Yellow Lard Cake with Berries and Cream (A ‘Beyond Bacon’ Giveaway)
This weekend, my little girl turned 2. I just love that little peanut and her growing personality. I would say I’m excited to be moving out of the baby stage.. but it’s only a few months before we move back into it. 😉
This was her birthday cake!
I know it’s not the typical two-year-old birthday cake (what, no Dora?!), but my girl loves berries. So berries we had.. and lots of them.
But let’s back up a second.
This recipe is called Yellow LARD Cake. Say what!?!
A few years ago, I would not have been caught dead eating anything with lard in it, let alone a dessert. I grew up on the idea that lard and shortening (which are NOT the same, by the way) would make you super fat and you should avoid them at all costs. Pass the butter spray, please! (Can’t believe that’s still a thing.)
After lots of time spent learning about real food, my mind began to change. Maybe animal fats really were the way to go! I think the idea was really cemented in my brain when I took on the GAPS Diet, since the first stages of Intro included only tallow as the only fat (the beef or lamb equivalent for lard). For more reading about lard and it’s place in a nourishing diet, check out this post at Weed ‘Em and Reap.
The recipe for the cake comes from a book that everyone in the Paleo community has been talking about, Beyond Bacon. The cookbook is the brainchild of Matt and Stacy from Paleo Parents, one of the best Paleo resources out there. The book is all about how to take advantage the whole pig, scary bits and all. Matt and Stacy explain how to find quality pork and walk you through all of their preparations in a way that takes intimidating projects (like rendering your own lard) seem very doable.
The book is stuffed full of quality recipes. I’ve got my eye on the Smoked Pork Belly, Asian Short Ribs, Cucumber Dill Quiche, “Corn” Dogs, Fried Yuca, Savory Bacon Jam, Caramel Praline Lard Fudge, The Best Brownies.. so, like I said. A LOT of quality recipes in here.
Matt and Stacy recommend their chocolate frosting to top the yellow cake, but I opted for whipped cream and fresh fruit in honor of my little berry lover. I used real cream, but you can use whipped coconut cream interchangeably. (You may also notice some powdered sugar on the cake. That is NOT paleo, I just think it looks so lovely for photographs!)
I followed the directions in the book for two layers of cake, but unfortunately, one of my layers broke as I was removing it from the pan. My advice would be to chill the layers in the fridge completely and then flip the pans and tap the cakes free only when you’re ready to assemble the cake. Be sure to line the pans with parchment paper, too- that makes a huge difference with these dense paleo cakes!
As for the taste, we can’t get enough! No complaints there. The cake was a great base for berries and cream, but I’d love to try the chocolate frosting on it, too. Can’t go wrong with any kind of cake, if you ask me.
So, in honor of my little girl and her 2nd birthday, I’m giving away a copy of Beyond Bacon to one of you! I have pretty much dropped the ball on giveaways around here, so I’m very happy to be bringing you one today. Makes the heart full to be able to give things away. Just follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter widget below, my darlings, and the winner will be announced at the end of the week!
Sometime this week I was going to ask for a cake recommendation, since there’s no way I an pay a baker to make Julia’s cake. Basically, I need to win this book 🙂 I’ve had my eye on it for awhile. Also, life without bacon would be very, very sad.
Life without bacon would be a sad, sad thing. Living in a country where bacon is hard to come by, I’ve started bringing my own when I visit the States. And I’ve become quite the bacon connoisseur 🙂 This cookbook would be amazing to have!
really the question should be…IS there life without bacon? 🙂
I’m interested in the Paleo diet, but afraid(maybe too stubborn) to give up my beloved bread and cheese. I could be convinced due to the fact that all bread/cheese could be replaced with BACON!! Life would we boring without it. Here’s to my hopes to win this book!!
Lucky for you, you can always borrow my other copy if you don’t win. 😉
Life without bacon… my husband would probably go into a state of mourning followed by deep depression.
Life without bacon would just be intolerable…I use it in so many recipes! I once ate (in my “skinny” days) a half pound of it by myself! Shameful, I know, but it is just SO darn good!
Without bacon, Sunday mornings would be like another Monday!
My life without bacon would significantly less exciting. I’m not paleo, but I love me some bacon!
Crossing my fingers,
Natalie
oystersandpearls.net
Life without bacon would be horrible, it’s can be used in so many ways….my favorite is always bacon and eggs to start the morning….I don’t think I could do without bacon in my life.
Life without bacon would be like life before I met my boyfriend. I didn’t really eat bacon…for no reason in particular. Now, I eat it occasionally and love it. Life would be sadder without it.
My life without bacon would be miserable! I’m not sure that I could go on, I’d be forever in a deep state of depression
Life without bacon would be sad….for all my guys. My husband and boys could live on bacon if I let them!
Life without bacon would be sad indeed. I would have to live with naked Brussels sprouts!
Not quite as tasty.
No bacon? Shucks, we had two pigs this year named Ham and Cheese and Ham got turned into the most delicious bacon ever! I always fry two extra pieces when making it for a recipe. Those are mine to munch on while cooking. Life without bacon would be slightly dull!
Not nearly as delicious!
No bacon? My life would be bleak and unhappy! LOL. I love bacon!
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
Hey Natalie, next time you’re in Etown, be sure to check out Rooster St. Provisions (on High St.). Here’s their link: http://www.roosterstreetbutcher.com/ Amazing place!! I get my leaf lard there. Glad to know of another lard convert. Can’t wait to check out that book. Thanks for your post!!
So is this recipe full GAPS friendly? We are on intro right now, but we have 4 birthdays in our family the next 3 months. How many of the recipes are full GAPS/WAPF friendly?