Banana Bender Biscuits

Banana Bender Biscuits

makes about 24

Ingredients:

60g (2oz) butter

1 cup (7 oz) sugar

2 cups (12oz) mashed ripe banana

1 1/2 cups (6oz) sifted flour

1 teaspoon bicarbonate soda (baking soda)

1/2 teaspoon  salt

2 eggs, well beaten

1 1/2 cups (6oz) chopped pecan nuts*

Method:

Pre-heat oven to 150'C (300'F)> Pre-pare baking trays.

Cream together butter and sugar. Sift flour, bicarbonate soda and salt together and fold into the butter-sugar mixture. Mix in the beaten eggs, banana and nuts*.

Spoon drops of the mixture onto the pre-pared baking trays, allowing space between each biscuit.

Bake for 20-25 minutes. Turn onto wire racks to cool. 

Being rich and moist, these biscuits do not keep for very long.**

* I used sunflower seeds as I did not have any nuts in the pantry. I pulsed the sunflower seeds in blender for a short time before adding to the mixture. 

** I placed half of the biscuits in the freezer. The recipe does not state if they are suitable for freezing. I will advise in the near future.

NB - I also added 1/2 cup of dessicated coconut to this recipe.

Enjoy!

Recipe from: "The Complete Book of Baking", 

First published 1984 by Lansdowne-Rigby Publishers, 

reprinted 1988, reprinted by Ure-Smith Press 1990, 1992. 

ISBN 0725408081

{one of my favourite op-shop finds!}

Week 1 - July School Holidays

With a Monday sleep in of sorts and a quiet day at home, the rest of the first week of the July holidays was slightly hectic with early morning rises to get to swimming for Miss Abbey and afterwards included quick shops to the supermarket or op-shop, bank, and other miscellaneous errands... then home for Miss Evie to nap and time for cooking, housework, and down-time for Miss Abbey, also we had a couple of outdoor adventures while the sun was shining...

and a little cloudy ...

I have to include this....Miss Evie found a blue texta! She does enjoy drawing....

I'm not sure what her mission was, but it took some soap and warm water to remove most of the blue-ness!!

Is this the beginning?

Big Sister practises her knitting skills, Little Sister pretends....

Sister conversation, sister adoration....

Is this the beginning of things to come?

Little Sister in her Big Sisters' shoes....

i love you both to the moon and back......

Pink Puddles

Abbey's Favourite things

I mentioned a couple of posts ago that I would post a list of things Abbey loves. What good fortune that she had typed up a list of her favourite things on our 'new' typewriter [found at the op-shop for $3 - bargain]  for her school journal.

and I also discovered this in her journal too, couldn't resist posting it - for memories sake only,

God love the phonic spelling.....

Gumboots and Soup

Today has been a wild wet wintery day, with the occasional burst of sunshine.

Gumboots are the perfect footwear today,

Tomato and Lentil soup with Dumplings is the perfect dinner tonight;

Abbey and Evie played together happily [if even for only 10 minutes] after eating not much dinner!

I enjoyed my made-from-scratch Tomato and Lentil Soup, and the dumplings were the best!

Daily Bread

Meagan @ ecoMILF is doing a meme at the moment on bread recipes and this week I thought I would join in as I make several loaves a week!!!
This recipe is currently my favourite and is very simple to make;

Oatmeal Bread
makes 1 loaf
prepare loaf tin 

Ingredients:
1 cup rolled oats
1 1/2 cups water
2 x 7g sachets dried yeast
1/2 cup warm water - extra
1/2 teaspoon caster sugar (I use raw sugar)
1/2 cup warm milk
1 tablespoon of soft brown sugar (I have never added this)
1 teaspoon of salt
3 1/2 - 4 1/2 cups unbleached plain flour (I mix spelt and wholemeal flour instead)
1/4 cup oats - extra (I use sesame seeds instead)
* I add to this recipe 2 tablespoon of Chia seeds, and 2 tablespoon of Flax seeds I throw them in with the first cup of flour; I am also going to try sunflower seeds and pepita's*

Method:
Combine oats and water in a small pan, stir over low heat for 3 minutes or until oats have softened. Set aside in a large bowl until lukewarm. Dissolve yeast in extra water, add sugar. 
*I usually set aside this yeast mixture for 10 or so minutes to activate the yeast*
Add yeast, milk, brown sugar and salt to the oats in large bowl. Stir well to combine. Add flour - 1 cup at a time - until a soft dough forms.
Turn onto a floured surface and knead for 10 minutes, adding any remaining or needed flour as necessary - until dough is soft and elastic.
Place in a large lightly oiled bowl, brush surface of dough with melted butter or oil. Cover and leave in a warm place for 1 hour or until well risen.
Punch down and knead for 1 minute. Shape dough and brush with water, sprinkle extra oats onto surface and roll dough onto oats - press gently.
Place into loaf tin, cover and leave in a warm place for 45 minutes or until risen to the top of the tin. Pre-heat oven to 180'C.
Bake for 45 minutes or until inserted skewer comes out dry. Set aside 10 minutes. turn onto a wire rack to cool.
Enjoy!

*edit* this recipe is from Family Circle Classic Essential Bread and Buns; published by Murdoch Books (1995), ISBN 0864114605. It was one of my op-shop finds!

 

Winter blues and bubbles

I awoke this morning with a sniffle and a sneeze, and as the day progressed onwards so did my first cold of the season. Feeling lousy I decided to take it easier than usual today. Miss Abbey is away at her Dad's house and while Miss Evie was taking her lovely long nap I made myself a nice pot of Ginger and Turmeric tea,

and ate a couple of fresh oranges for afternoon tea and got comfy on the couch.Sitting quietly I got started on a coming birthday present.

Feeling slightly rejuvenated, on cue Miss Evie awoke and I thought a bit of fresh air would do us both the world of good! So up the road we went, at a very leisurely pace.

Thank goodness the sun was out, it was just what I needed.

We came home and played in the front yard, which included Miss Evie having some bubble blowing fun!!! I know you can make your own bubble mixture, {slack Mama}, I had a bottle stashed away and was very handy for today.... I will search for my home-made bubble mixture very soon.....

Such a lovely Sunday afternoon, pity I am not feeling my normal energetic self and thank goodness little Miss Evie has been in a happy toddler mood all day!
Tonight before I snuggle into bed I am going to have my favourite remedy for beating a winter cold.
I found this recipe in "The Natural Health Book" by Dorothy Hall, and it has always worked for me!
You will need:
one or two cloves of garlic
1 fresh lemon
1/2 teaspoon of powdered ginger
a pinch of cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon of honey
Then you do this:
finely chop garlic [or use a garlic press]
squeeze lemon for juice and small amount of rind
mix together in mug or tumbler
add ginger, cayenne pepper, honey, 
add the above to a cup of just off the boil water.
Drink the whole lot!! even all of the 'bits' if you can!
Then jump into your cosy bed within 10-20 minutes, make sure you are covered and warm! Expect to sweat!!
Please read "The Natural Health Book" by Dorothy Hall for further information.