Tag Archives: banana

A five minutes lazy cake bahamas


lazy-cake-bahamas-marmite-et-ponpon

This lazy cake (some call it biscuits au chocolat or gateau froid) without doubt, will be a staple in your fridge. When talking about winning combos, we shouldn’t undermine the marriage power of chocolate and banana!

A classic lazy cake is already a hit, I always wondered how it will turn out if i stir in some bananas, and here is the day i dared trying it. Trust me it’s heaven in your mouth.

lazy-cake-bahamas-marmite-et-ponpon

lazy-cake-bahamas-marmite-et-ponpon

All you need is:

  • 75g butter
  • 200g dark chocolate chopped
  • 1/2 cup good quality cocoa powder
  • 1 cup caster sugar
  • 2 bananas ripe (mashed with a fork)
  • 40 pieces biscuit marie

Heat butter and chopped chocolate until melted, you can do it in a heat prood bowl in the microwave or simply in a pot on a medium heat. Stir in cocoa powder and sugar, whisk until sugar is melted. Take off the heat then add bananas and finally crush each biscuit in 4 and toss in the chocolate banana sauce.

Fold gently so you don’t crush the biscuits in tiny pieces until all of them are well coated. Line a loaf pan with plastic wrap to put the biscuits and chocolate, this way it will have a rectangular shape, easy to cut. Depending on how thick you want your cake to be, use the convenient mold size, mine is 11¨. With the back of a spoon (or your hand) shape the mixture in the loaf pan.

lazy cake

Refrigerate at least for 3 hours, take it out, unwrap, cut in slices using a sharp knife and savor!

lazy-cake-bahamas-marmite-et-ponpon

lazy-cake-bahamas-marmite-et-ponpon

Some people like to sprinkle over icing sugar before serving, it’s not a bad idea actually, it makes it look more festive and appetizing. You can serve with roasted walnut as well, it goes well with chocolate and banana.

It’s a new recipe to add in my creations, i am sure i will revisit more often, it’s a real pleasure to the palate. When you try it, i would love to have your opinion, don’t hesitate to write for me.

If you really like this post give it many likes and shares to spread the joy. Don’t forget to like marmite et ponpon facebook page and follow on twitter. More interesting posts are yet to come.

lazy-cake-bahamas-marmite-et-ponpon

“Mini chef in the kitchen” 2- Jus de lapin (carrot-banana-mandarin smoothie)


carrot - banana - mandarine smoothieIn the “mini chef in the kitchen” series, today we are preparing a healthy fruit smoothie to beat the heat.

Giving the juice a creative name, attracts your kids attention and stimulates their curiosity. There is no way they won’t try it especially if they are picky eaters like my son.

“jus de lapin” or rabbit juice because it contains carrots and has a bright orange color!

carrot banana mandarine smoothieYou will need

  • 1 large carrot
  • 1 big banana
  • juice of 3 mandarines
  • half cup ice (optional)
  • 1 tsp honey (optional)

Mix all and blend for 2-3 minutes until smooth and frothy.

My son is not fan of sweet taste, i didn’t add the honey since the mandarin were not very sour.

carrot-banana-mandarine smoothie

If the fruits are already cold or some frozen, you can skip adding ice. I put two colorful ice sticks for fun and to keep it chilled.

This activity provides your kids with plenty of opportunities to learn. Click on benefits of cooking with your kids to know more about it.

To add more fun and encourage Nady to have the whole smoothie i prepared moustache cut out and insert it in the straw. Click here for the printable file.

starw moustache

straw with moustache

carrot.banana.mandarin smoothieThere are endless options for smoothies, use the favorite fruits of your kids, or even introduce some other veggies like celery, spinach or cucumber and make the green giant.

carrot.banana.mandarin -smoothieIf you like this post give it some likes and shares to spread the joy. Don’t forget to like marmite et ponpon facebook page and follow on twitter. More interesting posts are yet to come.

Exotic fruits of Sinhala – Sri Lanka part 4


tiger coconutThe beauty of travel lies in the new experiences and endless discoveries. It’s always exciting to be introduced to unfamiliar things, for instance the weird exotic fruits of Sri Lanka, that many of you never heard about (like me before visiting the island). Without forgetting the common fruits that we already know but trust me they taste different.

Sri Lanka people believe in the art of ancient healing through spices, herbs, fruits and vegetables. Your health depends on what you eat.

The nature has its own remedies!

pineapplePineapple: it has been used to treat digestion problems and inflammation. Sri Lanka pineapple is so delicious, i was having it on every meal! Pineapple is rich in manganese and vitamin B1 for energy production. It’s also rich in vitamins A, C, and E offering a protection against macular degeneration.

pineapple sri lankapineapple sri lanka

You only need to cut the crown and the stem, slice the skin off the sides and enjoy! You don’t have even to remove the center part, it’s soft and juicy. Did you know that minimal processing of fruit cutting, packaging and chilling does not significantly affect its nutritional content even after 6 and up to 9 days?!

Banana: Eating bananas combats depression, improves your mood, reduces PMS symptoms, protects against muscle cramps, cures hangovers, relieves morning sickness, protects against kidney cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis and blindness and provides relief from acid reflux and heartburn. Yes all of this!

You can eat a lot per day without counting because they are too small and can be eaten in two bites! Nady was enjoying them.

banana sri lankaDid you know that bananas can cure the itch of a mosquito bite?  Due to Sri Lanka nature there is a lot of mosquitoes. Rub the inside of a banana peel on  the bites and here it goes!

Guava:  helps those who want to loose weight and those who suffers from diabetes. It’s an extremely good source of vitamin A, which is well known as a booster for vision health. Rich in lycopene that makes it a powerful antioxidant, rich in copper which is an important part of regulating thyroid metabolism. It reduces the symptoms of diarrhea, relieves cough and cold and improves the texture of your skin.

guava sri lankaGuava is rich in vitamin B3 and B6, therfore eating guava can help you increase brain function and sharpen your focus. Did you know also that the juice of guava leaves has been known to cure toothaches, swollen gums & oral ulcers, and the juice speeds up the healing process of wounds when applied externally?!

Wood apple: is very famous for its amazing health and medicinal benefits. Every part of this fruit means tree, root, leaves, seeds is usable for medicinal purposes because of its high level of nutritional values. It acts as an instant energy booster and energizes the body, it enhances the metabolism process. Wood apple is iron rich fruit which has ability to balance the hemoglobin count in women during pregnancy, and eating the pulp reduces morning sickness. It helps in enhancing the production of breast milk among lactating mother.

When we arrived to the hotel in Kandy they greeted us with wood apple juice! Not bad when mixed with sugar.

wood apple sri lankaDid you know that wood apple is a natural aphrodisiac property, that helps in enhancing the sexual desire among men as well as treating the conditions like impotence, sexual dysfunction and premature ejaculation?!

Watermelon: consists of mostly water, about 92% but it is full of nutrients. It is fat-free, very low in sodium and has only 40 calories per cup. Watermelon reduces the inflammation for people suffering from arthritis, helps prevent heart stroke. Rich in Vitamin A that helps keeping the skin and hair moisturized, and it also encourages healthy growth of new collagen and elastin cells.

They are small watermelons, two people can eat a whole one. We were offered watermelon after each meal!

watwermelon sri lankaDid you know that athletes drinks watermelon juice before an intense workout because it helps reduce next-day muscle soreness and heart rate?!

king coconut:  known as thembili, considered the premier, or “king”, of coconuts, in terms of its water.  King coconut is filled with electrolytes, refreshing, rejuvenating, healthy and delicious. It is sweeter than regular coconuts. Sri Lankans sell and consume thousands of them on a daily basis. It’s exclusively for drinking you can’t eat the inside flesh. King coconut juice showed significant anti aging and anti carcinogenic effect.

You find a lot of king coconut vendors on the road, it’s very cheap and refreshing if you like the sweet taste.

king coconut sri lankaking coconut sri lankaDid you know that a whole unopened tiger coconut can live up to 6 months at room temperature?!

Mangosteen: The purple Mangosteen, acclaimed for its unique appearance and flavor is often revered as queen of the tropical fruits. Mangosteen aids in promoting red blood cells and prevents against anemia. Vitamin C in mangosteen is effective against cataracts.1000mg Vitamin C per day is said to be effective in curbing cataracts and improving vision. It also helps to control the level of triglycerides, contains high amounts of minerals like copper, manganese, magnesium and potassium providing protection against strokes and coronary heart diseases.

mangosteen sri lankaThe fruit has three major parts: the deep purple inedible rind, the white edible flesh which is segmented like oranges and the seeds, found within the flesh. The seed is extremely bitter and can’t be eaten. Did you know that one of the major health benefits of mangosteen is its effectiveness in treating Alzheimer’s disease?!

Papaya: is very helpful for the prevention of  heart disease, it’s an excellent source of the powerful antioxidants vitamin C, vitamin A and folate. In addition, it is a good source of dietary fiber, magnesium, potassium, copper, and vitamin K. It plays a major role in the prevention of colon cancer.

papaya sri lanka

papaya  sri lanka papaya  sri lankaDid you know that papayas due to their soft and butter like consistency are called the “fruit of the angels” by Christopher Columbus?!

Passion fruit: Pleasantly sweet and tart, the delicious passion fruit is a rich source of antioxidants, minerals, vitamins and fiber. It is a very good source of dietary fibers acting as a laxative. Its richness in potassium helps regulating the heart rate and blood pressure.

passion fruit  sri lanka passion fruit sri lankaDid you know that passion fruits with wrinkle surface are actually more flavorful and rich in sugar?!

Star fruit or carambola: is a star shaped fruit with sweet and sour flavor I always felt it resembles lebanese janerik a bit 🙂 The fruit with its waxy peel provides a good amount of dietary fibers that help preventing the absorption of the LDL cholesterol in the gut. It contains good quantities of vitamin C and it’s a good source of B complex vitamins. The fruit and its juice are often recommended in medicine as a diuretic.

star fruit or carambola sri lankaDid you know that carambola fruit is used to suppress cough and as an expectorant?!

Grapefruit: Grapefruits vary in hue from white or yellow to pink and red. They range in taste very acidic and even bitter or sweet and sugary. They are full of nutrients: they support clear and healthy skin due to the vitamin C.  They also help in weight loss as part of an overall healthy and varied diet.

grapefruit sri lankaDid you know that grapefruits were bred between pomelo and orange and they were given the name grapefruit because they grow in clusters similar to grape?!

Mango: originated 4,000 plus years ago, prevents cancer and lowers cholesterol due to the high levels of fiber, pectin and vitamin C. One cup of sliced mangoes supplies 25 percent of the daily needed value of vitamin A, which promotes good eyesight and prevents night blindness and dry eyes. There are over 1,000 different varieties of mangoes.

mango sri lankaDid you know that mango clears clogged pores and eliminate pimples?

There is a tremendous amount of fruits in Sri Lanka, available at cheap price and rich in benefits! It gives you a reason to eat more fruits!

fruits sri lankaSri lankan people are really sweet and welcoming, I would like to thank this amazing guy from the Earl’s regent hotel who was a big help to write this post.

Banana loaf or love?


banana loaf

Bananas get over ripe so quickly in hot weather. Every now and then a bunch of bananas leaning toward a shade of black, I know it’s time for a banana bread.

banana loaf

After trying so many recipes, adding nuts, spices, chocolate chips or even cream cheese frosting, still this simple classic recipe is my favorite one, making me wish my bananas get over ripe with no regrets.

banana loaf

The more ripe the bananas are, the more precious. Dark bananas are black gold! They give you this deep intense caramel flavor especially with the brown sugar. So to do this we need:

  • 4 slightly over ripe bananas
  • 1 egg beaten
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour

Preheat oven (180°C). In a mixing bowl combine mashed bananas ( simply with a fork when really ripe), oil, egg, vanilla and mix.

Then add sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Mix all to finally toss in the flour and combine.

Pour the batter in a greased and floured baking pan (10″) and bake for 45- 50 minutes. Start checking from minute 40 until a wooden pick comes out clean.

Allow to cool before removing from pan!

banana loaf

Whether for breakfast or afternoon snack, this is your ticket for anytime of the day. All the family favor this banana loaf  ve.

banana loaf

If you wish for individual parcels, just bake it in the muffin tray and enjoy!

banana loaf

If you like to join me to the fun and see more of these delicious recipes, follow this blog and like marmite et ponpon facebook page. Happy reading!

 

15 minutes nutellissimo brownies!


nutella banana brownies

 

This easy and fast recipe will make you stand up on your feet now and go to the kitchen to prepare these inviting nutella banana brownies. Am sure you will find the ingredients home:

  • nutella jar (350g)
  • 3 eggs
  • 15 tbsp flour
  • 2 medium bananas

For the ganache:

  • 200g dark chocolate
  • 200g heavy cream

Mix nutella, eggs and flour and bake in a greased pan for 10 minutes, in the middle rack (180ºC). I used a square pan (18x18cm)

Let it cool before laying the banana slices on top and cover it with the chocolate ganache.

nutella banana brownies

How we make chocolate ganache:

Put 200g of dark chocolate into a large heatproof bowl (must first be chopped into small pieces so that it will melt evenly). Bring 250 ml of cream just to a boil over medium-high heat or put for 3 mns in microwave; pour over chocolate. Let stand 10 minutes.

Stir the mixture very gently, incorporating the cream steadily, without overworking. The mixture should begin to appear glossy.

Let it cool for 20 mns in the fridge before using it.

nutella banana brownies

For a beautiful presentation, decorate the top with edible flowers. I am taking advantage of being in lebanon where i find flowers at my ease.

nutella banana brownies

Personally i find banana pairing beautifully with nutella, but if you are not fond of banana you can replace it with strawberry or pineapple. It tastes also wonderful

nutella banana brownies

These beautiful red flowers created an attractive contrast! Fruits and flowers work like magic. The more colors you have on your plate, the more inviting your dish can be. It’s not a secret that we eat with our eyes first!

nutella banana brownies

Brownies are best served with a perfect round ice cream scoop as Salma, my sister in law says! She is right 🙂

nutella banana brownies

 

Yesterday, I baked this beautiful cake at my in laws, they are chocolate lovers, and here is the proof!

nutella banana brownies

Am sure this cake will not live longer than couple of hours if you are nutella lovers. Sahtein 🙂