Healthy Recipes : "Pain Be Gone" Chocolate Cake

Cooking and Exercise are my panacea to all kinds of stress and unhappiness -- I found out that one of my first cousins is no more this week and it filled me with an intense sadness - he and I had been very close when we were in school -- he understood my penchant for books and melancholy better than most and we spoke about his dreams and aspirations to become a doctor who changed the world. We drifted apart growing up and I haven't seen him in over two decades - yet the pain felt when I heard that he had a heart attack was intense....he was only 42. I sat in the parking lot of the gym for 20 minutes contemplating going in and dancing away the pain...the body wasn't up to it. So I went back home and I grabbed my blender and whipped up a chocolate cake to ward away the cobwebs of melancholy and pain. 

                                                                                                                     

Serves: 12 servings

ACTIVE TIME: 5 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 35 minutes

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 Cup Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
• 1/2 Cup Wheat Bran
• 1 Banana
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts (walnuts, almonds)
• 3 tbspoon Chia Seeds
• 2 Egg Whites
• 1/2 Cup Kefir 
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 Cup of Sugar (I used Stevia)
• 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1/2 Cup Cocoa Powder (unsweetened)
• Pinch of Salt to Taste

PREPARATION
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  I stick all the ingredients in my Food Processor and blend to cake consistency. Pour into a round well greased cake pan. Bake 30-35 minutes till  toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Nutritional Insights : Calories per Serving - 120, Carbs - 10 g, Fat - 5 g, Protein - 8 g, Fiber - 6 g 

The secret to my moist cake is the Kefir which is a close cousin to our Lassi/Buttermilk but embodied with healthy good for you probiotics. This cake is high in fiber, has healthy omega fats (from the Chia Seeds and Walnuts) and zero butter/vegetable oil.