Quick and Easy Banana Walnut Muffins - The perfect healthy breakfast

Hello my lovelies, 

Did you guys have an action packed awesome summer? Or a relaxing and slow paced one? Which ever it was I hope it was everything you wanted it to be :)

I had a fairly busy summer myself, I worked a full time 9-5 'grown up' job, I volunteered, and I took a summer course, and tried to squeeze in some time for friends to catch up on movies (pretty sure I saw every movie that was out in theatres this summer) and summer memories. :) Oh! And I also got a brand spankin' new macbook pro :D *fan girl squeal* 

I also made a facebook fan page which I would love for you guys to head over and 'like' ! ;)

I also had some not so great moments. In July I got rear-ended in a car accident that gave me some really bad whiplash :( This resulted in far too many visits to the chiropractor's office - but on the bright side I am slowly but surely going back to my 100% self :)

All of this to say I have had a very very busy summer. Thats why when my parents informed me of their plans for a last minute road trip I was excited (albeit a bit weary of the long drive) to get out of Ottawa for a bit. We drove all the way down to Waterloo to the welcoming home of some old family friends. While there, the Mrs. of the house taught me how to make these delicious banana nut muffins. Whats super great about them is you can use up any bananas that may be going a bit too brown. 

What makes it even better? Its super easy to toss together (a few minutes) and uses only one bowl and comes together fast with a whisk. Same amount of time that it would take to make pancake batter you can have this yummy treat :) I personally loved the taste especially when you consider the simplicity of it. And with back to School/Work season back upon us this make it the perfect healthy treat. Make in the morning (or afternoon) and have a quick, easy, nutritious breakfast on the go. 

Quick and Easy Breakfast Banana Muffins

Ingredients: 

* 3 Bananas

* 2 eggs

* 2 cups of flour

* 1 cup of sugar

* 1/3 cup of oil

* 1/2 cup of milk

* 1 tsp of baking soda

* 1 tsp of baking powder

Toppings/Fillings:

- throw in a handful of chocolate chips or walnuts or anything else you want and mix in to the batter. We opted to crush up some walnuts and toss them on as toppings. 

Instructions:

1) Mash up the bananas in your bowl with a spoon or fork (or whatever else you like)

2) Throw in the rest of the ingredients and mix (yup! that easy!) Scoop into paper lined muffin/cupcake tins and bake at 350* until a toothpick comes out clean. (Usually 10 to 15 min depending on your oven temperatures) 

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Quick and Easy One Bowl Chocolate Cake and my Early-life crisis

Its been a while hasn’t it? I’ve missed you guys very much :) I apologize for the delay the past few months have been quite….hectic. I’ve been going through quite a few things in my personal life that have left me without much time or desire (gasp!) to bake and blog. But that’s all going to change now. Hopefully.

To make a big story short, my biggest problem right now is that I do not know what to do. For those of you who know me well you will know that I am the kind of girl who thinks 5, 6, 8 and 10 steps ahead. I like to have a plan. Having a plan makes me happy. And as such, I have always made and modified and perfected my ‘life plan’. Many have laughed at me, others were puzzled at this teenage girl whose got her life planned and goals set for age 30 age 40 and beyond (when many adults still do not have it figured out).

So what is this plan? Well, I’ve had it planned out since 9th grade so I can tell you quite clearly. Step 1 : Obtain really good grades in high school in order to go to  university and get scholarships (check!) Step 2: Get a 4 years degree (in law and Politics) and work your ass off to get high grades and a ‘competitive’ record. (check!) Step 3: Apply to Law School, Step 4: Go to Law School, Step 5: Get a prestigious job in one of the best Law Firms in Bay Street Toronto (Canada’s equivalent to the big shot law firms in Manhattan NYC) I could go on and on and on about how this plan I have planned oh so well, but there would be no point. I have come to the conclusion that I will NOT be pursing this path anymore!

Early this summer I ended up having not a mid-life crisis, but an ‘early-life crisis’. I’m not sure I could fully explain the thought process (and believe me there was a lot of it!) but I realized that I no longer had a desire to become a lawyer! The optimistic side of me says that perhaps it’s a good thing I realized this before going to law school, going $150,000 in debt, and THEN realize I did not like it. But I cant help feeling very sad and a bit scared about all this. It is a very scary thing to go from having a plan only to have it go down the drain. Especially considering the fact that I am in my last year in my undergraduate degree, I am so very very very close to law school and all of my dreams, but now I feel I no longer want it? So what do I want? I have no idea. And for someone who NEEDS to have a plan….this is a very scary time.

Well perhaps to say that I have ‘no idea’ is unfair…I have quite a few ideas… (that’s the problem) and the reason I am stumped. The biggest issue is that the ‘options’ are very varied – from policy analyst to diplomat to getting a MBA or maybe even medical school? Thankfully because of my efforts the past 4 years I have a good enough GPA to have options. Unfortunately options can sometimes be frustrating! :p

When you are feeling the blues as I am and are not sure at all of your future, you know what helps? Chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate. And cake too. But what’s even better than chocolate cake? EASY one bowl chocolate cake. Because the last thing you want to do when having an early life crisis is to worry about washing the dishes. I found this cake to be super decadent and I decided to sprinkle on some pomegranate for decoration, but oh my god….it improved the flavor so much more! It added an excellent contrast : nice cool sour crunch with fudgy chocolate cake.

One Bowl Chocolate Cake

* 150g unsalted butter

* 220g brown sugar

* 100g good quality dark chocolate
* 
50g Dutch-processed cocoa
* 
160ml milk

* 3 large eggs, room temperature

* 170g plain flour

* 1.5 tsp baking powder

* 1/2 tsp baking soda

* 1/2 tsp salt (skip this if using salted butter)


Method


Preheat oven to 170°C. Grease and line a 20-21cm square tin. (I used a 9 inch round)

In a large pot or mixing bowl over simmering water, add the butter, sugar, chocolate, cocoa and milk. When butter and chocolate has melted, remove from heat and whisk to combine. Allow to cool for 5 minutes.

Add the eggs to the chocolate mixture and whisk to combine. Sift over the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt then gently stir to mix.
Scrape batter into tin and bake for 45-55 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.

Cool in tin for 5 minutes then turn out and cool completely on a wire rack. Cake will keep for a few days in an airtight container (a quick zap in the microwave will get it all warm, melty and soft again).

Chocolate Fudge Frosting
(source)


Ingredients


* 100g good quality dark chocolate

* 50g unsalted butter, softened and at room temperature

* 150g icing sugar, sifted

* Pinch of salt
* 
1-2 Tbl of milk (I ended up using 3)


Method


In a bowl over simmering water, melt chocolate then remove from heat. Beat in softened butter (make sure it is room temp. Cold butter is bad news in this case). Sift over icing sugar and salt then beat until combined. Add enough milk until it is a spreadable consistency.

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Super Easy yet Super Yummy Apple Pie

Growing up in a first generation immigrant family has had a profound impact on how I act and how I see the world. This applies in the ‘big picture’ sense such as whether I agree with new immigration policies or not, how I feel about traditional Canadian holidays, and many other things. However, on the more personal level, coming from an immigrant family has had a dramatic affect on one major element of my life. Food.

Growing up I would eat both the hot dogs and french fries, and the Zereshk Polo O Morgh. My parents tried to stay true their Persian Roots and more often than not we had Persian food every day. As the years passed, my parents naturally became more influenced by the new country they were now living in. One day we would have Persian cusine, another we would have a stir fry, another we would try this new thing called ‘shepherds pie’ or ‘burritos’. My parents are all about staying true to their roots but also embracing new things that their new home country had to offer – and what better than food?

Of course my mother would always make these new ‘western’ recipes her own. My mom doesn’t like using recipes. She’s made enough food to know how things ‘should taste’ and likes to ‘assume’ what a recipe will be like. Shepherds pie? Looks like ground beef and veggies with mashed potato on top. So she would adapt her own recipes and incorporate some of her favorite Persian spices. Sometimes her refusal to follow recipes would turn disastrous, but other times it would turn out better than the ‘real’ thing!

Another example is of the famous classical apple pie. When I was much younger my mother and I went shopping at our local grocery store. It was near thanksgiving time and they were giving free samples of apple pie at the store. We both tried some and weren’t necessarily blown away. That’s when my Mom decided that she could do it better. She adapted this recipe herself and honestly, I think it tastes so so soooooo much better than anything you could buy at a store. I don’t like the overly spiced apple pies, if you do then this isn’t for you. But if you aren’t necessarily a huge fan of an overdose of nutmeg and cloves, then make this pie. You. Will. Love. It.

The Fastest and Yummiest Apple Pie You Will Ever Make

Heres all you need:

*Apple Pie Crust (made fresh or frozen pre-bought ones)

*Apples (as many as you would like…I used about 6)

*Sugar (as much as you like)

*Cinnamon (as much as you like)

 

Instructions:

1.     Take your pie crust and place it into your pan

2.     Don’t pierce it and put it in the oven before hand. Just start filling your unbaked dough with the apples.

3.     Wash your apples and peel and dice them.

4.     Place a fairly even layer of apples at the bottom and sprinkle it with sugar and cinnamon.  (use as much as you like to taste…we love cinnamon so I usually add a lot…but if not just sprinkle a tsp or so. As for sugar, remember to use sugar according to your apple type. If you have a more sour apple you will need to use more sugar)

5.     Then add another layer of apples and keep sprinkling sugar and cinnamon. Keep continuing to put as many layers as you like

6.     Then pop on the rest of the apple pie crust

7.     Put in the oven at 350F until the apples are soft and baked and the crust is nice and golden. 

Enjoy!

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Best Ever Biscotti, New Beginnings, and a Giveaway!

**To all my beloved followers, those who comment and those silent ninjas whose support means oh so much to me too, I’ve decided to host a giveaway for you guys! Please check the bottom of the post for more details! Or CLICK HERE**

When I was sitting in my first class of the year, my professor passed around a ‘sign in’ sheet. Since I’ve been going to Carleton U for a while now, this practice has become quite common place for me. Once the sheet got around to me, I filled out the section for my name, student number, major, and then finally, my year. I instinctively wrote down “2^nd”, but then I realized…no, wait, I’m in third year now! And for some reason this little reality check hit me like a ton of bricks.  I turned to Jordan and informed him of this startling fact, that we are indeed in 3^rd year, but he seemed to be a bit more preoccupied with foodgawker. (who can blame him really? ;)) I’m not sure why this affected me so much, because every year is a new year, and every September I go “woah! I’m another year ahead!”

I think the reason it affected me this much is that I’ve been really reflecting on my life lately, and I feel like everything is going by in super-warp speed. I remember high school like it was yesterday! Going to the cafeteria for lunch, kids skipping class and thinking they are SO Bad ass…thinking about what you want to do and what schools you should apply to…it all seems like a super fast blur now. And as for university…seriously? I’m in third year?! How did THAT happen?! I feel like just this morning I walked through the doors of Carleton, a bright eyed eager freshman, ready for the ‘college experience’, marveling with Jordan about how amazingly ‘free’ we are in comparison to high school. Buying our first books. Getting lost in the tunnels. Being lost in class. Getting lost on the bus ride back home. At a loss for time during my first ever ‘true’ all nighter. Lost. Lost. Lost. Yet somehow, these supposed ‘losses’ have become such fond memories, that perhaps they may be the reason why third year scares me. Third year is one year less than fourth year, and forth year is the last year before you get out of university and enter the ‘real world’. And that ladies and gentleman, is scary. 

I randomly had the urge to make Biscotti this week, and I remembered a recipe that I had tried a long, long, longgggg time ago, back when I had FIRST started this blog. This brought back even more memories. You see, I started my precious food blog my freshman year, and to say I was proud of my work would be an understatement. I thought I was so awesome. Seriously. I mean…I had a blog. About food. I mean. Come on. How AWESOME is that?! Though I remember being so proud of that, its funny that looking back…I’m almost ashamed…those biscotti pictures that I was SO proud of? Well I came *this* close to deleting the post, because it was just plain embarrassing. Dark, blurry, and just plain icky. And the post? I posted not one recipe, not two recipes, but THREE recipes. All complete with their own pics. And my grammar? Not so good. 

As embarrassing as this post might be, in a way it makes me happy, that since then I have improved dramatically(at least I hope I have ;) ). I guess with every ending is a new beginning and that’s what I’m going to be focusing on.

And to celebrate new beginnings, I’ve decided to host my first ever giveaway to thank all you AWESOME followers! Click HERE to enter!

 Best Ever Biscotti

(source)

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup light olive oil
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 eggs
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1 1/2 cups pistachio nuts

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, mix together oil and sugar until well blended. Mix in the vanilla and almond extracts, then beat in the eggs. Combine flour, salt, and baking powder; gradually stir into egg mixture. Mix in cranberries and nuts by hand.
3. Divide dough in half. Form two logs (12x2 inches) on a cookie sheet that has been lined with parchment paper. Dough may be sticky; wet hands with cool water to handle dough more easily.
4. Bake for 35 minutes in the preheated oven, or until logs are light brown. Remove from oven, and set aside to cool for 10 minutes. Reduce oven heat to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C).
5. Cut logs on diagonal into 3/4 inch thick slices. Lay on sides on parchment covered cookie sheet. Bake approximately 8 to 10 minutes, or until dry; cool.
   

 My Notes on this recipe: I didnt have cranberries or pistachios on hand so I just substituted with sliced almonds ( I didnt change the recipe cause its really yummy with the cranberries and pistachios ;) ) As well, I dont like my biscotti TOO hard, so I only baked it oh so slightly the second time around. And as for the forming of the 'logs' I did that the first time around and it doesn't turn out too good. Instead, just make a rectangular shape, and then cut it! :) Overall this Biscotti recipe is amazing and deserves the "best ever Biscotti" title! Enjoy!

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My Secret Recipes: Addictive Banana Squares

It's been awfully hot here, the kind of weather where turning on an oven is probably illegal. And a suicide mission. Probably both. Ottawa has never had this hot a weather and we broke quite a few records! (Something I wish I could be proud of)

All this to say that I haven't been able to bake for about a week, but thankfully I have a few recipes I have yet to post on...so...I uh...will. ya. :D

Ok so as I have shared with you guys before, I have a series of recipes that, if I say so myself, taste really really REALLY good. And for some reason that is somewhat foreign to me I feel a bit 'over protective' of these recipes, almost like a 4 year old who doesn't mind (in fact loves) to share all her toys with the neighborhood kids, but for some reason clutches greedily to that one special doll. And lord have mercy on your soul if you try to yank that doll away from her.

But I've been trying to be a good girl and learn to share a bit more. So from my list of uber secret recipes (that coincidentally happen to be my most requested recipes) I am slowly but surely trying to share a few of these with you. So if Banana isn't quite your thing (the insanity!:O ) then why not try my cinnamon bun recipe? Or perhaps some Hummus?

I made these babies to take to a family friend's house where we were invited for dinner. The final product was quite adorable (think little chocolate squares in cupcake liners topped with a swirl of chocolate frosting and a slice of banana!) but I wasn't able to catch a picture of them, so you will just have to take my word for it. :)

TIP: These banana squares taste EVEN BETTER the next day. So let them sit for a while...if you can stand it

Blogging is a way for me to connect with other foodies around the world and 'write down' my experiences and life through food, but it also serves the purpose of helping me keep track of my favorite recipes. Long story short I thought I had lost this recipe forever, and hopefully by writting it here I never will lose it again!

Enjoy!

The Most Addictive Best Ever Banana Cake


3 bananas
¾ cup sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup vegetable oil
¾ cup chocolate chips (optional)
1 ½ cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt

1. Mash up the Bananas really well. Beat in the sugar, egg and vegetable  oil.

2. Mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in a separate bowl.

3. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ones and make sure you mix REALLY WELL. You can also stir in some chocolate chips if you like.

4. Bake at 350C until lightly brown on the edges and toothpick comes out clean.


"PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine

2/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa

3 cups powdered sugar

1/3 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Melt butter. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency. Add small amount additional milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla. About 2 cups frosting.

Recipe Review: This is (clearly) one of my all time favorite recipes. It converted my banana hating sister into a banana cake eating crazy person! (To the point where you have to hide it from her!) What I love about this is its SOO easy to whip up, can be made in one bowl if you like, is fool proof and most importantly its SO yummy. When you have your first bite, you wont think oh my god insane! You will be like" hmm...this is good banana cake. nothing crazy...not sure what she was going on about..its just banana cake." But thats where you are wrong laddie. Ten minutes later you will find yourself reaching for another bite....and another...and another...They really are THAT addictive!

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Greek Salad

 
I’ve recently started watching Hell’s Kitchen. I know, I know, I’m a bit slow on jumping on the bandwagon, but I’m not one to watch tv. Scratch that. I watch a lot of tv. Some (my parents) would say too much tv, but I’m not one to channel surf, and though we got a new tv that I was so hyped about, I rarely watch anything on it. My tv is my macbook's internet. This can be good, because you don’t waste hours of your life watching commercials and channel surfing, but the consequence is that you won’t be exposed to such awesome shows as Hell’s Kitchen.

Watching hell’s kitchen makes me all excited and giddy. It makes me want to head into my kitchen and cook up a storm. Take out a nice sharp and shiny Chef’s knife that’s worth a few pretty $$ and go to town chopping parsley, mincing onions, slicing chicken and sautéing god knows what else.


This is amazing. I want to cook? I’ve always been a more of a baking sort of girl. If I bake it’s a hobby, a passion; if I cook it’s a chore. Hopefully this will change in the near future? I know my parents would sure like that! They are always telling me how I should cut back on baking and do more healthy cooking.

Speaking of healthy cooking, I made this a week ago. My parents were glaring at me for baking just a taddd too much(I may or may not have baked every day for a week…hey! Whats a girl to do during summer vacation?!), so I decided to make something more ‘healthy’ to balance it off. This Greek salad was amazing and I will definitely be making it again this summer! Its so light and delicious and easy to put together, it will probably become your staple salad recipe for the summer too!


Greek Salad

- Tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- 1 Red Onion
- Chunks of Feta Cheese
- Sauce

1. This is all about taste, so add the veggies and cheese to your liking and toss with the sauce.
2. To make Sauce: combine 1/4 cup of lemon juice, 1/4 cup olive oil, 1 TBSP of Mustard, and 1/2 tsp of garlic powder and basil. Add a dash of pepper.

*** feel free to alter the sauce recipe to your taste and experiment with different spices

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