Wow! I can't believe it's already the end of Feb! The first 2 months of 2009 has rocketed past and I feel like I have just watched the days gone by and that's it really.. haven't achieved or done anything memorable this year and it'll be March in 3 days. Crap!
It felt like it was only yesterday when I came back from New York, went back and got stuck into work. Had my days off, bummed around, watched episodes of my favourite shows, went to work, got stuck in the snow storm, went home, went to work... it's like I've been living in a vicious repeat of a really awful soap opera.. and snap.. omg.. this is my life..
hmm.. starting to feel a little pathetic.. hah! *snap*
Well enough moaning bout nothing really.
A couple of things to share today:
1. Booked my airfare home to Melbourne - wooohoo!
It costed a bomb and I was living in a pinch for a few weeks (still am!) since I had to pay for the fare not long after the "big-spend-all" in New York last month.
2. I've been baking!
Woohoo! Haven't really been posting which is the sad bit, but I have been baking. Made my first ever Caramel Slice two weeks ago. Big success, will be redoing it again this weekend for a special occasion next week - this time I will be blogging about it.
So, apart from the boring soap opera called life, it looks like my baking's picking up a fair bit. It's turning into a bit of a competition at work too - if you listen to the trouble makers at work that is. I've been baking and bringing in the goodies to work on average once a month since the year started. We had a newbie come in at the end of Jan and ever since she started at work, she's been bringing some baking goods into work too! We had Flapjacks first week, my caramel slice two weeks after and then a lemon drizzle cake this week. (Lucky I didn't make anything last weekend!)
So the trouble makers are now saying that it's a competition and debating on who's better... *rolled eyes* I hate to say it but things like this makes me want to shirk even more from baking and bringing it into work. To me, baking and sharing is all part of the whole reason I bake*. It's all about sharing the love of food and the last thing I need is someone to make comparisons between what I bake and what someone else bakes..we are two different bakers!
Starting to sound like I'm afraid of losing doesn't it? Well, I am not (afraid of losing)... least I don't think I am, but it's not about who makes the better goods is it? Baking is about sharing.. it should just be that.. THE END
Anyways, something from the vault to share with y'all. Good old fashion Banana Muffin with a bit of oats - coz I can. I made this well over a year ago, looking at the photos brings back memories.. "Oh my tart pans, cooling tray, chopping block, my bed.... uh.. ahem.. never mind."
Banana and Oat muffin
adapted from Simply Recipes
Ingredients
3 or 4 ripe bananas, mashed
1/3 cup melted butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 tbsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
Pinch of salt
1 + 1/2 cup of flour
1/2 cup of oats
1/2 cup of milk
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C and line a 12 piece muffin tray.
2. Pour oats and milk in a bowl and let it soak until all the milk is absorbed
3. With a wooden spoon, mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl.
4. Mix in the sugar, egg and vanilla.
5. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the batter and combine well.
6. Add the flour, mix until just combined. (do not over mix)
7. Fold in the oat and milk mixture.
7. Pour batter into a prepared muffin tin.
8. Bake for 25-30 minutes until a test skewer comes out clean.
9. Cool on a rack.
Verdict:
From memory, the muffins were slightly dense but moist because of the addition of the oats and milk. I think I should've put in more oats because the oaty texture and taste were not very pronounced. Makes a very tasty breakfast!
*OK! OK! you got me there, so maybe I don't just bring my fruits of labour to work just to share. I kinda need someone to help me...finish it - so really it is SHARING!
EDIT: Yes... I know, it's just a joke and I'm being sensitive stupid things. I know they appreciate the effort because they do tell me that they love it, but it kinda does make me feel a bit small when I get compared that way....
EDIT: Yes... I know, it's just a joke and I'm being sensitive stupid things. I know they appreciate the effort because they do tell me that they love it, but it kinda does make me feel a bit small when I get compared that way....
4 comments:
Excellent dish. I prefer bananas with the skin left on.
Don't feel bad, iling... Frankly I think your co-workers are being gross. They should just appreciate the baked goods for what they are without turning it into a b*tchfest. Totally not the point of food, I agree. (Though I'm surprised your delicious bakes haven't shut them up...)
Cooking is therapeutic! Really - when you're down or going bananas well may be not really, but a little bit of pottering around in the kitchen soothes the nerves and makes you pull out delectable stuff - even good pld fashioned muffins.
PS - The photos are exquisite!
Mmmm, the only good banana is a bana muffin! Love the addition of oats - you can almost kid yourself that these are health food!
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