Banana Bread

The weather over the past few days has taken a complete turn and it's been freezing in nairobi. I love sweater weather and it's got me craving warm comfort food, especially after the long week I've had. I've been wanting to make banana bread for the last couple weeks but never had the time, or all the ingredients. I finally got down to it today and let's just say it's made my day. Perfect in the rainy weather with a cup of tea or coffee.

If only you could smell the cinnamon, coffee and chocolate scent throughout the house whilst this is in the oven. It's divine.

Ingredients

250g plain flour 

2 tsp baking powder 

125g softened unsalted butter

125g white sugar

125g brown sugar

3 large ripe bananas, mashed (I used 5 small ones)

2 eggs, lightly beaten

2 tsps vanilla extract

200g good quality dark or milk chocolate bar, (I used milk chocolate with nuts and white chocolate )

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 shot of espresso, cooled. (I used 1/3 cup!)

Sift the flour and baking powder first. Then mix the sugars, mashed bananas, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, butter, espresso and of course the chocolate chips separately.. Mix we'll and add in the flour. Mix until all incorporated. Line the cake pan with butter. Bake at 180 degrees for 50-60 mins. (Put in a toothpick or skewer to check). 

It's as simple as that!

We did things a little differently this time-my sister filmed me making the bread and hyper lapsed the result and we made a little video. It was quite fun for us! (Please excuse the mess in the kitchen, that's the aftermath of lunch on a saturday when everyone is home :) ).

Looking forward to having the bread with my chai.

                                                                  -risha-

                                                   

Sunday treat- Creamy inn

Sundays are even more exciting when you know there's dessert involved. I've been having a sore throat on and off for the past few weeks (thank you weather, and immune system), so it felt so good to eat ice cream today. I'm a big ice cream fan if you didn't know, ready for it anytime, anywhere, even before my meal, and even better if I could have it instead of my meal. I don't eat it as much as I love it though, owing to the fact that I get a cold pretty easy after. It's been getting quite warm in nairobi lately so it felt good to indulge together with my family. The pictures probably speak for themselves. I'm not sure words would do them justice.

Ice cream Sundae with smarties and 4 different sauces-chocolate, strawberry, banana and peppermint. I wasn't too keen on the banana and peppermint, but it was delicious regardless.

The waffle was probably our sole reason for going to creamy inn. After a long day of contemplating where to go for dessert, we decided on waffles which I've literally not had in years, and i absolutely loved it! They initially said they didn't have waffles, but when the lady at the counter noticed our highly disappointed faces, she said she would make the waffle if we would wait for 30 mins, which we readily did-true sweet toothed people here! (my sister and my mum-were somewhat in shock and my mum had to say ' what, no waffles? How can there be no waffles? What will be eat then?') 

It was absolutely delicious, even more because it was so fresh I think. Warm and soft on the inside, slight crunch on the outside. I rediscovered my love for waffles, and so did my sister I'm sure. Rest assured this was devoured within minutes.

I'm now having my second cup of tea because I'm a little afraid of getting a sore throat again, but I'm also aware of how worthy it was. I'm always up for dessert, absolutely no regrets! 

We did notice a new chocolate fudge pizza they've started making. Going to think about trying it next time!

                                                                -risha-

Lemon bars

I was in the mood of trying something new baking wise for a while now. I just never had the time and the perfect recipe to make something I would enjoy. I love trying new things, hence the lemon bar recipe which I kept seeing all over the internet, I watched a couple YouTube videos and read a few websites and decided on this specific recipe. It's delicious, with a soft cookie like base and a chewy middle, and a crunchy top layer. The only thing I would change the next time I make it is the sugar content. Slightly sweeter than I had expected, and that's saying something considering I'm the self proclaimed queen of all the sweet toothed people out there. They're delicious regardless and not as time consuming as I'd thought, and would go perfectly with a cup of coffee in the nairobi weather we've been having lately. Warning: This May just be a picture heavy post.

Step 1-make base

Combine 1/2 cup soft unsalted butter (make sure it's room temp!) with quarter cup confectioners sugar, 1cup all purpose flour, 1/8 tsp vanilla essence and a pinch of salt. (I used salted butter so didn't add any salt).

Then mix with a wooden spatula, no whisk needed at this point! Mix until all flour is incorporated. Ultimately ends up looking like cookie dough.

Lightly grease a slightly deep pan, and spread out the doughy mixture evenly, then use a fork and make holes throughout to ensure even cooking.

Then put this in the oven for 22 mins at 180 degrees.

Step 2-make lemon mixture

Fresh lemons are the best for this! Use a grater to get some of the lemon rind. Then juice the lemons until you have a quarter cup of lemon juice. I used the rind from 3 lemons.

In a separate mixing bowl, put in 2 large eggs, and 1 egg yolk alone. Then put in 1 tablespoon of flour and 1 cup of confectioners sugar. 

Mix using a whisk until everything is incorporated. (Don't get scared if mixture is too watery looking, it's supposed to be!).

Then put in the lemon juice and the lemon rind and mix well.

Dough base is probably ready now. It should look slightly browned at the edges.

Get it out of the oven and simply pour the lemon mixture over it.

Put it in the oven for another 25 mins at 180 degrees.

Should look like this once its out of the oven, browned at the edges and slightly over the top.

Wait for it to cool completely. (Which I couldn't do since I was in such a hurry to try it, hence me ruining the cutting it into perfect slices , but I just had to try it while it was hot). 

See the slice missing? Already eaten.

Sprinkle on some icing sugar or even some glaze (half cup icing sugar with 1tsp milk/lemon juice can do the trick). 

Really glad I made this and definitely having it for breakfast tomorrow. (Not healthy but not sorry either).

It's not complicated to make at all and it was so much fun too! I might try a different fruit next time I make this instead of lemon. The lemon taste isn't too overpowering, but you can definitely taste it. Highly recommend if you have a sweet tooth!

                                                                         -risha-