38.5 Weeks and a Recipe

This week I'm 38 weeks pregnant. And I am so done. I know it's better for the baby to stay in as long as possible. I've read the research, and with Thaddeus I was totally willing to wait it out believing that was best for my baby. But, lately I just feel selfish. I really want this baby to come this week. But, I'm trying to prepare myself now for carrying to term. Somedays I do a great job just letting go and relaxing about it all, other days I don't. Guess that's normal though, right? So, I decided I needed something to keep me distracted and cheer me up a little...my solution: cake. Something sweet and moist and yummy, but also somewhat healthy and fortifying. So, I made up my own recipe for groaning cake. The idea of the groaning cake is a cake that a women makes while in early labor, that she can then eat during and after labor to give her strength and energy. There are other traditions and superstitions that go along with the whole idea, and generally I find the concept fascinating. Seems like a good idea to me too... Something to keep you distracted in early labor, and provide you with much needed calories after labor.

At first I thought maybe my idea for cake was a little too ambitious, since I've been reacting to eggs lately, and making a cake without eggs isn't exactly easy. But, I think I ended up making something that worked really well. I really liked how it turned out (granted my sister also tried it and didn't like it at all, but my husband and toddler both liked it too so I figured three out of four was pretty good).

The cake has a dark, molasses-like, gram cracker-like, flavor. It's not very sweet, but I don't like things overly sweet anyway anymore. Here's the recipe as I made it, along with the additions I plan on making when I do the next test run this week. If all goes as planned and the second cake turns out as well as the first (not to mention if the baby comes during the day and I'm up for cake making in early labor) I plan on making this cake as a birth day cake for baby girl.

Beth's Groaning Cake

Ingredients:

2 or 3 plums (I used yellow plums, I think other fruits would work well too - I might try apples or cherries) 2 tablespoons yogurt (I used vanilla flavored sheep's yogurt) 1/3 cup coconut oil 1/3 cup milk (I used whole raw milk) 1/3 cup pure maple syrup 1/3 cup coconut sugar 1/2 cup flour 1/2 cup mesquite flour 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Additions I plan on trying next time:

2 tablespoons hemp hearts 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast Some chopped walnuts

Directions:

Mix all ingredients, except plums, together.  Grease a cake pan with a bit of coconut oil and preheat oven to 350. Slice plums and arrange half the slices on the bottom of the pan. Pour cake mixture into pan. Arrange the rest of the plum slices on top of the cake. Bake for about 45 minutes or until done.

Have any of you heard of the tradition of a groaning cake?

Or made one yourself? If so, what was it like?

Or do you have any nutrient dense yumminess you think I should include next time I make this cake?

Rejoicing in the journey -

Bethany Stedman