Banana Loaf Cake

In the Caring Place community kitchen, Jean made a Banana Loaf Cake and Matrimonial Squares.

Jean also shared with us the benefits of eating bananas. The benefits include healthy bowels, healthy cardiovascular, protection from strokes and ulcers, improve blood pressure and boost of energy.

Bananas are rich source of vitamins B, C and A. Bananas are also low in calories and fat, plus they have a high water content and potassium levels. A diet high in potassium foods and low in sodium-loaded processed foods can help reduce water weight.

The Banana Loaf Cake was moist and very rich in banana flavour.

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Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 egg
  • 3 large very ripe bananas
  • 1/2 cup nut pieces if desired

Click on the link below for the instructions.

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Cranberry Bread

October is the month for cranberry harvesting. Do you know that the cranberry farm is flooded to harvest the cranberries? This year, the cranberry farm has a bumper crop due to the warm weather in Vancouver.

Cranberries are a source of polyphenol antioxidant, chemicals which are known to provide certain health benefits to the cardiovascular and immune system. Regular consumption of the cranberry juice is supposed to reduce the rate of urinary tract infections. Cranberries also act as a prebiotic, promoting the growth of beneficial lactobacillus bacteria (those found in yogurt) while inhibiting the growth of harmful E.coli and listeria.

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I made this Cranberry Bread in Minoo’s kitchen at Caring Place. This quick bread is good for breakfast or snack with a cup of coffee or tea.

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I like the sourness when I bite into the bits of cranberries and the bread is very moist.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup undiluted orange juice concentrate
  • 1/2 cup hot water
  • 2 tablespoons butter/margarine, melted
  • 1 cup raw fresh cranberries

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Blueberry Muffin

Minoo’s second recipe is a healthy Blueberry Muffin made with whole wheat flour and honey. Minoo uses frozen blueberry because blueberry season is over. The frozen blueberry is as good as the fresh one.

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 cup unbleached white flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • a pinch of salt
  • 1 cup milk or buttermilk
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 4 tablespoons salted butter, melted
  • 3 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 cup blueberries

I will not blog in details of the process of making the blueberry muffin as I had blogged about a Banana Blueberry Muffin earlier. The steps will be similar.

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Banana Blueberry Muffin

This Banana-Blueberry Muffin is a recipe from Betty Crocker. Banana and blueberries blend well together with the sweetness from the banana and tartness from the blueberries.

I got this recipe from the web in my early days of learning how to cooking six years ago. Since then, it’s been a classic in my family every blueberry season.

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Ingredients

  • 2/3 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup mashed very ripe banana (1 medium)
  • 1 egg
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen (thawed and well drained) blueberries.

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Click on the link below for the instructions.

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Banana Bread Muffin

During the summer months, I try not to use the oven that much as it heats up the whole place. So, I normally bake my favourite Banana Bread in muffin tins. By doing that, I can reduce the baking time to about one third of the normal time require for baking in a loaf pan.

I have this Banana Bread recipe which bakes in a loaf pan for 70 minutes but I made it in muffin tins in for only 20 to 25 minutes. This way, it’s also cost effective as we can save on hydro bill.

Here is the Banana Bread which I made in the muffin tins.

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The muffins turned out beautifully with nice colour.

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Ingredients

  • 2 ripe bananas
  • 1/4 cup orange juice
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts

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Click on the link below for the instructions.

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Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Out of the blue, I just wanted to bake a quick bread for breakfast. Looking through my recipe file for something which my kids will eat, I found this Chocolate Chip Banana Bread which sounds delicious. I just happen to have some ripe bananas in my fridge and it must be lucky day.

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Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs (at room temperature)
  • 2 large VERY rip bananas, mashed
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnut

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Click link below for the instructions.

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Lemon Poppy Seed Loaf

This is a bread good for breakfast or tea. I love the little crunch from the poppy seeds and give a slightly nutty aroma. This bread is not too sweet and it’s just right with your favourite jam or butter.

I am not sure if this is true but I heard that poppy seeds are banned in Singapore because they are suspected to contain some traces of morphine! Any Singaporeans able to confirm this?

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This recipe yields two loaves of bread. If it’s too much for your family, you may freeze one loaf for later consumption. To freeze it, you just need to wrap tightly in plastic wrap and keep in an air tight container or ziplock bag.

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Ingredients

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 cup poppy seeds (or 1 cup sesame seeds)
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup oil
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 cups yogurt (lemon yogurt if you can find it)
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice (preferably fresh squeezed)

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Click on link below for cooking instructions.

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Butter Tart Muffin

Jean’s last dish in this week’s cooking club meeting is Butter Tart Muffin. The ingredients are similar to the Raisin Butter Tart, so do the flavour.

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The Butter Tart Muffin taste just like the Raisin Butter Tart.

Dry Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups raisins
  • 3/4 cups white granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon mace (optional)

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Banana Walnut Muffin

I have two over ripen bananas sitting on my counter. I know nobody is going to touch it. So, I decided to put them to good use by making Banana Walnut Muffins. With the recipe below, you may use pecans or hazelnuts instead if you like.

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Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • generous 1/4 cup golden superfine sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 cup walnuts, chopped coarsely
  • 2 large ripe bananas, mashed
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 2 tbsp butter, melted
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

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