Irrestible Banana Bread

Ingredients

220g plain flour

1/2 teaspoon of baking powder

75g caster sugar 

80g brown sugar 

1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus extra for decorating

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract 

2 eggs

125ml vegetable oil

3 mashed bananas 

Demerara sugar, to decorate 

chopped walnuts, to decorate

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 160C.
2. Grease a loaf tin and line with greaseproof paper.
3. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, both sugars, cinnamon and vanilla extract. 
4. Make a well in the centre, add the eggs, vegetable oil and the mashed bananas and mix until combined.
5. Pour the batter into the loaf tin. Sprinkle cinnamon, Demerara sugar and walnuts over the top.
6. Cook in the oven for 60 minutes.

Quick Breakfast Smoothie Bowl

Ingredients 

1/2 Mango

8 Strawberries

2 Frozen Bananans, chopped

Handful of Granola

1 teaspoon of Chia seeds

1 tablespoon of agave nectar

1 teaspoon of cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

1. Blend the frozen banana until it becomes a smooth paste.  This may take some time and look powdery but keep blending it magically turns smooth.

2. Add the cinnamon and cocoa powder and stir throughly.  Place into a large bowl.

3. Chop up the fruit and place over the banana ice-cream. 

4. Place the granola over the ice-cream.

5. Sprinkle over the chia seeds, and drizzle over the agave nectar. 

How to grown your own vegetables

Part 1: Potatoes

Anyone can grow potatoes, even if you are living in the city and don't have a garden!  

There is something quite special about growing your own organic produce, harvesting and then eating.

I've used the plastic potato sacks (3 in a pack with carrying handles … reusable) from the garden centre.  You could use a thick black bin liner, an old tin drum etc.  Just make sure there is drainage holes.  Seed potatoes are available from the garden centre, spring to autumn.

• If you plant the seed potatoes in intervals, 4-6 weeks, you can harvest over a longer period.
• Each shop bought planter is suitable for about 5 seed potatoes.
• Line the planter with good quality potting compost to 4cm.  Place the seed potatoes with the shoots facing upwards and cover with a further 6cm of potting compost.
• Keep the soil damp but not waterlogged.  Feed with a high potash/ low nitrogen feed.
• If there is danger of frost, then cover with a fleece until this has passed.
• When the shoots have grown 7cms high add another layer of compost,  so it covers the tips by a couple of CMS.  Continue to do this until the shoot are CMS above the planter.
• Now leave the plant to grow.  Watering when its dry but not too saturate the soil. Feed as before, periodically.
• The plant should produce small flowers and once these have died then then potatoes are ready to harvest.  
• Some varieties don't flower but start to die off.  Just feel beneath the soil to see if there is any hidden treasure… there probably is so its time to harvest!
• Tip the bag out, collect your treasure and wash.
• Wash out you bag, if you used a commercial one and plan your Maris Pipers for Christmas lunch.
• I've just planted mine today. (27 Aug 15)