Eating From the Kitchen of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) Palestine in a Cake

 

Dear Readers,

Woking Food and Drink Festival took place from 5th to 7th September. It was sponsored by Tante Marie Culinary Academy (Gordon Ramsey’s Academy, where I wanted to go and study and learn to be a bestest Chef in the whole wide world, Thank God I ended up in Eating Disorder Unit instead) Balfour Beatty, Woking Advertiser and Celebrate Woking. (We’ll leave out my personal narrative of the psychological torture I went through on that Day, after all those years, I still go into shock when visiting such places, my therapist must be shaking her head in despair). One of my favorite stall was Fair Trade stall selling Palestinian products.  They were selling Olive Oil, Olives, Mejdoul Dates, Matfoul, Za’atar, Almonds, Sun Dried Tomatoes and Olive Oil Soap.

Established in 2004, Zaytoun is the first importer of Palestinian Olive Oil.    Zaytoun is a non-profit company established to support marginalised farming communities in Palestine through the production of olive oil and other olive products.

 

 

Facing our Food Fears One at a Time…

Many people with eating disorders have a list of fear foods.  The fear of food is one area that must be conquered in order to experience full recovery from an eating disorder. One of my fear foods in recovery was olive and nuts.  Since last year I’ve been working on facing all my food fears. I don’t think I can ever overcome the fear of drinking avocado double cream honey smoothie (they sell that at Lebanese Restaurant Jeitta in Woking), but I also know that restriction leads to either bingeing or further restrictive eating. Since last year I started to incorporate everything in my diet slowly, one by one .  I purchased some of the Zaytoun’s products and It made me feel so good to use their products. It made me feel connected to Palestine and its people, it bought back memories from last year when I visited Palestine. It also helped me to conquer one of my minor fears over food. All I know is what I was eating was blessed and sourced in Palestine. It really helps when we think of Food in positive way and it helps even more when we know what we are eating has a story behind it.

Regaining power over foods boosts confidence and self-esteem. The goal for a person suffering from an eating disorder is to normalize their relationship with food by letting go of the power they give to it.

Why not Bless your Eating Disorder Recovery with this healthy, Nutritious Cake from the Blessed Land of Palestine? It consists of ingredients from the Kitchen of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).  It’s rich in nutrients, minerals and blessings.

Zaitoon (Olive) is Cure for Seventy Diseases

Prophet (Pbuh) stated,  “Eat Olive Oil and anoint yourselves with it, for it is from a blessed tree.” (Tirmidhi At’ima, 43)

According to Ibn al-Qayyim benefits of OliveOil  are many times greater than have been mentioned. Olive oil consists of 75% heart-healthy monounsaturated fats  and only 13% saturated fat.  It contains active compounds such as oleocanthal, which has a strong anti-inflammatory action to fight heart-disease and cancer. It also contains the natural antioxidants polyphenols, whose beneficial effects include lowering cholesterol, blood pressure and the risk of coronary heart disease. Many other nut and seed oils have no polyphenols whatsoever.

Heal Your Eating Disorder with This Beautiful Blessed Cake- Have it as one of your Snacks or as a Dessert.

PALESTINIAN RECIPES

Almond & Citrus Olive Oil Cake Recipe

Almonds, Citrus and Olive Oil….. it’s Palestine in a Cake

Olive oil, citrus and almonds are oft used ingredients in many delicious savoury Palestinian dishes. We are delighted to find that they are also flavours that lend themselves beautifully to baking.

Zaytoun’s organic Fairtrade olive oil has been sourced through Canaan Fair Trade in Jenin. It is a world-first Fairtrade olive oil, pressed from the fruit of ancient trees which have been tended by hand through generations of family farmers.

 

The ‘Om Al-Fahem’ is a premium almond. This variety, traditionally grown here as it thrives on the arid and rocky terrain, produces a large, sweet almond. Zaytoun almonds are sourced from a farmers cooperative in the Jenin area.

 

Ingredients

120g all-purpose flour

60g Palestinian Fairtrade almonds (ground)

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

3 large eggs, beaten

150g Fairtrade caster sugar (or any sugar)

120ml Palestinian Fairtrade Organic extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon grated orange zest

120ml freshly squeezed orange juice

60g Palestinian Fairtrade almonds (sliced)

Icing sugar for dusting

PREPARATION METHOD

 

1- Preheat the oven to 180C/365F/Gas 4.

2- Grease and flour a 9-inch (23 cm) round cake tin.

3- In a bowl, mix together the flour, ground almonds, baking powder and salt.

4- On a separate bowl, beat the eggs, caster sugar and olive oil. When thoroughly mixed add the vanilla extract, orange zest and finally the orange juice.

5- Add the dry ingredients to the bowl and beat until they are thoroughly combined.

6-Pour the cake mixture into the cake tin and sprinkle the flaked almonds over the top. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.

7- Remove the cake onto a wire rack and let it cool completely. Dust with icing sugar before serving.

 

Recipe Card to Download/Print: Almond And Citrus Olive Oil Cake Recipe Pdf

 

Why purchase Zaytoun Products?

Zaytoun Story

Initially funded by hundreds of people willing to put up their money in advance of receiving their oil, it soon became clear that there was a huge demand for Palestinian products amongst supporters and fairtraders in the UK. Zaytoun received a loan from Triodos Bank which enabled us to place another order with the Palestinian producers, and we began to bring in not only oil but maftoul (couscous), dates, za’atar, almonds and soap.

We are a Fair Trade company and a member of WFTO. In 2009 we launched the world’s first ever Fairtrade olive oil, a tribute to the hard work of the Palestinian producers and processors with whom we work.

We run two trips a year to Palestine, taking consumers to meet producers and processors, to work alongside them in the groves and to meet groups in the area working on peace and justice. We also bring producers to the UK every year for Fairtrade Fortnight.

Source: http://www.zaytoun.org