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!!