heartyspoonful

As a kid, I was quite restless. I hated staying put and sitting down. I read walking about, which meant a lot of bumping into things. Then when we grow old, restlessness and staying put do not just mean about whether we sit down or walk about. It's about making tough choices about whether we're happy about where we are currently. Location. Current job. Relationships. And all that jazz.

Personally, I think it's beneficial to think about moving every once in a while. Or making any kind of change, really. But it doesn't have to be something life changing. Like moving across oceans. Or changing careers overnight. Sometimes it can be about whether or not you should go for the fringe (me, every six months). Or if you should make the first move instead of waiting for the guy (it's been a while, there's no one to ask out). Or if you should have the last piece of banana bread (always say yes).

All about timing. Always thinking, always mulling choices over. But I also believe in the power of the cosmos (no matter how irrational that may be). At times, everything falls into place like magic. Do the work and make a move when the time's right. Easy enough? For now, let's focus on this banana bread. Because you can never have enough banana bread recipes in your repertoire.


Vegan, Gluten-Free Banana Bread
Makes 8-10 slices

Ingredients:

• 2 medium ripe bananas, mashed
• 2 flax eggs
• 1/4 cup coconut sugar
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups almond flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1.5 tsp cinnamon
• 1 banana, caramelised

Preheat oven to 350F. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper and set aside.

In a medium bowl, mix together mashed bananas and flax eggs. Add coconut sugar, maple syrup, coconut oil and vanilla and whisk until well incorporated. Make sure that all ingredients are at room temperature so the coconut oil does not solidify.

Mix remaining ingredients except for caramelised banana into the liquid ingredients. Make sure not to overmix.

Transfer the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Top with caramelised banana and dust with more cinnamon if desired.

Bake for 40-45 minutes or until the edges are golden.

Set on a wire rack and let cool for at least 15 minutes before slicing.

Enjoy! xx

My problem. Right there. There's nothing sadder to me than leaving a few unchecked activities/tasks from my daily to-do list. Sometimes, I pass out at night mid-thought. The next morning, I feel rather disoriented. Anyone else? The number of weekends that left me feeling "unaccomplished" is mind-numbing to me. You know the feeling, it's Sunday late in the afternoon and you suddenly freeze with eyes wide-open, rewinding what you've done for the past 36 hours. Horror strikes because... There. Is. Still. So. Much. To. Do. But. With. So. Little. Time. Left.

Perhaps that's the beauty of it. You can never have enough time to do it all. Maybe that's what makes every decision you make special: You have to decide what you prioritise. It doesn't matter if you choose to procrastinate and be anti-social for a day. At that moment, maybe that's exactly what you needed to be. Will you have regrets? Sure. I definitely have.

One of my biggest pleasures in life is reading and I used to be such a book hoarder. I bought books even though there were three piles waiting to be read. Of course, surprise surprise, there were many pages left untouched just because I don't have enough time set aside for reading (hey, I prioritise other things too...).

That other thing includes baking. For real. As if you didn't know that already. I bake at least twice a week. Bring it on if it's much colder outside and the heat emitted by my oven is nothing short than life-changing. By the way, as if this comes as a surprise, my list of baking ideas keeps on growing. That list is also causing some anxiety. Breathe in. Breathe out. At least, there's a new recipe below!

What do you do when there's a package of coconut flour left unused staring you right in the face? You do some research, you delve down in the deepest caves of your soul and you cross your fingers it all goes well without eggs... Because coconut flour reacts well when eggs are involved. Substitute that works? Aquafaba, b*tches! If you're using up some canned chickpeas, do yourself a favour and save the liquid and bake this banana bread. 

Gimme one. Or two. Or all.

Coconut Flour Banana Bread

Makes 8 slices

Ingredients:

What kitchen dreams are made of <3

 

Maybe it's because banana bread was the first recipe I've ever learned. Nostalgia is a powerful, powerful driver. Maybe it's because I just really like bananas. I really do. Shame on you if you haven't figured that one out yet. Maybe it's because I love to experiment. Maybe it's all of the above. 

I can't help but try out different recipes for banana bread. I already have my favourite, one that I make all the time and that everyone loves. Still. I'll present another one to you. 

When I accidentally bought soy yoghurt*, I knew I would have to mask the taste in order to finish the whole tub. Yours truly was rather lazy to walk back to the store to return that most ghastly thing. I suppose there was a light bulb that just turned on when one of my co-workers mentioned he replaces eggs and butter with greek yoghurt when he bakes banana bread**. So, finally, I wouldn't need to throw out that sad soy yoghurt. No one at home wanted to eat it. But, hey, if it's incorporated with bananas, flour, sugar and, ahem, some love, perhaps it just might be the next best thing. 

Putting my thinking cap on and a rather festive apron, to the kitchen I went. Come here, you unloved tub of soy. 

Vegan Banana Bread

Serves 8-12 

We ingredients:

Dry ingredients:

 

"This shit is bananas. B-A-N-A-N-A-S."

- Gwen Stefani

 It's not always that we have ripe bananas. Why? Because we're monkeys who go through all our bananas throughout the week. If I want to freeze bananas for my smoothies, I have to buy extra bananas designated for freezing. So, extra ripe bananas for banana bread? It takes a lot of effort from my part to make sure that there are at least 4 bananas ready to be baked. Drives me bananas coordinating all this.

My brother has gluten intolerance. It's something incredibly difficult for a guy in his early twenties. You know, because of beer. But I think he's surviving and quite well at that, too. He's had to educate himself about gluten-free diet and I'm glad to say, he's almost vegan. So, as the best sister that I am, I'm experimenting with gluten-free recipes that are still vegan (because, you know, I need to enjoy my treats as well). Here goes for my gluten-free and vegan banana bread. 

Vegan & Gluten-Free Banana Bread

Serves 8-10

Ingredients:

Wet Ingredients