Gardening leave and a coconut lemon pound cake

So after 13 years of service at his current job Mr D has taken the plunge and decided to move on. It's a very exciting new chapter and I'm extremely proud of him.  BUT and yes there is a but...... he is now on Gardening Leave for the next month until his new job starts.  For those of your that haven't heard of Gardening Leave (and don't worry because I hadn't either) it's when your Company puts you on paid leave instead of working your notice period before leaving.  He's only been home a few days but he's driving me crazy already.

He has taken over my neatly organised desk AND my computer and not only can I NOT get any work done but I can't find anything either!!!  Not to mention the laying on the sofa playing games and telling me "Babe, I don't no what you complain about...staying at home all day is easy!!!" GRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!  

He doesn't know it yet but I have decided that Gardening Leave is for gardening.  Literally.  I am desperate for someone to dig out all the weeds in the flower beds in our back yard and prepare them, so that I can plant sunflowers AND have a veggie patch.  I'm sure he can managed all that with a month at home.  Plus I know he is very good at it because he did up the garden in our last home in England.  So no excuses Mr D...... as soon as all this rain stops I will be putting your back to work!

Anyway I hope you all have a fabulous weekend and I will leave you with the DELICIOUS coconut pound cake recipe!!

Ingredients:

120g butter
20g stevia (or a sugar free equivalent)
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
280g plain flour
100g desiccated coconut
170g coconut cream (I used the light version)

Optional topping (This part is NOT sugar free)
3-4 tbs icing sugar
coconut cream
grated lemon rind
1/2 lemon
desiccated coconut

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and line a loaf tin with grease proof paper.
2. Cream the butter and stevia together in the thermomix (or food processor) for 1 to 2 minutes on speed 6.  You will need to stop it and scrape down the sides every 20 seconds.
3. Add the eggs one at a time and mix for 10-15 seconds on speed 5 for each one.  On the last egg, add the vanilla extract.
4. Add the flour and the desiccated coconut and mix for 1 minute on speed 4.  It should turn to a sticky dough consistency.
5. Add the coconut cream and mix for 45 seconds on speed 5.
6. Pour into the lined loaf tin and bake for 25-30 minutes or until it is slightly browned (and cracked) on top, and a knife comes out clean when poked into the middle.  

Adding the glaze will make the cake taste even yummier, but it does mean that it's no longer totally sugar free.  To make it, put the icing sugar into a bowl and then squeeze half a lemon into it and mix it into a paste.  Slowly add the coconut cream until you have your desired consistency. I like mine really runny.  Once the cake is cooled, pour the glaze over the top and then add some desiccated coconut and grated lemon rind to make it look pretty.

ENJOY x

She certainly loved it.

Do have a parter that works from home?? 

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