pumpkin cake tiling bake
April 25, 2011 Today was a bit more productive, as you will see below. Progress was made and exhaustion is setting in. An intense morning workout, plus biking 3m back + forth to the gym, plus mixing mortar, plus being on my feet from 3pm-10:30pm tiling = a very tired Ashley.
It’s been a little chilly the past few days, and we’ve actually had a decent amount of rain. It’s odd to actually see green grass! There is something so comforting about a hot breakfast on a cold morning and pumpkin extends that comfort further.
Steamin’
The first pumpkin bake I made was good, but this was better. Instead of putting both banana + pumpkin in the bake, I only used pumpkin this time.
I couldn’t believe the texture. It was like no other breakfast bake!
It was thick + cakey + perfectly moist. Can you tell?? It was like pumpkin bread!
Pumpkin Buckwheat Cake Bake
- 1/4c raw buckwheat flour [ground in a blender from raw groats]
- 1T raw buckwheat groats
- 1/4c nut-milk
- 1 large egg
- 1/4c pumpkin puree
- 2t honey
- 1T chia seeds
- 1t vanilla
- 1/4t baking powder
- 3/4t cinnamon
- 1/4t ground ginger
- 1/8t all spice
- pinch ground cloves
- Preheat your oven to 350* [I use 375* because of the altitude difference in CO]
- Grease a 4-5” oven safe dish. [can also use 2-3 muffin tins – cook time will be shorter]
- In a separate bowl, whisk pumpkin, egg + milk together.
- Mix in buckwheat flour, groats, honey, spices, vanilla + chia seeds, until well combined.
- Stir in the baking powder.
- Pour into greased dish + even out.
- Bake for ~30-35min. Test with a toothpick to ensure it’s done.
- Top with sliced banana + anything else you like.
*I have subbed a flax egg for a real egg and it does work, although the texture + taste are a bit different.
*You can also use oat flour instead of buckwheat flour, by grinding rolled, steel cut, or whole oat groats. Use 5T instead of 1/4 flour + 1T groats.
*This recipe is just barely sweet. If you like things sweeter, add more honey to the mix or add when it’s done baking.
*”Toasted buckwheat” or “kasha” is not the same as raw buckwheat groats. Raw groats are light tan/yellow/green in color and have a very mild flavor. Toasted, or kasha, has a very toasted/burnt flavor, that I do not recommend for this recipe.
I thought the strawberry banana buckwheat bake was my new favorite, but this may have surpassed it!
Round 2 with the tiles!! We bought a few new blades and were ready to give it another go.
I was already tired before starting and less than hopeful that it was going to work.
Safety first!
The saw is a bit intense. Like I said yesterday, it’s called a wet saw, and it actually has a tray of water sitting underneath it. The water spins with the blade for a cleaner cut. The water spits out at you, as do tiny pieces of glass. A bit sketchy!
What do we have here??? A smooth cut!!! And goggle lines on my face. Woop!
Okay, don’t pay attention to the little jagged piece at the end, but the rest of it was really smooth! Unfortunately, the blade chews off some of the tile backing, which is actually what holds the color. It looks like the tile is chipped along the edge, but it’s really just the backing that came off when I made the cut. We really only have to make cuts where the tile will be butt up against something, so I don’t think the little imperfections will be noticed. I figured out how to get rid of the chipped end too. Score!
Chris tried putting painters tape around the tile, to see if that would help hold the color backing on. We’ve seen that technique used for a few other things and thought it might work for this, but it didn’t.
I covered the counter with plastic and then got to mixing the mortar.
Mixing mortar is hard work!! It’s like using a handheld mixer with reallllly thick dough. I had to mix for 5min, then wait 10min, then mix another 2. I was regretting my arm workout earlier in the day…
While the 10 minutes ticked away, I decided to take a few photos of new fixtures that Chris installed.
Kitchen light!! We also have a matching track light mounted above the stove.
I am in love with our new fans!! We ordered 2 fans from an online website, and didn’t really like the quality at all. Unfortunately, we didn’t read the return policy too well, and ended up being stuck with one of them. We decided to move that fan to the third bedroom, and buy 2 matching fans [from Lowes] for the living + dining room.
The quality of these fans are so much better, and they only cost about $20 more. The first fan also had horrible directions + was really hard to put together. These were much easier! Buying online to save $20 is not always worth it. Read those return policies!!
love.love.love.
The mortar was ready, so I got to tiling.
The process started off slow, but I got the hang of it more + more.
I’m on my own with the tiling, as Chris is quite behind in his grad class, from all that we’ve had going on lately. I don’t mind tackling this project though. It will be so rewarding to know I did it all by myself!
I got 2 full rows done and then started on the 3rd, which was a bit trickier. As you can see I had to cut really thin pieces to fit under the window trim. It was about 10pm when I called it quits. I think tomorrow will move quicker, but this is definitely going to be a multiple day project.
They aren’t kidding with the name “wet saw!” Totally soaked!
And now it’s time to face plant into bed, but maybe gnaw on my chocolate bunny first. :)
Ashley
Reader Comments (81)
Every time I read about your home improvements, I always think of you as superwoman! I don't know any other woman who can man a saw like that, or mix mortar. But now I'm not so intimidated to try :)
And that pumpkin bake looks DEElicious!
I love when you make things with pumpkin! This looks like perfection. Trying it out tomorrow! Also I like the 49ers hoodie- my brother goes there :)
I am SO impressed about how much you guys are doing on the house reno by yourselves! Very brave - i could never do it! But I can't even hammer in a nail or change a lightbulb...!!
That bake looks llike one of the best yet, for sure :)
Ok i would have divorced my husband a decade ago if i was doing home renov projects with him. The man can't change a lightbulb and it's really best he is never near power tools. Or me. Just let me do it myself!!! haha. I am soooo impressed with your skills girl...you are amazing!
And so is that breakkie bake. The nut butter dollop is just a perfect "curly q" on that one pic. love.it.
This might be the best breakfast bake to date! You should have entered it into my Breakfast Bowl Challenge. http://www.saywhatyouneedtosayblog.com/2011/04/show-me-your-breakfast-bowl-contest.html It would have won for sure! :)
Hope you and your family had a wonderful Easter Ashely! :)
This looks so perfectly amazing! How would it work if I chose to use stevia instead of honey? Would I need to increase the liquid at all?
We have that very same light fixture! And I wish I had that very same pumpkin bake for breakfast! :) Yum.
The pumpkin bake looks amazing! Pumpkin buckwheat muffins are one of my favorite. The tile looks amazing! I hope you got some rest.
That fan is so sleek and modern.. and I think the tiles go perfectly in the kitchen. You go girl.. using power tools ;)
You have no idea how much I am lusting after that pumpkin cake bake right now. It's such a perfect little specimen of (steaming!) deliciousness!
oh the memories you guys are going to have....so much love in the house :)
I remember doing everything you guys are doing a few years ago when my older sis and her husband thought it would be fun to buy old houses and fix them up. We were cheap labor haha
pumpkin bake looks perfect!! I love pumpkin bread wait I love anything with pumpkin!
sometimes, i just want to reach into the screen and grab your food. it looks absolutely delicious!!
I just bought a huge can of pumpkin the other day, now I am tempted to break it open!
Wow, you are such a champ! You did the tiling yourself?!? I am impressed!
I love those tiles -- so pretty! And I've watched enough HGTV to know that I do not have the patience to do tiling like that. I'd end up too frustrated to finish the job. I can't wait to see it all finished!
These made-for-one bakes are fascinating me! I'm going to have to make one soon...
Yum, I always forget about pumpkin after Thanksgiving!
I love seeing all the progress you guys are making, it's seriously impressive!
Tile is one of the first projects we're going to tackle and I'm so intimidated. You make it look so easy!
Those bakes always loook so good! The steam is pretty!
I do not think I have ever put banana and pumpkin in my pumpkin buckwheat bakes. I always wonder what they would be like with eggs. I always use a flax egg and I know that affects the taste and texture. I may have to get some "good" eggs one of these days and try. You are brave woman to be tiling. I do not think I would want to responsibility of running the saw.
your bake looks absolutely amazing especially the the PB, honey, banana and steam rising from the top! :)
It's been so wonderful to follow your work on your house because is inspires those of us who might be a little scared to take on a reno project! Thanks for the inspiration for my future home! :)
That backsplash is going to look amazing!! Wow! I am beyond impressed with you.
Nice work lady! I made your coconut pancakes yesterday (I was way too sick to leave the house, let alone make a big Easter brunch, ha), and they were divine! Such a good, comforting breakfast. Thanks for the recipe! :)
You are like some serious super woman! You do all the housework and you cook like a badass :D Love the pumpkin bake cake :)
reading your updates on your house always makes me laugh and smile. I helped my sister work on her house and was terrified of the wet saw. but I was a little more terrified of my sister when I accidentally awkwardly cut one of the last tile pieces for the bathroom. :)
It's amazing the feeling of being able to work on updating and fixing your own home. Even if it wasn't my own house, I learned quite a bit.
I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product within the kitchen ;) It's going to be beautiful.
I can't wait to try the pumpkin bake!
Hahahaa...so funny about chipping a tile + fearing your sister!
Aww, feel better soon!! Glad you liked the pancakes!
Thanks girl!
They're a lot fluffier with eggs! I know what you mean about "good" eggs. :)
Yes! We'll see if I can get it all done by myself! :)
hahaha :)
I'm not sure about the stevia. I've never used it.
Thanks Lauren. I hope you had a nice weekend as well!
Thanks Freya. ;)
Gosh that sucks about all the difficulties you had with the blades! There are always, always crappy issues with renos. It is so frustrating!! You guys are such troopers and I am so impressed with all that you are doing on your own. You go girl!! ;)
HA!! I don't feel quite like superwoman, but maybe when I'm all finished I will. :)
I was thinking...."I need Ang + Eric!!! HALP!"
Did you by chance try sawing the tile flipped over? It *should* help with the chipping of the paint, granted you might get chips in your surface - which you could arris out.
Or, use a little white paint/white out to touch up. It probably won't match exactly, but it would be less noticeable than the mortar/grout....
*shrug* just an idea'r.
Love, love love your countertops, btw. Will be making my own this year.
Yes, we did try that. It's pretty much the same either way. :( The grout is actually "bright white" so no need for the white paint, luckily. I think we'll be fine though b/c wherever the cuts are, we'll be caulking around them to make sure they are sealed to the surface they are butt up against. We shall see!
You had me at 'Pumpkin' with this one! Can't wait to try it.
Can I also just say how much in love I am with your photos on your new counters? So simple, yet so beautiful. Such nice contrast with the white dishes. (Total countertop envy!) :)
Hi! Congrats on your house and all the work your doing on it, it looks great! I just wanted to let you know, after eating oats at 8am every morning for over 2 years, and being hungry at 10am sharp... everyday, I finally tried to buckwheat bake and your totally right! Its 11 and I am still going strong! I don't know why I waited so long to make this! Thank you for sharing your recipes and your house projects.
I've emailed myself this bake and will whip it up for my breakfast for tomorrow. Yummy! I loooooove pumpkin, obsessed really. Good for you on the tiles, I would totally screw it all up.
Love the fans!!! The husband and I are currently house hunting, a few of the houses are going to need a LOT of work, you have inspired me though to just go for it!! You are so awesome for doing the tiling work yourself!!!
That pumpkin bake look so good, I am imagining adding chocolate chips, mmm!
You are so awesome with this re-model...I would have given up by now and paid someone to help!!!
Your pumpkin bake looks great! I will definitely be trying it soon!
I have a box of buckwheat pancake mix. Do you think I could use that in making your buckwheat bakes? I'm not that great at baking so I didn't know if there were other ingridents I would need to omit or add.
I CANNOT believe all that you are doing! Can you come re-tile my kitchen when you are done? Thanks :)
I have yet to try abuckwheat bake, but I have been dying to!! This will definitely be the first one I try...yum!
I think it's SO great how involved you are in all of your home improvements. I love watching it all unfold. That backsplash is no joke, neither is that wet saw! I love, love, love that kitchen light!
Yummie~ how is this pumpkin bake different than the ones that you were making earlier when you were doing the elimination diet?
Thank you~Heather