Black Sesame Loaf

And you thought I disappeared! First let me apologize for the long lapse in posting. Everyone has such busy lives these days, I honestly didn't think anyone would notice my absence. Boy was I wrong. So many of you reached out to me over the weeks inquiring about me, the blog, and what was going on. On one hand, that makes me feel so good! I love that you all are enjoying my recipes and the health information I share. On the other hand, I feel bad for not properly warning you in advance. I do my best to keep the blog less personal and more about the things you really care about. Like recipes, health tips, etc. As far as my personal life goes, I try not to bore you too much with that stuff :)

In a nutshell, back in January, we decided to build a new home and sell our existing home. It was a big undertaking- more than we realized it would be. Once we got the ball rolling, life was going at 100 mph. Sprinkled in all of that chaos was normal, everyday life stuff. We moved over Easter weekend and things did not go smoothly. The first month we were in our new home, things were quite honestly a mess. I have never been through that kind of stress for so long. I did not know how much longer I could take it.

At the end of May, our youngest son graduated from high school. While that was a very happy occasion, it was a busy time with family visiting from out of state, along with being super emotional as my baby boy was hitting a huge milestone. I'm happy to say that we made it through all of that and now we find ourselves in June! I'm wondering where the first half of 2018 went??? The good news is, life is starting to slow down and feel somewhat normal. It's refreshing to feel like I can breathe again. And now I have more time to hang out with you guys and create new recipes in my dream kitchen! Thank you so much for sticking by me and being patient. You guys are awesome supporters!

Now I find myself wondering where to start. But I quickly realized, it's much like riding a bike. Once you get back on, it all comes back to you. So naturally, black sesame is the first thing I think of! My love for those little black seeds continues with complete adoration over their taste and health qualities. I would say two ingredients that stand out to me in this recipe are obviously the star of the show, black sesame, but also blackstrap molasses. Both aid in bone health. Black sesame seeds are a good source of bone-forming minerals such as calcium, phosphorous, and magnesium. One tablespoon of unhulled seeds contains about 88mg of calcium. That is more than a glass of milk! In addition to that, the high zinc content increases bone mineral density. I just love learning about new ways to promote good bone health! Blackstrap molasses is rich in many key bone nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, and even manganese. Some reports suggest you only need two teaspoons of blackstrap molasses to get 18% of the recommended daily value for manganese! Who knew these two delicious ingredients could do so much for our bones!

Combining these into a loaf of bread just sounded so good! I wanted to make a vegan version using flax eggs for those of you who avoid eggs, but also a version with eggs for people who can tolerate them. The recipe shows slight variations in the amounts of certain ingredients when using flax eggs. So make note of that. I list cashew flour as my main flour here, but almond flour also works. The black sesame glaze is optional, but a delicious addition no doubt! I just love the flavor that black sesame and blackstrap molasses create together! It's truly a unique loaf that not only tastes delicious, but packs a punch when it comes to offering our bodies some nourishment.

I hope you enjoy this recipe. If you are a black sesame fan like me, check out some of my other favorites.

Black Sesame Smoothie Bowl
Black Sesame Ice Cream
Black Sesame Chia pudding

Ingredients:

2 & 1/4 cup cashew flour (increase to 2 & 1/2 cups if using flax eggs)
1/2 cup arrowroot powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp baking soda (2 tsp if using flax eggs)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 eggs (or 2 flax eggs for vegan)
1/3 cup full fat coconut milk (1/4 cup for flax eggs)
1/3 cup blackstrap molasses
1/2 cup black sesame paste
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Black Sesame Glaze:
1/4 cup coconut butter
1 tsp black sesame paste
1 Tbs maple syrup (adjust to sweet preference)
1 Tbs coconut oil, melted

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line a loaf pan (9 x 5) with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, mix the cashew flour, arrowroot, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon.
2. In a large bowl, mix the flax eggs (or regular eggs), coconut milk, molasses, black sesame paste, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, and vanilla. It's really important to use your hand mixer when blending the wet ingredients, especially if you are using flax eggs. You want to create some air to help with the leavening of the bread. This minimizes the risk of the bread "falling flat or caving in". Beat the mixture on med-high speed for a few minutes. You could probably get away with a whisk for mixing if you use regular eggs.
3. Combine the wet and dry ingredients. Mix until just combined (don't over mix).
4. Pour the mixture into your prepared loaf pan. If you don't plan on using the glaze but want to add toppings, do so now. Examples: unsweetened shredded coconut, chopped nuts, sesame seeds, chocolate chips, etc.
5. Bake the loaf for about 45-50 minutes. Check the middle with a toothpick to ensure it is done. Allow to cool.
6. To make the glaze, soften 1/4 cup coconut butter. Mix in the black sesame paste, maple syrup, and melted coconut oil. It should have the consistency of a thick syrup. If it is thinner than that, either stick it in the fridge for a few minutes or have it sit out at room temperature for 5 minutes or so, stirring occasionally. (Remember, the glaze will lighten up in color after it hardens once you drizzle it over the bread) Next, drizzle the glaze over the loaf. Garnish with black sesame seeds, coconut, chopped nuts, edible flowers, etc. The glaze will continue to harden. You can speed this up by placing the loaf in the refrigerator.
7. Slice the loaf once it cools and enjoy this delicious treat!