Banana and chocolate chip mini muffins - baby led weaning treat

I'm lucky enough to still see all the mums and babies from my antenatal classes that we attended prior to my oldest little person, and today I'm having them all round, as one if the mums is due another little person in a few weeks.

When having a gathering of little people and adults in can be difficult to decide what to serve. Obviously my favourite limoncello mini cupcakes are out, and so is anything with chocolate - toddlers and my cream couch don't mix - I learned that one the hard way! 

So I'm making my old favourite mini chocolate and banana muffins. 

Very easy to do, and healthy - as far as cakes go!

Also freezable!

Ingredients

• 2 ripe bananas mashed
• 100g chocolate chips
• 75g caster sugar 
• 100ml milk
• 1tsp baking powder
• 200g Self raising flour 
• 2 large eggs
• 100g butter 

Method 

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan 160°C/gas 4. Line 2 x 12 hole mini-muffin tins with small paper cases, or use  silicone tins. Melt the butter in a small pan and leave to cool slightly. Peel and mash the bananas.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the milk, sugar, eggs and melted butter.
3. 
   Sift in the flour and baking powder and add the banana and chocolate. Using a large metal spoon, fold everything together until combined but don’t over-mix.
4. Divide the mixture between the muffin cases and bake for 25 minutes until risen and golden. Leave to cool on a wire rack.

Bread Machine Banana Cake

What to do with those soft, nearly black bananas?

I have made this recipe so many times, with my old faithful bread machine. The bread machine I was desperate for, for my wedding, but everyone said I would never use it, and I do - all the time!

This is the easiest cake recipe ever!

Ingredients

• 260g (9 oz) plain flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 150g (5 oz) caster sugar
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• 2 bananas

Method

Throw everything in the bread machine, turn on dough setting for 10 mins, then bake setting for 1 hr 10 or until a skewer comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

I often make this for friends, I've given it to a friend who hadn't long had a baby and today I'm taking my little person to a play date and bringing it along too, goes great with a nice cuppa.

I've also made this with kiwi.

Enjoy 

Coconut macaroons

Well I was sorting out the food cupboard as hubby used my last tin of tomatoes, as he couldn't see the 3 jars of pasta sauce! So I figured it was time for a tidy, and I found 3 packets of desiccated coconut. I wish I could remember the reason I kept buying them, I'm sure I was making something tasty at the time, but I've completely forgotten. 

Anyway every Pesach my mother in law kindly brings us macaroons, so thought I'd figure out to make them and share the recipe.

Ingredients 

• 300g dessicated coconut 
• 200g caster sugar
• 3 egg whites 
• 1 tsp vanilla extract 

Method 

• In a bowl over a pan of water mix together the eggs and caster sugar until the sugar is dissolved and is a frothy consistency.
• Take off the heat and add coconut and vanilla extract
• Mix thoroughly 
• Place in the fridge for 30 mins to firm up 

There seems to be a few ways to mould the mixture, egg cups, hand, spoon, I actually used an ice cream scoop!

• Place on parchment paper on a baking tray
• Cook until brown and crisp - about 10-15 mins at 200 degrees 
• Cool on a wire rack 

We're off to friends for dinner tonight, so I'm taking some in a gift bag, hope they like it