Banana Bread

Photo taken from Apples for Jam

There are a bazillion recipes for banana bread out there, and I'm sure they are all good in their own ways, but this is the ultimate, numero uno, forever faithful all time favorite.  Trust me!  The bananas need to be so over ripe they're almost black.  Although it's called bread for alliterations sake it is definitely cake, decadent enough for pudding and also simple enough for afternoon tea and cake.  And maybe even for breakfast - it's almost fruit after all.  A testament to its deliciousness is that I didn't have time to take a photo before it was all gone!

Banana Bread

120g (4 1/2 oz) butter
180g (6 1/2 oz) dark brown sugar
350g (12 oz or about 4 medium) ripe bananas, mashed
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp ground cinnamon
250g (9 oz) plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda
3 tbs warm milk
2 tbs demerara sugar

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees C/350 degrees F/Gas 4 and butter a 12 x 4 inch loaf tin.
2. Cream together the butter and brown sugar until smooth and then whisk in the mashed bananas.  Add the eggs, vanilla, cinnamon and a pinch of salt and whisk.
3. Mix the bicarbonate of soda into the milk and stir into the batter
4. Scrape the mixture into the tin and sprinkle the demerara sugar over the top.  Bake for 50 minutes until crusty on top and a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.  Turn out onto a rack to cool.

Adapted from Apples for Jam, by Tessa Kiros.

Weekend Fun

I've only been in the big, scary world of work for a few months but already I've come to learn how important weekends are for your mental health.  As much as I love idle coffee and papers time, I find I keep filling my free time to the brim.  Last weekend I saw A Town Called Panic at Hyde Park Picture House as part of this years Leeds International Film Festival.  It was just what I needed, a crazy, funny, sweet adventure involving a swarve Horse, a cowardly Cowboy and a bolshy Indian.  A slightly odd thing happened on my way in though.  I'd booked two tickets but I ended up going alone so after collecting the tickets from the box office I turned to the queue behind me and asked if anyone would like the spare.  A woman said that she would, but when I gave it to her she took it without a word.  No thank you, no grateful look.  Very strange indeed, but I did a good thing and hopefully it has still accrued to my karma bank regardless.

On Sunday my boyfriend and I went on our first wedding venue viewing excursion.  I had seen the outside of this place before and was smitten.  Picturesque doesn't do justice to the setting, it really is breathtaking.  Inside, I wasn't as impressed unfortunately, but I'm glad we've made a start on what at times feels like an endless quest.

Isn't it beautiful?  I'm quite taken with the idea of an Autumn wedding in the country.

Next weekend I plan to see a few more films being shown as part of the festival, including Handmade Nation at A Nation of Shopkeepers (possibly my favorite name for a bar ever).  Entry is free and there will also be handmade goods for sale and a how-to workshop.  Very Excite!

Happy Bonfire Night!

I had a fab time tonight at the free bonfire and fireworks at Roundhay Park.  Highlights included cider drinking in a rustic pub, trying to explain the origins of bonfire night to an Austrian (so, there was this man called Guy Fawkes...) and forgetting my wellies and coating my work pumps in mud.  I love the atmosphere of 5th November, it's the only truly family friendly public event I can think of.  The fact that it took us an hour and a half to negotiate the traffic home couldn't put a dampener on my night.  Happy bonfire night everyone!

Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall?

Snuggled under my duvet, lulled by the sound of the rain drumming on my windows, this evening I indulging in some hard core etsy wedding porn.  As I'm without a venue, and haven't settled on a time of year, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by the plethora of choices out there.  I scanned a wedding magazine last night, and ended up feeling dazed rather than inspired.  Modern, classic, boho, rustic, vintage, vampire....my head span as I took in page after page of beautiful but very different ideas.  I think it might help if I focus on one theme at a time and then maybe, just maybe I might be able to single out a look that chimes with both of us (yep, haven't entirely forgotten about my groom!).

Maybe it's a coincidence, give the spectacular display of autumn leaves I'm treated to every day on my way to work, but autumn is appealing to me today.  Smoldering oranges, yellows, reds and a touch of gold, bursts of colour in the dark.  The quiet of an autumn wood.  Crisp days, clear skys, first frosts.

thehoneycomb

sunshineheartdesign

tamar

Raceytay

Oddly enough, as we are now well into autumn, there wasn't much in my bridal magazine about autumnal weddings.  Perhaps an autumn wedding is an undiscovered treasure.

Reetsweet Craft Fair: 7th Nov

Today I stumbled across Reetsweet craft fair, a brand new event making its debut at Leeds Corn Exchange this Sunday 11 - 4.  It will showcase design talent from the Leeds area; perfect for getting a bit of cool and quirky Christmas shopping done!  Say no to socks!

I had a peek at the Reetsweet blog and saw that Lianne Mellor, creator of amazing and intricately detailed china will be attending.  I found her work on etsy a while back, and I've had this cake stand on my wish list ever since:

Tragically, I might not be able to make the fair on Sunday but I'm keeping my fingers crossed it will become a regular event in Leeds.

First Post Ever

Hurrah! 

I've wanted to start a blog for goodness knows how long: I feel it's only fair to add my two scoops of crazy to the internet. 

To kick things off I thought I'd share a cake I made on Sunday.  It's just a plain vanilla sponge with buttercream icing and raspberries (which were well on their way to mushy berry heaven) but I was pleased with the look of it.  I have a vague idea of making my own wedding cake and I think with practice this would look the part.  I wasn't crazy about the taste though, altogether it was too sweet, and I am usually all about the sweet.  I might try a chocolate version next time.