Food is politics. More than ever. So, imagine my surprise when I found this comment the other day, right here on my little ol’ blog saying:
“I love your recipe blog, but really don’t agree with your political views or comments. Try to stay more focused on the food instead of politics. You may keep more friends that way.”
I’d never thought of being less than genuine and hiding my views as way to gain friends. Call me naive, that’s one strategy I haven’t tried. In terms of what I write on this site, I share my personal (which are of course political) philosophies and also enjoy hearing other people’s views, whether they agree with me or not.
So everyone, I want to thank you for your comments and all of the diverse perspectives. I appreciate hearing your views, even if we don’t always exactly see eye to eye.
In terms of my opinions, I hope you all enjoy what I write and totally understand if you don’t. Of course, if you are a big fan of Sara Palin then this site might not be the most comfortable place for you to hang out, given that I am pretty much a bleeding heart liberal. And then some. That’s not something I ever have or ever will try to hide.
Here’s yet another delicious gluten-free kosher for Passover recipe; it is based on a recipe I found on epicurean.com. My husband was very enthusiastic about this dessert, eating the crumbs off of the serving plate. Just a word of caution, this moist tart can be a bit crumbly this is normal and does not mean you’ve done anything wrong.
Chocolate Walnut Torte
Ingredients
- 5 large eggs, separated
- ½ cup agave nectar or honey
- ½ teaspoon celtic sea salt
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 2 cups walnuts
Instructions
- In a food processor, pulse the chocolate until it becomes a coarse mixture, the consistency of gravel
- Pulse in the walnuts, briefly, until they are coarsely chopped -bigger chunks than the chocolate
- In a large bowl, beat the egg yolks until pale in color, then gradually beat in the agave
- In a separate large bowl, beat the egg whites to stiff peaks, then beat in the salt
- Fold the chocolate-walnut mixture into the egg yolk mixture
- Then fold the egg whites into the egg yolk mixture
- Place in a well greased 9 inch springform pan
- Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes, then turn the oven off and leave in for 10 more minutes, until firm to the touch and golden around the edges
- Cool in the pan, then serve
This gluten-free flourless torte is another less expensive way to make higher-protein, lower glycemic desserts, without the expense of almond flour. Not that I don’t love almond flour, it’s still my favorite ingredient!
I’m not sure if this torte would work with yacon, though it might be a worthy experiment. It might also be worthwhile to experiment with other nuts, if walnuts aren’t your thing.
Aaron says
Hello everyone. Elana, thank you so much for this beautiful labor of love. I have been battling with myself over health issues for the majority of my life, and going gluten-free, in combination with making raw milk yogurt and cheese and making pickles and sauerkraut, I am feeling great and grateful.
I used to embrace all manner of dialectical exercises like political or religious debate, but it later occurred to me that the exclusionary nature of belief in any outside structure or authority defies everything I understand about nature and generates a great deal of conflict.
This blew me away when I first read it:
Jiddu Krishnamurti
Commentaries On Living Series I
Chapter 11 ‘Politics’
“High up in the mountains it had been raining all day. It was not a soft, gentle rain, but one of those torrential downpours that wash out roads and uproot trees on the hillside, causing landslides and noisy streams which become quiet in a few hours. A little boy, soaked to the skin, was playing in a shallow pool and paying not the least attention to the angry and high-pitched voice of his mother. A cow was coming down the muddy road as we climbed it. The clouds seemed to open and cover the land with water. We were wet through and removed most of our clothing, and the rain was pleasant on the skin. The house was way up on the mountainside, and the town lay below. A strong wind was blowing from the west, bringing more dark and furious clouds.
There was a fire in the room, and several people were waiting to talk things over. The rain, beating on the windows, had made a large puddle on the floor, and the water even came down the chimney, making the fire sputter.
He was a very famous politician, realistic, intensely sincere and ardently patriotic. Neither narrow-minded nor self-seeking his ambition was not for himself, but for an idea and for the people. He was not a mere eloquent tub thumper or vote catcher; he had suffered for his cause and, strangely, was not bitter. He seemed more of a scholar than a politician. But politics was the bread of his life, and his party obeyed him, though rather nervously. He was a dreamer, but he had put all that aside for politics. His friend, the leading economist, was also there; he had intricate theories and facts concerning the distribution of enormous revenues. He seemed to be familiar with the economists of both the left and the right, and he had his own theories for the economic salvation of mankind. He talked easily, and there was no hesitation for words. Both of them had harangued huge crowds.
Have you noticed, in newspapers and magazines, the amount of space given to politics, to the sayings of politicians and their activities? Of course, other news is given, but political news predominates; the economic and political life has become all-important. The outward circumstances – comfort, money, position and power – seem to dominate and shape our existence. The external show – the title, the garb, the salute, the flag – has become increasingly significant, and the total process of life has been forgotten or deliberately set aside. It is so much easier to throw oneself into social and political activity than to understand life as a whole; to be associated with any organized thought, with political or religious activity, offers a respectable escape from the pettiness and drudgery of everyday life. With a small heart you can talk of big things and of the popular leaders; you can hide your shallowness with the easy phrases of world affairs; your restless mind can happily and with popular encouragement settle down to propagate the ideology of a new or of an old religion.
Politics is the reconciliation of effects; and as most of us are concerned with effects, the external has assumed dominant significance. By manipulating effects we hope to bring about order and peace; but, unfortunately, it is not as simple as all that. Life is a total process, the inner as well as the outer; the outer definitely affects the inner, but the inner invariably overcomes the outer. What you are, you bring about outwardly. The outer and the inner cannot be separated and kept in watertight compartments, for they are constantly interacting upon each other; but the inner craving, the hidden pursuits and motives, are always more powerful. Life is not dependent upon political or economic activity; life is not a mere outward show, any more than a tree is the leaf or the branch. Life is a total process whose beauty is to be discovered only in its integration. This integra- tion does not take place on the superficial level of political and economic reconciliations; it is to be found beyond causes and effects.
Because we play with causes and effects and never go beyond them, except verbally, our lives are empty, without much significance. It is for this reason that we have become slaves to political excitement and to religious sentimentalism. There is hope only in the integration of the several processes of which we are made up. This integration does not come into being through any ideology, or through following any particular authority, religious or political; it comes into being only through extensive and deep awareness. This awareness must go into the deeper layers of consciousness and not be content with surface responses.”
Rita says
Hi Elana
My son and I have been preparing many of your dessert recipes and when it is time to eat, we always say “Elana is a genius!” We did make your chocolate walnut torte and it turned out great. A few days later, we tried the same recipe with hazelnut flour and the result was amazing. With my son’s suggestion, we made a chocolate raspberry glaze for the torte and could not stop eating it. Thanks for the great recipes and many hours of baking fun.
Chilli mayonnaise says
Enjoyed this blog thanks – good work!
Sham says
I made this on the weekend and it turned out wonderfully. I have to bake it a bit longer because the bottom was a little too moist but afterwards it was fine. Both my partner and I lov e it. Thank you!!! :)
Elana says
You're welcome!
Sheryl says
I have loved every one of your recipes so far! Aside from the almond flour chocolate chip cookies from here, I have no other chocolate in my diet – so, I’m excited to try this torte! I am so thankful for your site. After going through an intense medical crisis last Spring I am trying to rebuild my health through nutrition and supplements. The first to go were grains….And, I’m am thankful that you’re open and honest on your blog. I can’t even imagine why someone would want you to stuff yourself into a pre-approved box (subject to approval by others). Thankfully, we are living in a time of change – a time when differences are celebrated, not judged and evaluated.
Elana says
Yup, the grain-free eating plan can really improve health quite a bit. Worked for me :-)
Elana says
Hi Again!
Thanks for your wonderful and diverse comments.
I really appreciate comments like yours Marylynn, it is so important to me that our children enjoy food and feel good at the same time.
Julie, once you start changing ingredients (semi-sweet instead of dark chocolate) and baking equipment then you are gambling with the results.
My family really enjoyed this cake and I’m glad to hear that so many of you did too!
Rhonda says
Hi Elena.
Just wondering…what can a person use instead of agave nector?
And thank you for the delicious recipies; they have been a lifesaver since I was diagnosed as celiac!!
kelly says
Honey, it is right in the recipe.
Julie says
I made this last night. It was my first time using agave and I found it a little too sweet although my chocolate was not quite as dark as yours – semi-sweet chips were what was on hand. The bottom came out quite soggy. Could that be from using a silicone baking dish? I don’t have a springform pan.
Karen says
Again, an excellent, delicious dessert I didn’t feel bad about eating and my son, who is 16, and husband didn’t realize were gluten-free. It was easy to make – got the son to whip the egg whites which was so cool for him to see them change from goo to peaks.
Thank you, Elena.
Marylynn says
Love your recipes, love your politics!
You are making our GF/CF diet changes for our Aspie son much easier. Some of the recipes out there are just nutty with the number of ingredients you have to use…heaven only knows if they are good for you or not! I don’t have to worry about such things when I make your food.
We adore your brownies and chocolate chip cookies!