Double Coffee Pumpkin Cake (& A Giveaway) / November 22, 2016 by Lindsey | Dolly and Oatmeal

Double Coffee Pumpkin Cake | dolly and oatmeal

we just took our first road trip the other week for a long weekend up on martha's vineyard. it was amesy's first long car ride and for the most part it went really well. he loves his carseat as long as the car is moving, so aside from hitting traffic on our way back he was quite happy! but travel by airplane is a whole different story. frank and i typically fly down to my in-laws in north carolina for thanksgiving, but we haven't built up the courage to fly with amesy yet since he's just 2 months old; plus, i can't imagine his little immune system ready to hold up on a plane ride yet. after a few years of traveling for the holiday i haven't really given a thanksgiving menu much thought! so thinking about what kinds of food we'll prepare this time has been a little overwhelming. and on top of that, i've put added stress on myself with the thought that i want amesy to have the best first thanksgiving ever - even though he won't remember a thing, nor will be be able to eat any of the food! (oh how i love you, self-induced pressure!) but the one thing i can always settle on is dessert. aside from the carby side dishes, i regularly look forward to a good pumpkin cake - something substantial and sweet, but light enough that it doesn't send you over the edge.

i haven't been back on my regular coffee intake since before i was pregnant, and now that i'm breastfeeding i haven't been drinking that much caffeine. but for the holidays i wanted a way to have my pumpkin cake and coffee too! a coffee cake naturally came to mind, but when i started researching recipes i couldn't find one with actual coffee. (i suppose traditional coffee cake is just meant to be eaten with coffee..?) so this coffee cake here has a decent amount of caffeine that also lends the pumpkin cake some really awesome flavor! most cakes with coffee generally instruct you to use strongly brewed coffee, but i lly just came out with this extra dark roast that i love baking with, it offers a good dose of caramel notes and a hint of dark chocolate flavor. since it's an extra dark roast, i don't have to worry about how i'm brewing the coffee, or granules to water ratio. and like any traditional coffee cake, this one comes with a good crumbly topping with a few walnuts in there for crunch and nuttiness, and some cinnamon spice ;) i hope you enjoy it as much as i do!

for the *giveaway* to say thank you to all of you here that come to this space and make it what it is, illy and i are giving one reader a holiday set of extra dark roast coffee, coffee mugs, and a french press! to enter: leave a comment below about what you're thankful for. the winner will chosen at random on tuesday, november 28th at 5pm. (open to US residents only, sorry international friends!) good luck & happy thanksgiving! xo

this post was created in collaboration with Illy. all thoughts and opinions, as always, are my own. thank you so much for supporting the sponsors that keep dolly and oatmeal going!

double coffee pumpkin cake | gf & df

| makes 1 9x5-inch loaf |

crumble topping

1/4 cup fine brown rice flour
1/4 cup coconut sugar
1/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
pinch of salt
3 tablespoons melted extra virgin coconut oil

cake

1 cup fine brown rice flour
1/2 cup oat flour
1/4 cup arrowroot powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup coconut sugar
1/2 cup brewed i lly extra dark roast coffee
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
2 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

method

preheat oven to 350°F. grease a 9x5-inch rectangular loaf pan and line it with parchment paper, allowing wings to hangover the edges on the long sides, set aside.
make the crumble topping. in a medium sized bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, oats, walnuts, cinnamon, and salt. a tablespoon at a time, drizzle in the oil mixing with a fork until the mixture is wet and sandy looking. cover with cling wrap and transfer to the refrigerator.
make the cake. in a large bowl, whisk together the flours, arrowroot, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt; set aside. in another large bowl, whisk the coffee, sugar, and pumpkin puree until combined. then whisk in the eggs and vanilla until combined.
add half of the dry mix to the wet and whisk until combined. add the remaining dry ingredients and whisk once more until mixed. then fold in the walnuts with a rubber spatula.
remove the crumble topping from the fridge and break it up with a sturdy spoon or knife.
pour the batter evenly into the prepared pan and sprinkle the crumble over the top.
bake for 40-45 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through for even baking, until a cake tester comes out clean and the topping is lightly browned. (check cake at 30 minutes, if topping is getting too brown, make a tent with a piece of tin foil and cover for the remaining bake time.)
let cake cool on a rack for 20 minutes. using the parchment wings, remove the cake from the pan and let cool completely before slicing.

similar recipes:

olive oil & dark chocolate chunk w/ pears

Julia's Shaved Carrot & Avocado Salad w/ Tahini / November 16, 2016 by Lindsey | Dolly and Oatmeal

Julia's Shaved Carrot & Avocado Salad w/ Tahini | dolly and oatmeal

the first cookbook i ever owned, that was truly all mine, was mark bittman's how to cook everything, it was a present my mom and dad had given to me for christmas one year. i sat down the next morning with my purple sticky notes tagging all the recipes i wanted to make: basic pizza dough, roasted garlic soup, classic chocolate chip cookies, etc. i came across words like miso, and compote; and read about things i knew nothing about: pickling techniques, and the basics of pasta-making. but out of it all, the one recipe i practiced most was his basic scone recipe. i made them over and over again, sometimes with blueberries, sometimes plain, but they were my baking go-to, something i felt super confident about. i worked up enough confidence in my scone skills that over time i replaced the buttermilk with sour cream, and then ricotta a time or two. i also researched the best way to cut the into the flour while still keeping it cold (turns out quickly grating butter on a cheese grater worked best for me!).

i'm sure we've all had (or have) that one recipe in our back pocket that makes us feel really accomplished or fancy, but the thought of veering away from what's comfortable into an unknown realm is packed with worry (maybe cooking is a metaphor for life?!). so when i read julia turshen's intro in her new, and totally beautiful cookbook, small victories, i knew i was at home. her thought behind each recipe is that if you only have 2 recipes in your repertoire, then guess what, in all actuality you know how to make about 200 things. every recipe in the book comes with ingenious spin-offs, giving us a few different takes on the recipe and turning 1 small victory into a few. it's an encouraging way to cook from a book that motivates rather than overwhelms. similar to bittman's book, small victories reassures you that it's ok to try new flavors, various techniques, and different flavors in a series of inspiring but relaxed recipes, that feels like julia is cheering and comforting you from the sidelines.

but more importantly, julia is teaming up with Friendsgiving for No Kid Hungry to raise awareness for childhood hunger and help to make healthy food more accessible to children across the country. to learn more about the campaign or to donate click here.

here's to small victories in and out of the kitchen! xo

shaved carrot & avocado salad w/ tahini

recipe from Small Victories by Julia Turshen. reprinted with permission.

| serves 4 |

1 tablespoon tahini
2 tablespoons boiling water
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
kosher salt
3/4 lb (340 g) carrots, thinly sliced on the diagonal into coins
1 ripe avocado, halved and pitted
2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds
2 scallions, roots and dark green tops trimmed off, white and light green parts thinly sliced
2 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh cilantro (optional)

method

in a medium bowl, whisk together the tahini, boiling water, olive oil, and lemon juice. season to taste with salt. put the carrots in a large bowl, add half of the dressing, and toss to combine.
transfer the dressed carrots to a serving platter. use a spoon to artfully scoop the avocado from its shell into pieces and place them over the carrots. season the avocado pieces to taste with salt and then drizzle the salad with the remaining dressing. scatter the salad with the sesame seeds, scallions, and cilantro (if using). serve immediately.

note: if your sesame seeds aren't already toasted, put them in a dry skillet over medium heat and cook, stirring, until they're golden brown, about 4 minutes

spin offs:

toss shaved fennel, thinly sliced kumquats, and sliced scallions with kumquat and/or lemon juice and olive oil. garnish with fennel fronds, toasted marcona almonds, and lots of shaved parmesan.

dress shaved celery, toasted walnuts, and chopped italian parsley with lemon juice and olive oil.

dress shaved cabbage with sesame seeds, rice wine vinegar, and sesame oil.

dress shaved green apples with fish sauce, lime juice, and brown sugar. stir in salty peanuts and thinly sliced fresh red chile.

similar recipes:

fennel-roasted carrots & shallot salad w/ shaved apples

garlic & spice market carrots w/ tahini-yogurt

Mamahood: A Few Necessities (+ A Major Giveaway!) / November 11, 2016 by Lindsey | Dolly and Oatmeal

when amesy came i had been 10 days past my due date. 41 + weeks was no joke. those last 2 weeks were pretty rough on my body and my mental state at times. at my last doctor's appointment i had a sonogram to measure amesy's heart rate and the amniotic fluid levels. we had so many appointments where they told us there was no progress and that the baby was staying put for the time being. so when the sonogram tech said that my fluid levels were low, and the baby was coming that day we were shocked and for the first time, totally unprepared. every time we travelled any further than our neighborhood we brought our hospital bag and made accommodations for our pup quint. this time, of course, we had nothing prepared - no hospital bag, and quint was at doggy daycare with no back-up plan of where he would stay overnight.

we ended up rushing home to pack up everything we needed. my dad, who works just over the bridge in nyc, came to pick quint up, and we hurriedly drove to the hospital. because i was way past my due date and had low fluid levels, i was induced. i labored for about 13 hours before it was finally time to deliver our little guy. that moment continues to be the most memorable space in time as of yet. pushing my baby from my body was the most empowering feeling i've ever felt. the rush of emotions i felt in those first few seconds of his life when he was squishy and gooey and i was able to kiss him for the fist time. that first cry of breath, and the disbelief and love strewn across my husband's face as his eyes met our little one's. the pure joy on my parents' faces when they met amesy in that delivery room. and the idea that this little being, once just a thought and a dream, was finally here. i'm not sure i will ever experience anything better.

but the first few weeks of newborn life if real. like, really real. we're still in the thick of midnight feedings and extreme sleep deprivation. but it's making a bit more sense now. and on top of that ames is so much more expressive. he recognizes our voices and faces, and is beginning to smile when we talk to him --> heart. melting.

so i thought i would round up some of my favorite baby/mama products that have literally saved the day in some form or another, and also host a major giveaway for 1 lucky reader!

Snacking - i love a good snack bar. i made these over the summer if you're wanting a homemade larabar. but Oat Mama Lactation Bars have been my go-to. they're gluten-free dairy-free, soy-free, and they're absolutely delicious! they're filling, full of yummy superfoods, and help you keep up milk production. but even if you're not breastfeeding they're great for late-night feedings, or to throw in your bag for a sustaining snack throughout the day. i'm also a huge fan of go macro, especially their new thrive bars which are another really great superfood bar. (and if want to purchase some, go macro is offering you all 30% off any thrive purchase with the discount code: Thrive30!!!)

Napping - Dock-A-Tot - this is like a big pillow with bumpers so your babe stays put! if ames is napping i can put it on any surface large enough - on my desk when i'm working, on the bed or couch when i need to tend to other things. plus, it's portable, so i bring it to my parents' house when we visit on the weekends so that amesy has a place to take a nap without bringing his bassinet, etc.! he also really loves to chill out in his swing. we have this one from nuna which is great for our small apartment.

Diaper talk - okay. so we went with the biodegradable, hippie-dip diapers at first, and we totally loved them! but they leaked. all. the. time. so between amesy being uncomfortable, and the huge laundry footprint we were having that totally negated our biodegradable diapers, we've been going with a mainstream brand (rhymes with hampers) for the time being. hopefully we can switch back sometime soon! California Baby are my favorite baby products so far. the ingredients in their creams and washes are free of weird preservatives, soy, and dairy. the subtle fragrance of their products is really awesome, and i love that they're a completely sustainable company - from their ingredients, to their manufacturing, and packaging.

Sleep time - my mom had bought ames a few nightgowns, and to be honest, i wasn't sure how much use he would get out of them. but they have made midnight changings a breeze! we don't have to fuss with buttons when we're half asleep. we are super keen on petite bateau brand, milk barn, and kissy kissy. they're really soft on baby's skin, plus they all come in really great colors and patterns.

Soothing Our Babe - Solly Baby Wrap - guys, this wrap has saved our sanity on more than one night. whether we're going for a walk, or soothing ames during one of his fussy periods, the solly is a total god! i love how i can wear it around the house, have my arms free while also having that super special skin-to-skin time. the material is really soft and it comes in so many great patterns and colors :) highly recommend! aside from putting ames in the solly wrap and bopping him around the apartment or going for a walk, we really love our exercise/yoga ball, too. the evenings are the fussiest for him, so between taking lots of walks in the stroller or the solly wrap, bouncing with him on the ball is just another item to have in your soothing repertoire ;)

Playtime - we have this really beautiful alphabet blanket that my mom purchased for us from amelie mancini. everything she makes is handmade and super special. we plan on using it for so many things, but for now it's thick and soft enough for tummy time.

Carseat/stroller - i've gotten a lot of questions on instagram about what stroller we use, and more specifically about the striped car seat cover we have. we have the uppa baby vista stroller which folds up really small and fits perfectly in our narrow apartment. it also has an awesome turning radius - another great thing to have in our narrow hallway! lastly, native wilds makes this awesome carseat cover that also acts as a breastfeeding cover, grocery cart cover, and scarf - boom! they also come in really great patterns! it was the first thing i bought when i found out i was pregnant, and it's continues to be one of my favorite purchases.

ok, time for the fun part! *the giveaway* i got some of my favorite brands together to give 1 super duper lucky reader a few stellar baby products! *the details* to enter the giveaway: please leave a comment below sharing a thought about expecting your little one (whether that's pregancy, adoption, surrogacy, etc.), some of your favorite tips or tricks as a new mama, or some of your go-to snacks! the winner will be announced next friday, november 18 at 5 pm. thank you so much to all of these wonderfully generous companies who so graciously worked with me to make this giveaway possible!

one winner will be chosen to win:

1 Deluxe Dock-a-Tot (pictured)

1 Solly Baby Wrap (pictured)

California Baby Calendula Cream and Calming Shampoo & Bodywash (pictured)

$75 gift card to Oat Mama (bars pictured)

$75 gift card to Finn and Emma