Recipe : Chocolate Banana Cake

Chocolate Banana Cake 

This combines the sweetness of ripe mashed bananas with cocoa powder and to make it even more chocolately, the cake is frosted with a smooth and creamy Chocolate Ganache. This would also be the perfect cake for family gatherings as it feeds up to 16 people.

Chocolate Banana Cake is a snap to put together. Fifteen minutes is about all you need. It is more like a quick bread in that you do not use a mixer, just two bowls - One for the dry ingredients and one for the wet ingredients. The two are then mixed together. The fat is in liquid form, which gives the cake a wonderful moist texture and tender crumb that keeps the cake soft even when refrigerated. As far as the type of oil to use in this cake, you may use canola, but safflower, vegetable, or corn oils are also good. The frosting is a Chocolate Ganache, which is a French term referring to a smooth mixture of chopped chocolate and heavy cream. While it is often poured over a cake or torte for a smooth and shiny glaze, this time it is whipped so it becomes a nice thick and spreadable frosting.

How to Prepare:

·        Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) and place rack in the center of the oven. Butter, or spray with a non stick vegetable spray, a 9 x 13 inch (23 x 33 cm) pan. Set aside. 

·        In a large bowl whisk together the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

·        In another large bowl, whisk together the eggs, mashed bananas, water, milk, oil, and vanilla extract. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir, or whisk, until combined. You will notice that the batter is quite thin. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.  

·        Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack. When completely cooled, frost with the Ganache.

·        Ganache: Place the chopped chocolate in a medium sized stainless steel, or heatproof bowl. Set aside. Heat the cream and butter in a medium sized saucepan over medium heat (can also be heated in the microwave). Bring just to a boil. Immediately pour the boiling cream over the chocolate and allow to stand for 5 minutes. Stir until smooth. When Ganache has completely cooled, beat until soft and fluffy (I use a wire whisk). Then spread the frosting on top of the cake. Can garnish with dried banana chips.

Ingredients:

·        2 cups (400 grams) granulated white sugar

·        1 ¾ cups (245 grams) all-purpose flour

·        ¾ cup (75 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder

·        1 ½ teaspoons baking powder

·        1 ½ teaspoons baking soda

·        ½ teaspoon salt

·        2 large eggs

·        1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 medium sized bananas)

·        1 cup (240 ml) warm water

·        ½ cup (120 ml) milk

·        ½ cup (120 ml) corn, safflower or canola oil (or other flavorless oil)

·        1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Chocolate Ganache Frosting:

·        8 ounces (227 grams) semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, cut into small pieces

·        ¾ cup (180 ml) heavy whipping cream

·        1 tablespoon (14 grams) unsalted butter

Nutrition Information: Per serving Calories: 117 Carbohydrates: 23g Fat: 3g Saturated Fat: 2g Monounsaturated Fat: 0g Protein: 2g Cholesterol: 0mg Dietary Fiber: 2g Potassium: 277mg Sodium: 14mg           

Serves 16 people. Prep Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 15 minutes Level: Easy 

Meets These Guidelines: Healthy Weight Heart Healthy Low Sodium Low Cholesterol             
Low Sat Fat  Low Calorie

Recipe : Chimichurri Sauce

It is a sauce used for grilled meat. Originally from Argentina, it is also used in Uruguay and in countries as far north as Nicaragua, Colombia and Mexico. It is a tangy herbal accompaniment that can liven up any meat or poultry dish. Chimichurri is made from finely chopped parsley, minced garlic, olive oil, oregano, white or red vinegar, and red pepper flakes. Additional flavorings such as paprika, cumin, thyme, lemon, and bay leaf (laurel), and in the red version, tomato and red bell pepper may also be added. It can also be used as a marinade for grilled meat. Chimichurri is available bottled or dehydrated for preparing with oil and water. It is good for health.

Ingredients : You may try with the following raw materials

• 1 cup (packed) fresh Italian parsley
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup (packed) fresh cilantro
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled
• 3/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

How to prepare:

Chop parsley and garlic together on a cutting board until the parsley is finely minced. Transfer to a medium bowl, add vinegar, oil, salt and chipotle (or cayenne) pepper; stir to combine.

Nutrition Information: You can get the following nutrients per 2-tablespoon serving

Calories: 49 Carbohydrates: 1g Fat: 5g Saturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 4g Protein: 1g Cholesterol: 0mgDietary Fiber: 1g Potassium: 88mg Sodium: 149mg

Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin C (35% daily value), Vitamin A (25% dv).                 

SERVES: 4 PREP TIME: 10 minutes TOTAL TIME: 10 minutes  

IT MEETS THESE GUIDELINES:

Healthy Weight Diabetes Appropriate Heart Healthy Low Sat Fat  Low Cholesterol  Low Sodium Low Carb

Introduction

Dear Friends,
I am Shilpa and feel pleasure to put in my views, experiences and expertise by way of making presentation in various fields like recipes which I am learning while working with my mom, aprons which I designed when I had gone through the in-house training of fashion designing and still continuing as it is my passion, something about spirituality experiencing through participation in religious discourses and other whatever come to my mind and wish to present here.This I would like to do to use my spare time more usefully after having gone through a major surgery of brain tumor.
Hope that you will kindly go through and apprise me of your comments/reviews for further improvement.
Shilpa