Monday 28 March 2011

Banana Muffins

I apologise for all these banana recipes but it seems I always have bananas around. And surely there is only so many one can eat in a short space of time. I can eat one or two and then I turn them into a baking ingredient.


Banana Muffins (with cinnamon crumbs!)
 
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 bananas, mashed
3/4 cup white sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/3 cup butter, melted

for the cinnamon crumbs
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon butter

Preheat the oven to 190C. Grease your muffin tin or line it with muffin cups. This recipe should be enough for you to make about 10 muffins. In a large bowl sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl beat together bananas, sugar, egg and melted butter. Next stir in the banana mixture into the flour. Do not do it too much - muffins are much better when made quickly and without too much care. Make sure the flour and bananas mix but don't mix them too well. Spoon the the batter into your muffin tin. 
In a small bowl mix together brown sugar, cinamon and flour. Add a tablespoon of butter and mix everything together with your fingers until the mixture resembles crumbs. Sprinkle the muffins with it.
Bake for about 18 to 20 minutes.

(I don't actually like muffins that much, and those ones I made just before going away for a weekend. I came back and they were gone but I am assured that they were yummy, so ... enjoy!)


Thursday 17 March 2011

Vodkir

Just a little something to brighten up the pre-spring blues. It is a very refreshing cocktail but has much more of a kick than the classic Kir. The lemonade smoothens it and makes it a very nice, light after-dinner drink. I used my Mum's own home-made blackcurrant liqueur but you can easily just use Creme de Cassis. Also, I was lazy and used a ready-made lemonade, but ...it must be REAL lemonade not Sprite/7up type of thing. Real lemonade is made out of fresh lemon juice, water and some sugar and nothing else. If you buy it, it might have some citric acid in it but will not resemble the sugary-horribleness you get in pubs that the British call lemonade. So, use some lemon juice with water and sugar if you can't find a ready-made one.



Vodkir
40ml Vodka
40ml Crème de Cassis
top up lemonade

Method: shake vodka and cassis together in a shaker and pour into a Martini glass. top up with lemonade.

Enjoy!

Thursday 10 March 2011

Luring spring

This years' winter seems to be endless. I have hoped for spring to come with the first snow drops. Then with the crocuses. Now it's daffodils' turn. So to help it find its way, I made some asparagus the other day. I know it's not May and I know it's not time yet. But if spring won't come to me herself (spring should be a woman with her mood-swings) I will just make some spring at home myself.

Asparagus
bunch of green asparagus
some olive oil
sea salt (preferably coarse)
some parmesan

Wash the asparagus and trim the bottoms if they appear dry. Green asparagus snaps very easily, so just try and snap the dry ends off. Place it on a baking tray and pour a bit of olive oil on it. Season with some salt and toss all of it together. Bake in the over for about 15-20 minutes in 180 C. The asparagus should be soft when you take it out. Grate some parmesan on top and serve hot. Enjoy!

Thursday 3 March 2011

Let them eat donuts

especially on Fat Thursday

Tuesday 1 March 2011