Where does the phrase “Have your cake and eat it, too” come from?

If I handed you a piece of cake and you didn’t eat it, I wouldn’t think you were prudent and rational.  I’d be offended.  I just handed you yummy cake – you should eat it.  Even if it’s this cake, which is more like sweet bread than cake.

Why can’t we have it all?  Who is out there telling us not to enjoy our cake?

Silliness.  If I hand you a slice of this, by all means, eat it.  It’s delicious.

(By the way, I know this is an ugly photo.  We ran out of spice cake so quickly I didn’t have the chance to make it pretty for a second round.  Trust me, it’s still tasty even if a little odd looking above :) )

Ingredients

1/2 cup unsalted butter, plus more for the pan
1 tablespoon toasted hazelnut oil – or almond oil, or more melted butter
1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour, plus more for the pan
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon garam masala
1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
1 cup sugar, plus 1 1/2 tablespoons for topping
2 large eggs
1/2 cup well-pureed roasted winter squash
1/4 cup milk
1/3 cup lightly toasted sliced almonds (optional)

Directions

Melt the butter in a small pot over medium heat until it’s brown and gives off a deliciously nutty aroma. This can take anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes. You want the butter solids nicely toasted, but not scorched. Stir in the toasted hazelnut oil. Set aside and allow to cool but not set. By doing the butter first you can complete the rest of the steps while it is cooling.

Preheat oven to 350F / 180C with a rack in the top 1/3. Butter and flour a 1-lb loaf pan, or roughly 9x5x3-inch.

Sift the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, garam masala, and sea salt into a large bowl. Set aside. In a smaller bowl whisk the sugar, eggs, squash, and milk. Whisk in the still melted butter, but make sure it isn’t hot to the touch. Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture, and stir until just combined. Fold in most of the almonds.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan, sprinkle with 1 1/2 tablespoons of sugar and remaining almonds, and bake for about 50-60 minutes, or until the edges have browned and the center of the cake is well set. Do your best to avoid over-baking, part of the charm of this cake is its moistness, when it is baked properly. Use a cake tester if necessary.

Source: 101 Cookbooks