Sticky Date & Coconut Cake
(Adapted from Cooking light magazine..tried to make it pareve)

If I haven' mentioned it enough before, I am much more of a savory chef and the baking & pastry department is not really my forte --but I am working on it!

One Shabbos, I tried this recipe out for a client and they raved about it. I figured it would be a lovely treat for Chanukah.

Cake:
1 cup chopped, pitted dates
1 cup water
1 tsp baking soda
3 TBSP margarine
dash of salt
1 1/2 cups AP flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 large egg lightly beaten. Cooking spray.
Topping:
2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup flaked/ sweetened coconut
2 1/2 TBSP margarine
2 tsps soy milk, rice milk or almond milk

Method
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine first 5 ingredients of the cake in a small sauce pan and bring to a boil until dates are tender.
2. Mis flour, baking powder and 1/2 tsp salt in a bowl. Stir in date mixture and add sugar, vanilla and egg until well combined.
3. Pour batter into a springform cake pan that is sprayed generously with cooking spray. Bake for 20 minutes.
4. For topping combine the brown sugar, and remaining ingredients in a small sauce pan and bring to a boil. Pour over cake and and bake for another 13 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool, and when removing...run a knife around edges to loosen.
ENJOY!

Every once in a while, I pick up great tips and suggestions from my clients. Here is a recipe a client of mine shared with me, and it has become one of my favorites. Please try it and let me know how it goes, and if you tweaked it at all to make it your own.

My example is blueberry because that's the one I tried and it was outstanding! (For the record, I did not take this picture, but it look most like what came out) Examples of fruit Apples, (Granny smith, macintosh..etc ) diced or sliced & coated with cinnamon, sugar (if needed) and vanilla extract. or Blueberries (fresh or frozen) } just the fruit, nothing added Strawberries (fresh or frozen)

Method -Line the bottom of a pie plate with them. -Separately, mix 1 egg, 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup oil, zest of 1 lemon, 1 Tbsp baking powder, 1 cup flour, and a pinch of salt. -This mixure will be sticky and thick but try to spread over apples (or any other fruit) as best as you can...then bake at 350 until golden. The batter will spread out on it's own and be moist and amazing!

Check me out on Facebook under Chef Sandy Stollar
I've created The Kosher Tomato Board for anyone who would like to join.

http://www.youtube.com/user/TheKosherTomato

I recently changed my blog to the more appropriate name "Bursting with Passion"
That is what my tomato is...it's bursting with insane amounts of passion that I have for food!

It's been over a year now that I have started The Kosher Tomato, and I must say...things are good. Luckily, my hard work has been paying off. I am so thankful that I have this opportunity to do what I love, and help others at the same time. (BH)

Check back soon, as I will update for Chanukah.

Everyone is going "green" lately. Have you?

One thing I definitely recommend is something you might already have. It's a reusable bag for grocery shopping. Except, these are different. They are called WASTE-LESS bags.

http://www.waste-less.com

They are stylish, affordable and convenient. Everything you want in a product! The best thing is that they are bigger than your average reusable bag, yet they roll up small enough to fit into your purse so you won't forget them when you go shopping.

I'm sure you've thought of going green, here's your [stylish] chance to make a difference!

Recently, at this year's KOSHERFEST, I bumped into an old colleague from the kosher cook. If you keep a kosher home, I highly recommend you visit the website

http://www.thekoshercook.com

It's like a kosher cook's heaven. Filled with products that make your life in the kitchen easier. Labels of all types for meat, dairy and pareve. They are all uniquely color coated. You can find a variety of spoons, pans, knives, spatulas, cointags...you name it.

Gitelle is the person you want to speak to...she's especially helpful.