Energy Loaf

We both get seasick from time to time. Often for me (Lucas) it’s at the start of a race after we’ve been exerting a lot of energy running around keeping up with the fully crewed boats. This loaf is a life-saver. Loads of energy in it, and also caffeine.

A friend gave us a container of this for the first Brisbane to Gladstone that we did, and it has become a race staple. Ginger, dates, nuts, chia, coffee. What more could you want? Keep a container in the cockpit or the pantry during the race and you’ll always have something to snack on. Just remember to keep liquids up as well with seasickness.

Ingredients

2 cups pitted dates, chopped and tightly packed
1 cup strong coffee (sweetened if desired)
84g salted butter
4 eggs
1/4 cup chia seeds
160ml water
1 cup self raising flour
baking powder
1-2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp nutmeg
1-2 tsp cinnamon
2 cups almond meal
1 1/2 cups nuts (pecan/macadamia/pecan/walnut – whatever you have)
1 cup naked ginger

Method

Place dates in a saucepan with coffee and butter and bring gently
to boil and simmer for about 8 minutes until dates soften and mixture thickens – set aside to cool.

Coffee bags are handy on the boat
Chunky fruit and nuts are great in this cake
Simmer until softened

Add the chia seeds to the water. This should become like jelly when it sits for a while. While sitting and setting, beat the eggs and then combine the jelly-like chia seeds with them.

Add the cooled date mixture to the egg and chia mix – combine well.

Combine the flour with the spices. Sift if you want, but I don’t bother.

Sift the dry flour mixture into the egg, chia and date mix and combine well.

Add the almond meal and mix well and then add the nuts and ginger. I keep the ginger really chunky.

Grease and line a cake tin or loaf tin and bake in a fan forced oven at 150 degrees for around 50 minutes to an hour. The cake is cooked when the middle of it feels firm to touch.