Spiced Banana Yogurt Cake

Spiced Banana Yoghurt Cake




Makes an 8-inch cake



1/2 cup plain yogurt

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup olive oil

3 very ripe bananas, mashed

2 large eggs, room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

¼ tsp cardamom

¼ tsp nutmeg

½ tsp cinnamon

Garnishes: vanilla icing sugar, lemon zest, cinnamon.







Preheat oven to 170 degrees C. Butter an 8-inch cake pan.



In a medium size bowl, stir the yogurt and brown sugar together. Whisk in the vegetable oil, followed by the bananas, eggs and vanilla. Slowly stir in the flour, baking powder spices and salt until mixed.



Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan. Bake for about 40 minutes, until firm to the touch (this is a moist cake, be careful not to over bake). Let cool and remove from pan onto a rack. The cake will keep, well wrapped, at room temperature for 2 days.

Dust with vanilla icing sugar, lemon zest and cinnamon.

Bendo Weekend Lasagne

It all started with a very serious manly meeting...

Then we had some fun making friends with the birds.

Even sharing bird friends.

 

Then the Lasagne Making started.

 

We grilled all the vegies on the fire and layered them with tomato sauce with mushrooms and white sauce with nutmeg. Haloumi was the key ingredient on the vegetarian agne. For the Bolognese agne Hash cooked up an amazingly rich mince sauce and we layered this with some pumpkin as well and lots of mozzarella.

Paprika on top

 

And unleash the monster

 

Oh yes. That's nice.

 

Wine goes well.

 

Then we played some poker and guess who won?

 

 

 

The next morning we had tea for breakfast. We were STILL FULL.

Hash instructed us in the art of archery.

 

Manuke was very happy.

 Later the next day we were hungry again and Luke made us pancakes.

Then we said goodbye to the birds, till next time.

Hash and Matt

Al

Matt and Luke

Squirrely Acorn Night

 

Al, with his amazing Acorn creations.

 

He invited us to a squirrelly munchies night. On the Menu was acorn, quinoa and Kale patties, acorn mayonnaise and a salad with Al's vegies. Plus dessert...

The acorns after they have been treated (soaking and rinsing for a couple of weeks)

 

It wouldn't be Al's without a nice big massive pot full of chai.

 

Dessert!

 

This was one of the best cakes I have ever eaten. Acorn cake!

It was golden and caramel flavoured with a crunchy outer layer and a chewy moreish middle.

There were even some bigger bits of acorn that were nice to chew in the cake.

Jules, Luke and I loved it, thanks Al!

 

I had to take a photo of his organised kitchen...a joy to bake in :)

Luke and Jules

12 Grain Spiced Fruit and Nut Loaf

[picture to come]

This bread is wholesome and grainy, nutty and fruity, earthy and spicy. It is the kindling one needs for a firey morning in the garden in winter, it is the comfort one needs matched with a tea for a midnight snack, it is the intrigue one needs at a moment of pause in the day, when at any moment one cannot discern all the components involved so just surrender and let the unique combination of spices dance.

I want to try it as a sourdough but havent yet.

Ingredients

450g strong white wheat flour
200g spelt flour
150g "10 grain hot cereal mix" (wheat, corn, millet, rye, triticale, oats, soy, barley, brown rice, flaxseed)

2 tsp yeast
1 tsp honey
Approx 400ml warm water plus extra

2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cardamom
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp mixed spice
2 tsp fennel seeds caramelized in brown sugar and butter
2 tsp salt
1 tbsp olive oil

Handful of walnuts
Handful of pecans
Handful of almonds
Handful of pistachios

Handful of sultanas
Handful of chopped figs
Handful of chopped apricots
Handful of cranberries

Chia Seeds for the top

Method

Place half the water, honey and yeast into a cup and mix. set aside.
Place the remaining 200ml water in a bowl with the 10 grain mix and leave to soak for 15 minutes.
Place the flours in a large bowl and add all ingredients together. Knead and mix together with claw like movements of the hands. Add some water if the dough is slightly too dry. It needs to be sticky, but not as fluid as a cake mix dough, not as firm as a normal pizza dough. Knead for 10 minutes.

Line two medium-small bread tins with paper and coat in olive oil.
Place half the dough in each and cover with plastic bags, adding a cup of boiling water in each to create humidity and warmth. (note this may not be required on a hot summer day).

Leave to Prove for approximately 45 minutes to 1.5 hours until the dough slightly springs back when touched. Pre-emt this and preheat the over at the 30 minute mark to 200 C.

Bake for 25 minutes till golden brown. The bread is heavy so it is not going to sound hollow like other simple white breads.

Enjoy with tea !

Chinese Dumplings

On Sunday Lex, Peter and I went to Fuqin's house to make Chinese dumplings. 

We had an excited time making them and thanks to Fuqin for chopping up all the amazing ingredients, and to Peter and his Mum who made the beautifully smooth dough! 

Ingredients:

Black mushroom finely chopped

Ginger finely chopped

Chinese cabbage finely chopped

green prawns, deveined and peeled, finely chopped

pork mince

Chive finely chopped

Tofu finely chopped

Scrambled egg (firm) finely chopped

Sesame Oil

Olive Oil

Soy Sauce

Sambal Olek

Sugar

Salt

Store bought wonton wrappers from Dickson Asian Grocery

Peter's Mum's famous home-made dumpling dough

A taste test was in order to check the seasoning.

Making them was really fun; sitting around the table wrapping each little precious parcel up.

Each one I wrapped I put a little laughter into, a little strength, and a little love.

Three things that life must have!

They require a firm squeeze to seal them.

Peter cooked our first batch with a little olive oil and a little water - shallow frying for about 10 minutes to make them crispy and hot. We dipped these in chilli and soy sauce.

Then Fuqin made a nice broth with our wontons in it.

I can't wait to make them again!

Thankyou lovely friends for the nice time and food we shared.

Next we plan to make Steamed Pork Buns and maybe some kind of duck.