Nanci's Banana Cake

Well I tried Kali's version of Nanci's scrummy Banana cake which apparently tasted different, but still just as yummy, to Nanci's so I thought I'd try my own. Its funny how the same receipe can taste different depending who makes it! However as they have all been delicious so I tried it out only to be pleasantly surprised that mine is just as good! However I i did use a little extra ingredients so it did take about 20-30min longer to bake than Nanci's But if your patient enough its well worth the wait!!

Springform tin 22cm or different but change cooking times, less for cupcakes/smaller tins more for loaf tins etc. I just keep checking it when baking

280g Banana very ripe mashed About 3
330g Sugar
125g Butter soft
100ml Buttermilk
225g Self raising Flour
1 tsp Baking powder
2 Large eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
20 walnut halfs


Preheat oven 160 for fan 170 if you dont have one. If your oven is prone to being very hot then I do 150

Mix in a processor the butter, sugar, banana, eggs, vanilla for 2 mins
Add the Buttermilk mix until combined
Sift Flour, Baking powder into processor mix, scrape into greased and/or lined tin
put in the oven for 50-80 mins , just keep checking it from about 5omin and judge for your self.

For the icing you can either make classic butter icing like Nanci if you have an extra sweet tooth or like Kali and my self make a similar icing to what you would have with carrot cake.

1.150g of cream cheese, 50g of butter and 75g of icing sugar.
2.mixed them together with a wooden spoon until blended and runny and then put the mixture in the fridge for half an hour to part set.
3. spread evenly and generously onto the cooled banana cake and then top with walnuts.

Thanks to Nanci and Kali I can now enjoy a lovely piece of cake with my cup of afternoon tea.xx

Healthy Hot Pot!

Ok Well unfortunatly I have just got a nasty cold so my aim with this dish is to give me all the goodness I need to help me get well again. So I threw lots of lovely fresh vegetables in a large pot with some chickpeas, bulgar wheat and some immune boosting ginger and garlic! Its not only lovely tasting but it fills you up, heats you up and helps your body stay healthy!


what you need:

1/2 dessert spoon chopped ginger
1 dessert spoon finely chopped garlic
1/2 red onion chopped into thin slices
1/2 a large courgette or one whole small one, cut into thick slices
1 leek chopped the same as courgettes
1 medium size red pepper
2 sticks of chopped celery
4 brocolli florets, each one cut into two or three depending on size
350ml veg stock (I use one cube and dissolve in hot water)
1/2 can of plum tomatoes
1 can of chickpeas
100ml of bulgar wheat
Your choice of seasoning and herbs to taste ( I used rosemary, ground coriander, all-round mix spice, chilli powder.. and of corse ground black pepper and a touck of salt.

1.First chop all the vegetables. Get a large sauce pan or pot, put a dessert spoon of olive oil in it, heat on high temp and start cooking the onion, garlic and ginger.
2.Once starting to sizzle turn down the heat to medium and add the rest of the chopped vegetables.
3. Stir a few times then add the vegetable stock dissolved in water, then add the chick peas and stir in the plum tomatoes making sure you squash them as you do so.
4.Add the spices and herbs of your choice
5, Add the Bulgar wheat and turn down heat jut so its simmering. Place a lid over the pan or pot and leave for about 15min, or until the bulger wheat has absorbed enough of the stock to be soft. There should still be some of the liquid left in the pot when finished. This is important you include in your servings as it contains alot of the vitamins and minerals from the vegetables!
6.when finished empty out potions into bowls, add a fresh parsley sprig. Enjoy your healthy meal!

Welcome to my blog of food!

I have realized that I cook quite a lot and everyone seems to very much enjoy my food.. However I often forget what I've made in the past. I used to work as a chef and regret not saving all my recipes so I have decided to start a blog to save all my creations and to share my cooking skills with others. Hope you enjoy them!