Pecan Banana Bread
– an easy teatime favourite and a good way of using up ripe bananas. The addition
of pecans brings a nutty yumminess to the flavours!
It'll take: Prep: 15 mins / Cook: 40 mins It'll make: Approx
10 slices
Ingredients
§ 100g (3 ½ oz) butter, softened
§ 175g (6 oz) clear honey
§ 2 eggs, beaten
§ 2 large ripe bananas, roughly chopped
§ ½ tsp ground mixed spice
§ 225g (8 oz) self-raising flour
§ 100g
(3 ½ oz) pecan nuts, toasted and roughly chopped
Step by step
1. Preheat your oven to 180°C/Gas mark 4
2. Lightly grease a 1kg (2 lb 4 oz) loaf tin and line the
base and ends with baking paper.
3. Place butter, honey, eggs, bananas, mixed spice and flour
in the food processor and blend until smooth. Alternatively, beat by hand with
a wooden spoon. Add the pecans, and pulse or mix until just combined.
4. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and level the top. Bake for 35-40
minutes until a skewer inserted into the centre of the loaf comes out clean,
and the bread is golden and well risen.
5. Allow the loaf to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then
turn out. Remove the baking paper and leave to cool on a wire rack.
The loaf will keep for 4-5 days if stored in an airtight
container.
Homemade Pizza (dough
‘n all!) – OK, so a bought pizza may be quick and easy, but this ‘cheaty’
homemade variety is surprisingly little hassle and far far more tasty! Warm
wine or water activates the baking powder in the dough mixture and in seconds
you have a smooth dough ready for your base.
It'll take: Prep: 15 mins / Cook: 15 mins It'll feed: 4 people
Ingredients
§ 2 mugs of plain white flour
§ 2 tsp baking powder
§ a good pinch of sea salt
§ 6 tbsp olive oil
§ 2/3 mug of white wine*
§ 1 tin chopped tomatoes
§ 1 garlic clove, finely minced
§ 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
§ A good pinch of fresh herbs, finely
chopped
§ Freshly ground pepper
§ Chopped veggies (red pepper, fresh
tomatoes, courgettes, onions…)
§ Cheese to grate or dot over the top
(Buffalo mozzarella, goat’s cheese, cheddar…)
§ Any other topping of your choice!
*You could use luke
warm water instead. The wine adds heaps of flavour but the recipe will work
fine with water instead.
Step by step
1. Preheat your oven to 220°C/Gas 8 or 200°C for a fan oven.
2. Tip flour, baking powder, salt and olive oil into a large
mixing bowl.
3. Warm the wine.
4. Fold everything together till it starts to come together.
5. Gently knead till it forms a smooth ball. Dust in a little
more flour, if needed.
6. Brush your baking trays with oil to prevent sticking (you
will probably be able to fit them onto two)
7. Divide your dough into 4 or 2 pieces. Roll out, dust with
flour as needed and fit onto your trays. Don’t worry too much about the shape.
It all adds to the homemade look! Just ensure they are fairly evenly rolled.
8. Curl the sides inward to form the crust. Gloss with oil.
9. Pop in the oven for 5 mins just to crisp the base whilst
you work on the topping.
9. Mix tinned toms with the garlic, balsamic, fresh rosemary and
pepper.
10. Once the bottoms of the pizzas are nicely browned, slather
the sauce over the top. Top with veggies and or meat and cheese. Anything goes!
11. Pop back in the oven and cook till the cheese is golden
and bubbly. Probably another 5-10 mins.
GREAT TOPPING SUGGESTIONS:
Posh stuff:
Caramelised
red onions, goat’s cheese and olives
Buffalo mozzarella, fresh pesto, fresh tomatoes and basil
Courgette ribbons, thinly sliced onions, thyme, lemon zest and capers
Basics:
Good
ol ham and pineapple
Fry
bacon and mushrooms
