Baking Challenge

Never be afraid to try new things, and make some mistakes, it’s all part of life and learning. -Unknown

Since my good and long-time friend, Justin (@pastryologist) started his blog site, I’ve followed him and have enjoyed his unique recipes.  However, I usually take his recipes and challenge myself to take them a step further by creating a plant-based version of them. Some have taken several trials to replicate, and some have never turned out as good as the original.  Recently, Justin asked me to share one of the recipes I’ve adjusted based on his owns and so I took upon the challenge. I had so much fun! As a scientist nerd and food lover, it gave so much joy to try different techniques! And my family loved the tasting part very much too.

As part of his post, he asked a few personal questions in order for his audience to get to know who in the world decided to take on the crazy challenge. I would like you to hop on his website www.gusbaldwin.com.  Check out the interview and get to know a little more about me and also check out his recipe ideas and views of the world.

If you take anything (other than the delicious recipe) from this post, I hope it’s the challenge for yourself to try new things. To be adventurous and to visualize the possibilities.  I took on a regular recipe made by a professional chef and made it my own. ME, a girl from Puerto Rico that her grandmother used to tell that couldn’t even boil an egg.  DREAM and go for it!

Enjoy the interview and the recipe!

Live*Love*Inspire

photo provided by gusbaldwin.com

Hennessy Vegan Upside Down Cake

by Justin Baldwin in collaboration with Leila Diaz-Thamer

Makes one 9×13 casserole pan

For the full recipe go to www.gusbaldwin.com

For the topping

150g. Sugar
500g. Pineapple, medium dice

For the Cake

1 3/4 cups (220g) All Purpose Flour
1 cup (200g) White Sugar
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Salt
1 Tbsp Ground Flax Seed
3/4 cup (180ml) Unsweetened Almond Milk (You could use Soy Milk)
1/4 cup (60ml) Hennessy (or use fresh pineapple juice if not a Hennessy fan)
2 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/3 cup (80ml) Grapeseed oil
1 Tbsp White Vinegar
2 Tbsp Vegan Butter

Slice and enjoy. Buen Provecho! (Bon appetite!)

Note – Please use fresh pineapple! It makes a huge difference.