Robyn's Banana Pancakes

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• Pinch of salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
• 2 bananas chopped
• Optional: honey, lemons, and oranges for garnish

 

Preparation

1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder and chopped bananas. Add the eggs, followed by the milk and 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil. Continue whisking until there are no lumps.
2. Heat an 8-inch frying pan until hot, and add the remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, tilting the pan to spread the oil across the bottom. When the oil starts to smoke, pour the excess into a small bowl for later use. Return the pan to the heat. You now have a sheer coating of oil remaining on the pan.
3. Pour 2 tablespoons of the batter into the pancake pan, tilting the pan to coat the bottom evenly. Cook until the underside of the pancake is golden brown, and then, using a spatula turn it over and cook the other side. Turn the pancake out onto an upturned dinner plate. Repeat until there is no more batter, using a bit of the reserved oil if the pan appears to be dry, or if the pancakes begin to stick. Continue to stack pancakes on top of each other on your dinner plate.
4. When finished, served the pancakes straightaway with the garnishes and the lemon and orange wedges on the side for squeezing on the pancakes.


First time we tried this recipe was: on Sunday, April 6th, 2014! Served as a treat before Nicholas' Tarragon Chicken and Roasted Veg.

 

Chocolate Tomato Happy Birthday Cake!

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cups AP flour (or 1 3/4 cups plus 2 T cake flour)
• 2 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup cocoa
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 can condensed tomato soup
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup oil
• 1 tsp vanilla

Icing Ingredients

• 2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature
• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• Optional: 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 

Preparation

• Sift together first 6 ingredients.
• Add next 5 ingredients, and beat on medium speed for 6 minutes.
• Pour into a greased and floured 9x13 pan or 2 round cake pans.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 mins. (start checking after 30 mins if making rounds)

 

Icing Preparation

• Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese and butter in large bowl until light and fluffy.
• Gradually beat in powdered sugar. Beat in lemon peel and vanilla. 
• Cover and refrigerate until just firm enough to spread, about 30 minutes.

First time we tried this recipe was: for Nicholas' birthday celebration on Thursday, March 20, 2014!

Tomato Soup Cake

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/3 cups sugar
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground allspice
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Tomato Soup
• 1/2 cup vegetable shortening
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup water
• optional: 1/2 cup raisins 

 

Icing Ingredients

• 2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature
• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• Optional: 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 

Preparation

Heat the oven to 350°F.  Grease a 13x9-inch baking pan.

Stir the flour, sugar, baking powder, allspice, baking soda, cinnamon and cloves in a large bowl.  Add the soup, shortening, eggs and water.  Beat with an electric mixer on low speed just until blended.   Increase the speed to high and beat for 4 minutes.  Pour the batter into the pan.

Bake for 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes.

Icing Preparation

Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese and butter in large bowl until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in powdered sugar. Beat in lemon peel and vanilla. Cover and refrigerate until just firm enough to spread, about 30 minutes.

First time we tried this recipe was: for a mid-way novel writing milestone celebration on Thursday, September 12, 2013 in Hammersmith. A Perfect Day.

A Perfect Day lyrics - Lou Reed

About Time movie and Ravenscourt Park walk.