It's time for a break

just signing off for a couple of weeks to get through and recover from the silly season
relax, be safe and enjoy the time with loved ones
until 2010.....

magic pudding

Last Christmas I must have had a bit of spare time on my hands as I decided to make a traditional boiled christmas pudding - the way my Gran used to make it, as our contribution to Christmas day lunch. 
As everyone was expecting a christmas pudding on Christmas day, I had to make sure I had a recipe that worked (My Gran's old pudding recipe has since long disappeared). I found a recipe, bought a bottle (or two) of rum, heaps of dried fruit, new calico and got the fruit soaking for about a week in the rum. After all the rum was dried up by the fruit, I made the pudding mixture, got it wrapped in the calico cloth and had it on the stove boiling for 6 hours. And the test run pudding was created. 
What! Is she crazy? I hear you all say, making a test run pudding! Well it all worked out, the test run was a hit. So I went on to make the "real" pudding for Christmas day. 
Alas, expectations have been set. So the pudding order for Christmas day 2009 was placed again. Of course Mr wanted the test run pudding as well, and as I don't trust his sweet tooth home alone with the Christmas day pudding, I have given in and already made the test run pudding. If only is was a magic pudding, my work in the Kitchen would be done!

My Magic Pudding

Going Bananas

OK.

So I love to cook.

Maybe it's my captive audience of Mr and the 2 dogs. They love anything I cook, sweet savoury, you name it!

Maybe I find it therapeutic measuring, mixing and relishing in the finished product!

Maybe I enjoy the peace knowing that Mr will leave me alone while I am in the kitchen!

Maybe Mr will build me a new kitchen and buy me a new stove! (well a girl can dream huh!)

Even so, I am always on the lookout for quick, easy and wholesome (i don't think healthy is the right word) sweets, cakes, puddings and more, to meet the high demands of Mr's sweet tooth. I have several recipes that have become my favourites, (ie chuck all the ingredients in one bowl, mix with a spoon and put in the baking tray) in particular a carrot cake, but I will share this secret recipe with you another time. 

The newest edition to my repertoire is this date and banana loaf that I was so impressed with I just had to share with you. To my surprise I discovered the recipe on the side of a weetbix pack (well it was a pack of no name brand wheat biscuits!). 

My version of date and banana loaf straight out of the oven (note: Mr has already sneaked a slice when I went to get the camera) on my favourite Johnson Sunflower plate - always makes things taste better - but definitely not needed for this one - it was gone in a  day!

The Recipe

5 whole wheat biscuits (eg weetbix)

1 1/2 cups self-raising flour

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 cup finely chopped dates

2 ripe bananas, mashed

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 cup low fat milk

1 extra large egg, lightly beaten

Directions

Pre heat oven to 180 degrees C.

Combine wheat biscuits, flour, sugar, dates, banana and cinnamon in a large bowl. Mix in milk and egg until well combined.

Spoon into lined loaf pan (215 x 115 x 55mm) and bake for 45-50 minutes until cooked when tested with a skewer. Serve warm or cold with butter!

After you have made this once, you will want to make it again! Next time try fruits that you may have around the home. I have used a mango and banana mush and dried cranberries which, like the original recipe, was a hit!

Go on, give it a try! And don't forget the butter!