When it gets extremely hot and perhaps humid as well, the lifespan of a banana in that same hot and humid kitchen is quite short.So, if you have found yourself to be the keeper of several over ripe bananas, there is a delicious remedy.

BAKE BANANA BREAD

If you don't have the time to bake, or the kitchen is just too hot to turn on the oven, put the bananas into the freezer.There are two ways to keep bananas frozen; one is my preferred method. It's easy, and I don't have to clean a container after they thaw. I simply toss the over ripe bananas into the freezer, as is; in the skin. No preparation, no fuss, no muss. Done!

The other method is to prepare the bananas for baking. Simply mash the bananas and put into freezer containers. Place in freezer. Done!

When the day comes to do your baking, simply remove the whole banana-in-the-peel and place in a bowl to thaw. When thawed, mash and measure for your recipe.You may notice the thawed mashed banana is a little watery. You may choose to drain a bit of the clear liquid, although I do not and have never had any problems.Or: remove the pre-mashed frozen bananas and set aside to thaw - this may take a while, and you may choose to use low power microwave to speed up the process.

Proceed as normal with your mashed bananas.

Banana Bread is a staple in my home. Not only is it a great breakfast food on the run - it also makes for a nutritious snack in lunchboxes.

For an added treat, I add chocolate chips.

Dinner al fresco.

At the end of a hot day, the last thing I want to do, is cook using the stove or oven. A fast, easy, and wonderfully pleasing dinner for the eyes and the tummy is my platter of cold finger foods.

Behold the colourful array of tastes:
Garlic dills alongside spicy pepper rings on mozarella cheese upon whole grain crackers.
Cucumber slices kissed by honey mustard and hugged inside a mini croissant.
Delicious devilled eggs with yolks that have been blended with creamy mayonaisse and balcony grown chives.

I do believe there is some of that rhubarb pie still in the refrigerator.
It'll be a fine way to end a great meal on a wonderfully warm evening.

Sunday Breakfast

The nice part about a Sunday breakfast is that it can be something special and yet still nutritious. For me, presentation plays a big part in the enjoyment of a meal.

My simple yogurt, granola and strawberries, placed in an ice cream sundae dish makes it a feast for the eyes.

Take the time to do something special for yourself or the one you love. It's a great way to start your day.

cheers!

Le petit croissant

On a grey Saturday afternoon, I decided to make some colourful mini sandwiches to perk up my spirit, and my lunch!

Today I chose mozzarella cheese, hot pepper rings and garlic dill pickles.
My condiment of choice is mayonnaise. I never use butter on the bread when I am adding mayonaisse. A sprig of fresh parsley from the balcony garden is perfect for helping eliminate the garlic breath.

To complete my meal, I enjoyed a couple of homemade peanut butter cookies and a cup of coffee.

Rhubarb - the first harvest.

Rhubarb is one of my favourite fruits*.

It is the first thing we can harvest in the garden, so as a cook, i celebrate spring with the feast of rhubarb.It grows in stalks, with huge leaves. The stalks are reddish, with a bit of green on them. You pick them when they are red mostly. Cut into chunks, and bake into a pie, just like you would apple. Do not use the leaves as they are toxic, but you can put them into the composter.

Rhubarb can be sweetened with white sugar or strawberries in pies and sauce.

For me, I like my rhubarb, straight up.

To make a pie, I make it the same way as an apple pie, either with a double layer pastry or single layer and crumble topping.


*Rhubarb is botanically classified as a vegetable; however in the United States, in 1947, a New York court decided that since it was used as a fruit, it was to be called a fruit.

Teriyaki Chicken with Rice n Veggies

It was great to find that chicken wings were on sale for $1.99/lb this weekend. The perfect oven recipe for this was to make them teriyaki style.

Teriyaki Sauce:

1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tbsp ketchup
garlic - i like lots, i used 2 cloves.

Mix together in a small pot, and simmer over medium heat until boiling and then reduce heat for another 15 minutes. Set aside to cool. When cooled, pour over chicken wings and ensure all wings have been coated with marinade.

Leave chicken wings in the fridge overnight. Next day, preheat oven to 350F. Cook wings for one hour, stirring occasionally and basting the wings with the sauce. Serve with rice and vegetables for a hearty, tasty meal.

Enjoy!

Parsley; The world's most popular herb.

Today I bought my pot of parsley (Petroselinum crispum) at the garden center. Parsley is one of the herbs I always grow.


I cultivate it throughout the summer for use and dry the extra for winter cooking. I use it for soups and stews as it adds a wonderful gentle flavour alongside other seasonings.


For lots and lots of information on parsley, both curled and flat, check out Wikipedia's link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parsley

Tea Biscuits sugar free

These biscuits are fast and easy to prepare.

Shown above are three versions ; plain, with cranberries and using raspberry jam as filling.

2 cups flour
4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
¾ cup milk
1/3 cup cooking oil

Preheat oven to 375F.
Combine first three ingredients.
Combine oil and milk in a separate bowl.
Pour wet mixture over mixed dry ingredients.
Mix with fork to make a soft dough.
Knead on floured board about ten times.
Roll to ½ inch thickness and cut out biscuits.
Place on ungreased baking sheet and bake for 12-15 mins.


Enjoy!

Quick and easy pizza on Lebanese flatbread.

I make my pizza in the same way as with dough, but the cooking time is about half the time or a little less. I cook enough for leftovers and saran wrap them for the next day.

To reheat: i place the unwrapped pieces in a Teflon fry pan and cover with a pot lid. Warm on medium heat til the bottom is crispy and the pizza is heated throughout.

Welcome to my kitchen.

My passions of cooking and photography meet up in this oh-so-delicious blog. Most often, my days are spent with camera in one hand and later, a wire whisk in the other. I might even juggle position by holding one in each hand.

Above is one of my favourite photos, and meals - a fresh hot bowl of cream of broccoli soup. Broccoli is high in vitamins C, K and A as well as dietary fiber. It also contains multiple nutrients with anti-cancer properties.

I am sure you will enjoy the images and editorials as much as I enjoy sharing them.

cheers
*freyja*