White chocolate banana cake

Versiunea in limba romana: Prajitura cu banane si crema de ciocolata alba

Delicious banana cake with white chocolate cream. I adore banana cakes, breads, muffins... Besides, it is the most delicious way of "getting rid" of the very ripe brown bananas :) This recipe is from Magnolia Bakery (New York) and I loved it. I worried it might be too sweet, as it sometimes happens with American cakes, but my worries proved wrong. It was a smashing hit for family and friends! It is also quite impressive as a dessert, so everybody asked us what we celebrate :) Surprisingly light and fresh for a banana cake with chocolate. If kept in the fridge, the icing becomes crunchy.

Delicious!

375 g flour + 1 tbsp baking soda + 3/4 tsp salt + 1/2 tsp baking powder
115 g butter, softened, room temperature
400 g sugar
3 big eggs, room temperature
4 ripe bananas, mashed
6 tbsp plain, full fat yogurt or buttermilk
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Decoration: raspberries, hazelnuts
Heat the oven at 160 degrees Celsius. Prepare two round baking trays (23 cm and 28 cm diameter, removable bottom); use butter then flour or baking paper.
In a bowl mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt. In another bowl mix the butter until you get a soft cream. Slowly add sugar, mixing well, until the cream becomes fluffy. Add the eggs, one by one, mixing well after each. Add the mashed bananas, then half the flour and mix well. Add the yogurt and vanilla, then the rest of the flour and mix well again. Divide the batter between the 2 baking trays. Take your time to mix very well all the ingredients, every time, and you'll have a delicious cake.

 Bake for 40 - 50 minutes, both baking trays at the same time. The baking tray that will be lower in the oven might need 10 more minutes in the oven. Test if the cake is baked: insert a toothpick in the center of the cake and if it comes out clean, the cake is ready. Let it cool in the tray.

 After complete cooling, place the cake with the 28 cm diameter on a cake plate and put the white chocolate cream on top.

 Place the second cake on top then "dress" it all in white chocolate cream, including sides.

Decorate with raspberries, hazelnuts (unsalted).

White chocolate cream & icing

500 g mascarpone cream, room temperature + 6 tbsp butter, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
250 g  withe chocolate (melted over boiled water, then cooled to room temperature)Mix well, on medium speed, the butter and mascarpone. Add vanilla and mix well. Add the melted chocolate and mix well. Use imediatelly.

Delicious!

Warm wheat with almonds & fleur d'oranger

Versiunea in limba romana: Mic dejun sanatos si delicios: grau aromat cu fleur d'oranger si migdale

Ever since Yolanda posted on her  blog the Creamy whole grain wheat with caramelised orange peels & coconut chips recipe, I've been thinking about this delicious breakfast. Friday I finally bought whole grain wheat. My cupboard was stuffed with all kind of seeds, coconut, walnuts, almonds and fleur d'oranger.  In the evening I put the wheat in water. I fell asleep thinking of my delicious, healthy breakfast next morning...

I woke up and happy entered my kitchen. My kids welcomed me so warmly, that I started to think something happened... Actually, they made a surprize. They squeezed all the oranges and made lots and lots of fresh orange juice. All the oranges..."It's fresh, mom. It's pure vitamin C" :) 

I could not give up. The wheat was waiting nicely, but I had no oranges. My kids love citrus taste, so I replaced the oranges with lemons. Yum and fresh! 

I followed all the steps in Yolanda's recipe, but, again, my kids stepped in. They wanted to chose the seeds and nuts for their porridge, so they played with walnuts, grated apple, almonds, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, coconut flakes and sun flower seeds. Breakfast was delicious, fresh, a bit lemony... A lot lemony :)

Full of energy, we went outside and played in the snow. Great snow fight  ♥

I'll repeat Yolanda's recipe as she posted it, with oranges. I keep thinking of caramelized orange peel... I have wheat now... I'll hide 3 oranges :)

1 cup whole grain wheat

2 lemons (juice + thinly grated zest) + 4 tbsp brown sugar + half a glass of water
3/4 cup of milk 
2 tbsp sweet cream + 1 tbsp honey + 2-3 tbsp fleur d'oranger water
1 grated apples
2-3 tbsp raw almonds (put it for 15 minutes in hot water, then take the soft brown shell of and crush it with the knife) 
Your choice of:  walnut, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, coconut flakes, sun flower seeds, raisins, etc.
In the evening put the wheat in cold water. In the morning, change the water and let it stand for 1-2 hours more.

Mix the following ingredients: lemon juice and zest, brown sugar, water. Bring to boil, then let it simmer for 20 minutes. Drain the wheat, add it to the lemon syrup. Add also the milk. Let it simmer  for 10 minutes, until the wheat absorbs most of the liquid. Add the honey, fleur d'oranger water, sweet cream, almonds and grated apple. Add your choice (or all): walnuts, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, coconut flakes, sun flower seeds, raisins, etc.

Delicious, lemony, wonderful breakfast!