Banana Walnut Cake

Super simple cake! And has some nutrition too :) And you can modify and make many variations easily. AND it's a fantastic way to use over-ripe bananas. :)


Ingredients

1. 1.5 cups flour (Maida. I try and mix a bit of millet flour in it - but if you want it very sweet, stick to maida)
2. 1 cup white sugar (I mix some brown sugar in it. I also reduce sugar and add raisins instead)
3. 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
4. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5. 1 teaspoon baking soda
6. 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
7. 1 egg
8. 3 very ripe bananas. There's a trick I learned from an expert - store overripe bananas in the freezer. Thaw them and use - they become super-sweet! So you can cut down on the sugar. More bananas, less sugar. You can add more than 3. 
9. Some walnuts. Heat them a little, it reduces the bitterness. Cool and break into small pieces.
10. Baking paper, if you have. 
11. A deep baking tray. You can also use the long bread tray like in the picture. 
12. A dry sieve for the flour

Preparation

1. Pre-heat the oven at 180 degrees. If you are using a convection oven, set to Convection mode. 
2. Sieve the flour, baking soda, and baking powder together, and keep aside. This is to ensure they mix well. You do this for all cakes. 
3. Beat the egg until fluffy.
4. Smash the bananas into pulp. You can leave it slightly chunky, that's fine. 
5. Melt the butter. 
6. Now mix flour, egg, sugar, bananas, butter, vanilla essence, walnuts - and raisins if you have. 
7. Line a deep baking tray with baking paper. If not, you can apply butter and then sprinkle some flour on it. 
8. Pour into tray evenly. 
9. Bake for 30 mins at 180 degrees and check. If a toothpick/fork comes clean, it is ready. If not, bake for another 10 mins. 
10. Cool and cut! This cake tastes even nicer the next day if you keep in fridge. 

Banana Pancakes!

This is a recipe I got from the Net. I just added the additional banana slices to make it tastier - it worked! Very simple and high-energy breakfast.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup all-purpose flour (I use atta)
1 tablespoon white sugar (good if you can powder it in mixie)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil (You could do away with this. Or just use 1 spoon of healthy olive oil)
2 ripe bananas, nicely mashed
2 more bananas, make very thin round slices


DIRECTIONS

1. Combine flour, white sugar, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, mix together egg, milk, vegetable oil and bananas.
2. Stir flour mixture into banana mixture; try to reduce lumps as much as possible.
3. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Spread it like dosa, though not too thin.
4. Now put those thin round slices of banana all over.
5. Cook until pancakes are golden brown on both sides. Yes, turn over to cook the side with the banana slices too - they should turn a little caramelized, that's the yummy part!
6. Serve hot - spread honey on it to make it even tastier! Maybe kids may like jam with it too.

Banana Pancakes!

This is a recipe I got from the Net. I just added the additional banana slices to make it tastier - it worked :) Very simple and high-energy breakfast.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup all-purpose flour (I use atta)
1 tablespoon white sugar (good if you can powder it in mixie)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil (You could do away with this. Or just use 1 spoon of healthy olive oil)
2 ripe bananas, nicely mashed
2 more bananas, make very thin round slices

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine flour, white sugar, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, mix together egg, milk, vegetable oil and bananas.

# Stir flour mixture into banana mixture; try to reduce lumps as much as possible.
# Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Spread it like dosa, though not too thin.
# Now put those thin round slices of banana all over.
# Cook until pancakes are golden brown on both sides. Yes, turn over to cook the side with the banana slices too.
# Serve hot - spread honey on it to make it even tastier! Maybe kids may like jam with it too.