Christmas in the Fro

I'm pacing about the oven agin, protecting my babies. Some would say this is my default position in the kitchen Oven protector. So to distract myself from whatever is going to or not going to rise in the oven i shall post.

Traditionally the Johanknect  Tree is more decoration than tree.

Father Christmas is a little hairier too

Where's the rest?

So i was meant to fill a tree. The thing is i've met my match, paper stars eh. I've managed to finish one but it was a mission, i'l leave the origami for the masters i think.

Banana bread with rum infused sultanas and pomegranate walnuts

I haven't put many recipes up yet. Its not because i don't have them, i'm just trying to perfect the balance of flavours and ingredients. I've been working on this banana bread for neigh on a year. I found that the slightly nutty taste of rye flour goes well with bananas. I eat this so much i thought i'd try a healthier version with sunflower oil instead of butter and a little agrave syrup instead of sugar. Bananas are so sweet you don't really the sugar anyway.

The last time i made a banana bread i forgot to add the walnuts and sultanas, so just sprinkled them on top. The walnuts toasted and the sultanas caramelised. I've added to this by infusing the sultanas in rum and adding pomegranate molasses and maple syrup to the walnuts. This way you get a lovely variety of textures.

Its ready.

Sultanas

• 30g sultanas, 1 cap of rum, 2tbsp water
• Heat the sultanas gently with the rum and water until the liquid is absorbed and then set aside.

Walnuts

• 60g walnuts, 1tsp maple syrup, 2 tsp of pomegranate molasses.
• roast the walnuts for two minutes at 175 degrees centigrade. Then rub off the skins when cool as they are bitter. Add the syrups and coat well.

Banana Bread

Ingredients

•   3 bananas mashed roughly with a fork
•  ½ tsp vanilla essence
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon, pinch of nutmeg, 
• 100ml sunflour oil, 
• 3tbsp agrave syrup
• 2 beaten eggs
• 100g self raising flour
• 40g sifted rye flour (don't keep the larger rye flakes left in the sift)
• 20g ground almonds
• 1 tsp baking powder

Directions

• Mash the banana roughly before adding the vanilla and spices.
• Add the sunflower oil and beat well.
• Add the agrave followed by the beaten eggs and mix well.
• Sift in the flours and baking powder and mix lightly (too much mixing at this point will make the cake tough).
• Stir in the ground almonds and pour into a tin (14 by 24 cm) coated with greaseproof paper.
• Top with the walnuts and sultanas.
• Bake for 40 mins at 175 degrees until a knife comes out clean.

Word play

Heres my companion to the 'Happy original series', thanks.

Again with a floral print.

Fresh on the court

The superfro's have a new basketball kit. Thanks Dunkenstein, Clyde and Pearl for our inspiration. Fresh on the court.

For my beautiful supplier

I have a supplier. Currently my sustenance consists of pomegranate molasses, giant couscous and sumac. Quite possibly i am working on the best recipe i have made. A signature dish i hope. Roasted sweet potato, pomegranate molasses, chestnut, mushroom and ginger gyoza. Its been a while since i made gyoza but its coming back.

Sweet

Stripping

I don't normally do requests, so i guess this is a favour. Its december decoration time and i'm looking at a classic. A star. I'm not going to lie stripping paper takes a while and small hands would be advantageous. Unfortunately my hands are not small.