Night starvation…It doesn’t sound very good does it? All my life, my grandfather has used the words ‘night starvation’. I thought it was just his way off getting in a few more biscuits before bed time. “Better have a little more, you don’t want any night starvation”…Don’t mind if I do Grandpa, biscuit number 43 should do it. I always thought it was just Grandpa’s way of looking out for me, and being lovely.
It turns out, that yes, he was looking out for me as there really was something called the dreaded ‘night starvation’. Horlicks invented it back in the 1930’s as a selling slogan. A cure of those terrible hunger pains that you may be prone to if you didn’t drink their lovely malted drink before bed time. So there you go…
So what’s that got to do with my Almond Coffee Cluster? This is my prevention of night starvation. I have a habit of being just a little peckish around 9pm, not one for hot malted drinks, the cluster is an easy one to pop in the freezer and break off a segment when I need to.
Night starvation prevented once more.
Almond Coffee Cluster
200mls luke warm milk
2 tps dry yeast
1 tps vanilla
1 egg
100gms softened butter
1/3 cup raw sugar
1 cup almond meal
1/4 cup espresso coffee
450gms flour (3 cups)
3 tbs olive oil
1 tps salt
almond flakes
Mix yeast in luke warm milk and set aside for 10 minutes. Mix remaining ingredients together and then also adding milk. Once mixed together, knead well until smooth and elastic. Cover and leave until doubled in size. Divide dough into 8 even balls. Placing in greased large springform pan. Scatter some almond flakes on top. Bake at 190C for approx 30-40 minutes.
After being generously given some chestnut flour from Celia, I thought I would give Chestnut Coffee Cluster a go as well. Tastes remarkably similar, a little darker in colour, the subtle tones of the coffee added to the nuttiness of the chestnut. Same recipe just substituting the almond meal for chestnut flour.
Night Starvation prevented yet again.
* This post submitted to Yeastspotting.
cityhippyfarmgirl 
Hey, I grew up on Horlicks! Isn’t it funny how strong those memories are – you mentioned it, and I could suddenly taste it. I think your cluster would both stave off night starvation and make for a very lovely morning tea! And so happy you liked the chestnut flour – doesn’t it give the dough an interesting aroma! 🙂
LikeLike
It does give it a lovely aroma, and you are right the cluster isn’t bad for morning tea either. I had a great hunk of this morning 🙂
LikeLike
I loved Horlicks when I was a child. I don’t think I could drink it now – just apply it directly to my hips. I’m sure I could manage a tiny almond coffee cluster.
LikeLike
🙂 The imagery of applying directly to hips is too funny…wonder if they would use that as an advertising slogan?
LikeLike
I can remember Horlicks in the pantry, my Dad was a Horlicks man (he used to say that every night…, aaahhh fond memories…, you’ve got me going here ladies)
Pretty interested in this chestnut flour, sounds wonderful. Lovin the cure for night starvation, nice one 🙂
LikeLike
Glad I prompted a happy memory for you Anna :-).
Chestnut flour is good, I definitely want to play around with it more, I’m thinking a pastry…perhaps.
LikeLike
I remember Horlicks! mum always made me drink some before bed time when I was young. I can’t stomach the stuff anymore but I sure do experience the hunger pangs at 9pm too. I can sometimes conjure up an entire meal at midnight.
LikeLike
Good to know I’m not the only one that gets a little snacky in the night time.
LikeLike
That looks delicious! I’m trying to suppress my night starvation! I snack way too much before bed time! 😦
LikeLike
Suppression is futile for me usually… they call from the kitchen you see.
LikeLike
Oh so yummy. But I’m disappointed I now have a name for those “oh just a little something would be good right now” feelings of a night. I do so try to resist them and naming them… Does. Not. Help! 😉
LikeLike
Sorry Bee!
LikeLike
Night hunger! My mother was always on about night hunger. But we never had Horlicks in the house, not a very Scando thing. Whiskey was the late night drink of choice. Anyway, so night hunger was usually appeased with those bars of marzipan covered in dark chocolate. She carried them in her handbag at all times for other small hunger emergencies too. Whippet thin my mother was even so.
I like your cake very much though and would rather have a piece of that I think 🙂
LikeLike
Joanna I didn’t discover marzipan until my late teens, (thankfully I’ve made up for lost time), I really don’t think it would be a good idea for me to carry them around as emergencies though…The Monkeys might get to them before I did!
LikeLike
I am all about early nighttime treats. Love the idea of doing a pull-apart and freezing. Now if only I can make room in my freezer!
LikeLike
I was telling Mr Chocolate that a stand alone freezer was beginning to look like a good idea. So many things to pop in there.
LikeLike
Night hunger? Hunh! I knew it wasn’t just me!
My doctor said I should try a piece of celery with some peanut butter on it. Or maybe a piece of cheese.
Crazy woman- I’M thinking almond coffee cluster- thank you, Brydie!
LikeLike
Heidi the celery and peanut butter snack is only for when things are very very desperate, hopefully you don’t reach that level of desperation.
LikeLike
I’ve just warded off night starvation with a spoonful of crunchy peanut butter topped with vanilla icecream. That sounds like a dare for you Brydie – go on, make a bread of that!
LikeLike
I’m thinking…I’m thinking….peanut butter and icecream you say eh?
LikeLike
How incredibly comforting. I will save this recipe not only for its deliciousness, but for the name itself. Anything with coffee and cluster goes on my list. Thank you again, food goddess.
LikeLike
Ah Turid you make me blush!
LikeLike
Night starvation – ha ha – I like it! I like the look of your bread too.
LikeLike
Pingback: RECIPES « Cityhippyfarmgirl
The combination of flavors has me intrigued 🙂
Matthew
LikeLike