Banana Chocolate Cake

This must be the most delicious Banana Chocolate Cake I've tasted!

Banana Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

120g butter - melted
75g brown sugar
75g honey - (this is approx. 50ml)
2 large eggs
1-1/2 cups white self-raising flour
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
3 over-ripe bananas - mashed
3/4 cup creme fraiche (or sour cream)
100g dark chocolate - cut into 1cm pieces
50g pecans - roughly chopped


In a large bowl, mix melted butter with sugar, then add the honey and stir well.

Next, add the eggs and beat thoroughly.

Sift the flour, bicarbonate and cinnamon over the top, and mix well until combined.

Stir in the bananas and creme fraiche.

Fold in the chocolate and nuts.

Pour mixture into prepared loaf tin. 

Bake in oven at 180 degrees C for approx. 70mins, or until browned and there is no mixture sticking to the tester.

Leave in tin for approx. 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack.  Leave to cool, if others in the household let you.  Otherwise, slice and serve immediately to keep them quiet! ;)

Enjoy!

Caryl ♥

Chia Chocolate Pudding

This vegan pudding has the consistency of tapioca, with the taste of chocolate.  It is the simplest of puddings to make and tastes delicious, but doesn't photograph very well, so you'll have to trust me! :)


Ingredients

4 tbs (1/3 cup) chia seeds
2 x 400ml cans coconut milk
2 tbs cocoa powder
2 tbs agave syrup


Whisk all the ingredients together in a large bowl.  Refrigerate.

It will be ready to eat in an hour or so.

Note:  If you are not vegan, you can replace the agave with honey, or any other sweet syrup.

Enjoy!

Caryl ♥

Baked Mackerel with Roasted Peppers

Mackerel is rich in essential oils, vitamins and minerals.  It is one of the most highly recommended oily fish for a healthy diet and it tastes sooooo good!  :)

Baked Mackerel with Roasted Peppers

Ingredients

3 large capsicum (peppers) - any colour (I had one yellow, one green and one orange in the fridge)
2 large red onions
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper
Balsamic Vinegar
Mackerel (whole or fillets) - one (or two small) per person.


Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C.

Slice the peppers into thin strips.  Peel and slice the onions.  Combine together in a bowl, drizzle a little oil over them and add seasoning to taste.  Mix well, then spread onto a baking tray and bake in the oven for approx. 15-20 mins.  Stir half-way through baking.

Meanwhile, season the mackerel.

When peppers and onions are done, remove from the tray and set aside.  Turn the oven down to 180 degrees C.

Place the mackerel on the same tray and bake in oven for approx. 15 mins (for whole fish).  Turn half way through cooking.  (For fillets, bake for approx. 5 mins or so - there is no need for turning).

When fish is done.  Remove from the tray.

Return the peppers to the tray, place the mackerel on top.  Drizzle with a little oil and vinegar, to taste.  Place back in the oven for approx. 5 minutes.

Serve on warmed plates.

Enjoy!

Caryl ♥

Coconut Seed Slice

I've been baking these slices for my kids ever since they were very young.  They were called "Mum's Slice".  Last weekend, my eldest boy came home from Uni and asked me to make some for him to take back with him.  This time, though, I added some extra seed goodness too! :)

Ingredients

100 grms butter
2-3 tbsp golden syrup
1/4 cup chia gel
1 cup plain flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup rolled oats
3/4 cup desiccated coconut
1/3 cup raw sugar
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup golden linseeds
1/4 cup hemp seeds


Melt butter with golden syrup in a saucepan. Add the chia gel (see recipe at Caryl's Cooking Creations: How to make a Chia Gel) and stir well.

Combine all dry ingredients into a bowl.

Pour butter mixture into dry ingredients and stir well, until just combined.

Spread mixture onto a medium sized baking tray, patting out until flat and even.

Bake in oven at 160 degrees C for approx. 20-25 minutes, until well browned.  (If you like your slices softer or more chewy, bake for 15 mins only.)

Leave on tray to cool, then turn out and cut into slices.

If there are any over, they will store well in an airtight container.  Although, I'm not sure how long for because they are always eaten up pretty quickly in my house! ;)

Enjoy!

Caryl ♥

Mushroom & Chard Risotto

I love mushrooms anytime and in a risotto they are particularly delicious.  Thank you to my mother-in-law for the fresh chard that came straight from her garden. :)

Ingredients

Butter
400g brown mushrooms - quartered
1 bunch spring onions - sliced
250g Carnaroli rice
750ml chicken stock (approx)
1 large handful chard - roughly chopped
Parmesan - grated
Lemon


Melt a knob of butter in a large pan.  Throw in the mushrooms and spring onions.  Stir until the mushrooms start to lose their juices.

Add the rice and stir well, until each grain is well coated.

Normally I would add a glug of white wine at this stage, but I only had a glass left and was enjoying it too much. :)

Pour in the stock.  Stir and bring to the boil.  Pop the lid on and reduce to simmer.  Stir every now and then, until liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender - approx. 30 minutes or so.

Add the chard and stir until it just starts to wilt.

Grate some parmesan over and stir in.  Squeeze some lemon juice over and stir.  Season to taste.

Serve and enjoy!

Caryl ♥