Nourishing New Mums with Breakfast Loaf-Cake
There were very exciting times in our family last week, as my beautiful sister gave birth to a fabulous baby girl!! Yay! Everyone is doing magnificently in case you were interested… I love that when someone has a baby, there is an outpouring of generosity, often in the form of food. Some people create ‘food trees’ where there is an organised delivery system amongst the family and friends of the new mum – check out here and here for a very detailed account on how you can do it. I particularly like he idea of asking the family when the help will be most appreciated, as it can often be when one partner goes back to work that the real need for ready made, delicious, sustaining and nutritious food will be at its peak! I also think it’s great to check what the family do and don’t eat/like.
So, I decided to make my baby sister a loaf-cake. I’m not sure what a loaf-cake is, but I think that it’s this. Loaf sounds a bit boring, and cake doesn’t sound nutritious enough, so loaf-cake it is!
I have made this with a view to including all the important aspects of breakfast in a quick and easy to eat snack. It has more protein than the average breakfast cereal, no sugar, and plenty of fibre which is regularly needed for new mums to get the old bowels moving again!
It is packed with good fats, B vitamins, iron, and calcium to nourish, sustain and encourage effective breast feeding.
I have also included organic mulberries (thanks Loving Earth) which are said to tonify the blood, and are also rich in protein, iron, calcium, B vitamins, magnesium and antioxidants, winners! You can use any dried fruit, my sister doesn’t like sultanas, so the mulberries got a big look in. To compliment I chose organic figs and organic apricots for their high iron and calcium qualities. I have also used wholemeal spelt flour which is rich in minerals. Go that!
Oh, and it’s delicious. Eat it straight up, or toasted with some coconut butter, butter or nut butter! If you do dairy, a lovely fresh ricotta is fairly awesome too.
Here’s how to do it.
New Mum’s Breakfast Loaf-Cake
2 cups COOKED quinoa, any colour
1 cup of milk, nut milk or 1/2 coconut milk 1/2 rice milk
1 cup any mixed seed combination (I like pepitas and linseeds as they are ideal for getting the digestion going, but sunflower, sesame, chia are all good!)
1 cup mixed organic dried fruit (figs, apricots, sultanas, currants, mulberries, blueberries)
1 cup wholemeal spelt flour
1 grated apple, skin on
1/2 cup dried coconut (shredded, flakes, whatever you prefer)
1/2 cup walnuts or almonds, roughly chopped
1 tsp cinnamon
A sprinkle of nutmeg
1 egg
2 tsp baking powder
Soak the seeds and fruit in the milk for at least 2 hours, longer if you have time.
Add the cooked quinoa and flour and stir to combine. Add all other ingredients and mix.
Pour mixture into a loaf tin lined with baking paper, and cook at 180 degrees Celsius for 55 minutes – 1 hour.
*To cook quinoa: Rinse 1 cup of quinoa and pop into a saucepan with 2 cups of water. Bring to the boil then reduce heat and simmer covered for around 10 minutes, or until you can see the little white curly tails become visible.
Eat straight away, or keep in an airtight container for a few days. This loaf-cake freezes fabulously, so get your recipient to slice it up and freeze it ready to whip out and toast when the mood strikes.
Deliver to someone you love, or enjoy it yourself – go on, you’re worth it. Job done! x
Hi Meg,
Love this one, especially toasted! Made it for myself a couple of months ago and making for a friend who had a bub a few days ago. Couple of questions… What size loaf tin do you use and it is best if I preheat the oven?
Thanks x
Hi Domenica!
Yes, preheating the oven will speed it along a little, and I generally use a 13 x 24cm ish loaf tin. I reckon it might make nice wholesome muffins too though! 🙂
Hi Meg!
I made a batch of this for my breakfasts this week and I can’t thank you enough for such an amazing recipe! Slather this bad boy with peanut butter and slice some banana on top and BAM! Best breakfast ever!
I will definitely be baking this for gifts in future also, thank you for such a wholesome recipe! Delicious!
Oh great Jess! So glad you enjoyed it – I really love this one too. And it does make an awesome gift. x
Hi Meg!
Just wondering what would be a substitute for the 1 cup of Wholemeal Spelt Flour? Would love to make it. Thanks so much!
Hi Emily, are you wanting it to be gluten free? If so, as I mentioned above, you could try GF flour – I haven’t tried it but it should be fine as the loaf is pretty dense. If you don’t need to be gluten free, you can substitute with any other baking flour you like. Hope that helps.:)
I was also wondering if there was a GF substitute for the spelt flour? Would an all-purpose GF work? Thanks. 🙂
Hi Jess, I haven’t tried it, but it should work. Let me know how you do if you try. x
Amazing recipe, so nutritious and delicious, thank you!
Thanks Marli! x
An absolute winner Meg! xxx
So glad you liked it B! x
Have just discovered your fabulous website & am making every opportunity of waiting for my car to get serviced by devouring your beautiful blogs – must tell them to take their time with my car! Going straight to the health food store from here to get the recipe for the breakfast loaf cake. Keep up the great work Meg. Andrea
Thank you Andrea, you have made my day!! xx
Hi Meg,
This looks fabulous, as always. I’m just wondering – why do wheat free / gluten recipes still include baking powder? I never add it because it seems to ruin the taste but just wondering if my breads are missing out then – I can’t see how it would impact the “rising” as there is none, since there is no gluten to make it rise. Thanks for your clarification on this!
Cheers,
Felicity
Just had to comment, I’m veggie and on a diet so don’t get near enough protein or goodness but this is incredible. It worked even though I was juggling a toddler’s dinner whilst making it. Can’t believe there is no sugar it is amazing. Thank you!
Oh thanks so much Gemma – I’m so glad you love it!! I love that recipe too. I might have to give it a little revamp soon 🙂