speed. Add in eggs, one at a time. Add in molasses & vanilla. Gradually stir in flour mixture. Do not overmix.
Fold in dried fruits and nuts.
Pour batter into prepared pans and bake for 15 minutes. Lower heat to 300 degrees F and bake for 35 minutes or until done. If you're using mini loaf pans, the cake should be done after a total of 35 mins (10 mins @ 325˚F + 25 mins @ 300˚F)

Jen's Spiced Tea (recipe for 2):
2 packets black tea
2 cups water
4 cloves
5 green cardamom pods
1/2 " cinnamon stick
1/2 tsp fennel seeds
1/8 tsp salt
Milk & Sugar to taste

Boil water
Coarsely grind spices in spice grinder - do not grind into fine powder. Put ground spices into spice pouch - you can make a small pouch with muslin or cheese cloth. Alternatively, use a tea infuser

When water is boiling, throw in tea packets and spice pouch. Turn off heat and let steep for ~ 10 mins.
Add milk and sugar to taste
Savor with teacakes and welcome the start of the holiday season!

I'm definitely psyched! Counting the days till Christmas - it's going to be a special one!