Banana Bread... Or it is a cake??  Lets find out ;)

Banana, to me, is a super food!!

Healthy...

Filling...

Versatile...

And a fabulous substitute for potatoes (in Samosas, kachoris..) 

& even eggs (baked goods)

This innocent looking fruit compliments a variety of items.. 

As a filling for savory bakes...

with chocolate fondue ;) 

lovely & light Banana nut muffins...

And as a gorgeous topping with strawberries & cream on waffles & pancakes!!

I experiment with Bananas big time..

Fritters, Ice creams, Stews, Toppings... You name it..

But this below recipe is my all time favorite :)

Preparation time is less than 10 minutes.. Baking requires no supervision...

Plus, the end product can be enjoyed as a cake or bread.. or both :)

Want a peek??

Get a hold of these simple ingredients around your house:

4 over ripe Bananas

1 & 1/2 cups of all purpose flour

1 tea spoon of baking soda

1/2 tea spoon of baking powder

1/2 cup of powdered sugar

2/3 cup of cooking oil

1 tea spoon of vanilla essence
A pinch of salt

Optional - dried fruits, chocolate etc

Method:

With an electric beater, blend the over ripe bananas to a smooth puree

Add Sugar

Vanilla essence

Cooking oil

Give the batter a quick mix with an electric beater to get a soft & fluffy mixture

Sieve in the flour, soda, baking powder & salt

Fold in with a spoon

Add in from your choice of optional ingredients.. I added chocolate chunks & dried cranberries

Grease a cake tin or loaf tin with some cooking oil

Pour the batter & level with a greased spoon

Bake in a pre heated oven / micro wave - convection mode, at 180 degrees C for 1 hour

 Turn off the oven and let it continue to cook in the heat for another 15 minutes.

Stick a knife in & check for any uncooked batter.

Flip the tin on a cooling rack & wait for the banana cake / bread to fall on the rack

Voila!!!

Slice up & enjoy this with some hot tea

or toast it on a pan with some butter & throw on slice of cheese ;) DIVINE!!!

Enjoy this super soggy & gooey treat.........

Cakes!! fluffy.. Spongy.. Light & so so so creamy :)

Pesto - sans all the bells & whistles.....

Two things always stopped me from ever making Pesto at home...

1. Pine nuts were an essential ingredient - Expensive & / or not easily available everywhere...

2. Pesto tastes best with spaghetti pasta & i aint no fan of the "noodle" community..

Then one day a friend amazed me by using some very basic & easily available ingredients to make some finger licking Pesto...

I was hooked :)

I recently made a batch & used it with everything except pasta..

The outcome... obviously exceeded all expectations... 

Try this one.. its supremely easy & super Yummy :)

You will need:

Mint Leaves

Roasted Walnuts (I found some Pecans at home!!)

Cashews

Cloves of Garlic or Store bought Garlic paste

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Method:

1. Blend all the above ingredients into a smooth paste
2. Add salt & black pepper as per your liking
3. Balance the flavor with just a little bit of granulated sugar & blend again
4. Add two big table spoons of Olive oil to give it that buttery finish

Its simply Divine!!!

I made bruschettas & wraps using this pesto as the base..  Oh so light & yummy!!

Enjoy!!

Eggs... Gone Spanish

Eggs make me happy :)

Eggs make all of us happy!!!!

So many mornings, I have literally woken up to the the thought of eggs..

All I wana do is jump into the kitchen and whip some some lovely eggs and a hot cuppa Tea :)

Spanish eggs excite me..

Cuz they are difficult to make.. 

You can almost NEVER toss them the other way and give it a Pie like finish........

I have got it right 1 out of 3 times..

Here's another honest effort :)

Stuff you will need:

• Eggs
• Onions
• Bell Peppers
• Tomatoes
• Potatoes
• Mint Leaves
• Coriander Leaves
• Vegetable Oil 
• Butter
• Dried Herbs - Thyme, Basil, Rosemary, Oregano
• Chili flakes

Step 1: Chop up the Veggies

Step 2: Saute the Veggies

• In a hot frying pan....

Add four tea spoons of oil & one big dollop of Butter

Saute the Onions

Add salt, dried herbs & chili flakes

Saute Bell Peppers

Saute Tomatoes

Toss in the chopped mint leaves & coriander

Step 3: Add the eggs

Break open & beat the eggs

Pour the eggs over the veggies

Step 4: Cover with a lid & let the eggs cook from one side

Flip it over & let it cook from the other side

Once cooked from both sides, gently take it off the pan so as to not lose its shape

Serve Hot.. With some crispy buttered Toast & Tea :)

Hot garlic Vegetable Sauce with steamed Rice.. Chinese Issshtyle.....

Now this one doesn't really have a Name....

The Three 'Cheeky Chefs' just got together & created something exciting!!

'Hot garlic Vegetable Sauce with steamed Rice' sound appetizing enough??

Or Momolicolioussheefus!!

Now does it really matter?????

What DOES matter, is that it turned out to be absolutely fabulous & we three cheeky chefs had a fantastic time devouring it :)

Gone in a matter of minutes!!

Wana make something similar for yourself at home??

This is what you will need....

• Onions
• Bell Peppers
• Potatoes
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Schezwan sauce (Store bought)
• Soy sauce (Store Bought)
• Cornflour
• Cooked Rice

Step 1 Chop up the Veggies

• Finely Julienne the Onions & Bell peppers
• Mash a few cloves of garlic & finely dice them
• Peel & Grate a small piece of ginger

Step 2: Boil, Peel & dice potatoes

Step 3: Begin cooking!!

Saute the Garlic & Ginger

Saute the onions... Add a tea spoon of salt 

Saute the Bell Peppers

Add two Big dollops of Schezwan Sauce

Two teaspoons of dark Soy

Toss in the Potatoes

Step 4: Add two cup fulls of water, one table spoon of corn flour & give the whole thing quick swirl

• Let it simmer for about 10 - 12 minutes
• Turn off the heat
• Serve hot with Steaming Rice

Tastes Beautiful :)

Try this at one home :)

My Special Home made brownies!!!

Ok now i aint giving out the exact proportions of the all ingredients for this one.....

Why??!!

Cuz I plan on selling these one day & making some good amount of money from it:)

But you all gotto see how easy this is & appreciate how simple flavors come together & make something that is so absolutely bang on.. Bakery Quality :)

Also I gotto admit... I did look up like a million recipes online & tried quiet a few of them..

This one has been has perfected over time..

Leme show you how ;)

You will need:

• Eggs
• Vegetable oil
• Powdered Sugar
• Cocoa powder
• All purpose flour
• Vanilla Extract
• Baking Powder
• Salt

Step 1: Mix Sugar, Oil & Vanilla Extract

• In a large bowl, sift in powdered sugar

Tip: Always sift all dry ingredients.. it aerates the mixture & helps with the baking

• Add in oil & Vanilla extract 
• Mix well into a crumbly consistency

Step 2: Sift in the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt.

Step 3:Add the Eggs

• In a separate  bowl, break open & beat the eggs

Step 4: Combine everything

• Pour the beaten eggs over the dry ingredients & add the sugar and oil mixture
• Lightly mix everything to a smooth consistency 
• Pour the mixture into a greased (vegetable oil) baking tray

Step 5: Bake

• Place the baking dish on a high rack
• Place this in a Pre-heated oven / microwave on the convection mode
• Bake for 30 mins at 180 degrees Celsius
• Let the Brownie rest for another 20 minutes without opening the door
• Remove from the oven / microwave and turn upside down on a cooling grill

The knife or toothpick should NOT come out clean when you stick it in.... It is supposed to be gooey :)

Enjoy the delicious brownies hot from the oven or cooled in the refrigerator