Cake recipe for a newbie?

[mishka]

Hi, I'm pretty new to PP. I've been lurking and reading as much of the forum as possible while waiting for my book to arrive. I've been trying to follow the information in the "Protein Power at a glance" thread and am feeling a difference already.

My question is this... My step-son is having a birthday and wants us to make his cake. Trying to keep to the beginning carb limits and make a cake is a bit scary since I know I tend to "try" things out while I'm cooking and I have a hard time passing up things like cake at birthday parties.

Do any of you know a good recipe for a low-carb birthday cake that a 14 year old would like?

[gitfiddle]

Hi, Mishka! Welcome to the board. Does he like chocolate? Here's a cakey brownie (with pictures) by kevinpa.

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeehtdx/kevinssite/id50.html

Also, there's a flourless chocolate cake somewhere around here. Check the recipe section.

That said, I personally don't bake sweets any more. Way too dangerous for me. I can pass up the store-bought cookies and little debbies that my guys buy, but NOT a pan of brownies. :rolleyes: I'd ask a friend to do it if I really needed one.

Let us know how it turns out!

[razgarcia]

As one who loves sweet things (I refer strictly to sugar), I have come to the conclusion that some foods just don't work for me. Cakes and pastries are at the top of my "Don't Eat" list.

Not that I haven't tried, of course. You can substitute soy, almond, or coconut flour for wheat flour, but it just doesn't taste the same. Consequently, I seriously doubt a 14 year old would care much for it. And as for me, even these low carb versions either stall my weight loss or make me gain weight--at least temporarily. But that's OK, the longer I do without these foods the less I miss it (even for a Cuban)--and the better I feel.

I would recommend baking a cheesecake using non-sugar sweeteners instead of sugar and with an almond flour crust and sour cream topping--that works pretty well.

Sorry I can't be of better service to you on this one.

[mishka]

Thank you, I'll check that one out! I'll be sure to update also, if it works I might use it for everyone's cakes. :)

[mishka]

As one who loves sweet things (I refer strictly to sugar), I have come to the conclusion that some foods just don't work for me. Cakes and pastries are at the top of my "Don't Eat" list.
<snip>
I would recommend baking a cheesecake using non-sugar sweeteners instead of sugar and with an almond flour crust and sour cream topping--that works pretty well.

I might try this one too... I'll have to see which he'd prefer. I usually try not to eat the sweets as much as possible (I'm much more of a chips, bread, pasta type of carb-addict). That being said, holidays and birthdays tend to be the major times of me giving in and deciding it should be ok since it's a special occasion. I'd like to at least have it be a better choice in case my willpower doesn't hold out...

[laughingW]

I went non-sugar with a 14 yo in the house and eventually I quit trying to make desserts that pleased both of us. Her sweet tooth was just too much. Instead, I made her her regular old things and did the "3 bite rule for sacred occasions." No reason I have to eat a whole slice. And I would include "party foods" for me too like high-fat treats.

But that was after much trying of this and that. You are new to the program and I can understand trying to make a low-carb cake for the whole family.

Just offering this in the spirit of another technique.

[mishka]

laughingW - how do you do it? Do you just cook two different meals so you can be low-carb, or is the main difference just with desserts? Also, if you cook one meal for everyone, was it hard to find something she liked also or was that part easier?

(Sorry about the ton of questions...)

[laughingW]

laughingW - how do you do it? Do you just cook two different meals so you can be low-carb, or is the main difference just with desserts? Also, if you cook one meal for everyone, was it hard to find something she liked also or was that part easier?

(Sorry about the ton of questions...)

By far, it was about the desserts. She LOVED low carb food otherwise. We had things like salmon, asparagus, butter, and I would make yukon gold potatoes in butter and just have my carb count and she had more. In general I sometimes made carby things I wouldn't eat but often it was things like that pork in lentils that Dr. Mike showed. Just a little carbs and more fat.

The thing about teens is they are just plain hungry all the time. We had a rule that kids could eat after school, but it had to be real food. It ended up that other kids would come over and eat because they liked real food better than the empty calories at home. Seriously.

She told me later that she felt like the food we had at home helped her keep her skin and figure nice in high school, while she got to have junk food while out with her friends.

I would check with her when planning meals. Some weeks we both were willing to try something new, but other weeks all she (or I) wanted was things we knew we liked. So I checked in a lot with her.

I also bought lots of PP friendly food and didn't buy junk groceries. It was amazing how it became less tempting for her to spend her allowance on soda or ho-hos.