Chocolate swirled Banana Loaf as my first entry for the Foodie Monday Blog Hop

Chocolate and banana make one amazing combination and to die for. And when I got to know the theme for the Foodie Monday Blog Hop as Microwave cooking I knew I had to bake this cake which was on my to do list since long.Starting from this Monday I am a part of this talented group of food bloggers who have included me in their group and I am one of the privileged few.This is the 30th Foodie Monday Blog Hop and the theme is Microwave cooking which includes not only cooking in Microwave mode but in Grill, Convection and Combination mode too.

There is something genuinely very therapeutic about baking.Whenever I am feeling low I turn to baking and have always felt the erratic negative energy fade away. Basically it is constructive and helps to focus and it's impossible to describe the immense amount of satisfaction that I get seeing my own creations.

This Chocolate swirled Banana Loaf had been in my mind for ages since the time I saw it in At the corner of Happy and Harried .Just one look at the chocolate and banana treat is enough to say that it won't stay in the cake tin for long. Its a nice way to use the ripe bananas sitting on the kitchen counter. Its a lovely teatime cake and perfect for picnics too.

 This marbled chocolate banana loaf has zero butter and the addition of oil and buttermilk keeps it moist and soft and makes it comparatively healthy.I doubled the measurements to make some swirled cupcakes in addition to the loaf for my little one's lunch box.I am planning to pipe the cupcakes with ganache next time I bake these for my children's tea parties once the holidays set in.

Ingredients
1 3/4 C. All purpose flour
2  large Eggs
1/2 C Safflower ,Canola or any refined Oil
1/3 C Buttermilk
1 C Brown Sugar
1 tsp Baking Soda
1C  2-3 Mashed Bananas
1 tsp Vanilla extract
3 Tbsp Dark Cocoa Powder
1/2 tsp Salt

Method

• Turn on the microwave to Convection mode.Adjust the temperature to 170 deg C.Pre heat the oven to this temperature and grease a loaf pan and line with a parchment paper.
• Sift the flour, soda and salt together in a bowl and keep aside.
• In a mixing bowl beat the eggs,oil and buttermilk together till well mixed and creamy.
• Add the mashed bananas, brown sugar and vanilla and mix till combined.
• Add the sifted dry ingredients to the batter and mix till just combined.
• Remove 1/3 rd of the batter in a different bowl and mix the cocoa powder with it and mix well.
• Pour spoonfuls of both the batters alternately in a loaf pan and with the help of a skewer or knife make a few swirls along the batter making sure to go down till the base of the pan.
• Bake for 40-45 minutes or till a skewer or toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Am sending this delightful chocolate swirled banana loaf to the 30th Foodie Monday Blog Hop for the Microwave Cooking Theme.

And to Sarah of Maison Cup Cake and Helen of Casa Costello for their weekly event Bake Of the Week.

Banana and Walnut Loaf and .....an award

Before my marriageI knew how to rustle up a basic meal,thanks to my mom who being a career woman had made sure of the fact that we know how to take care of ourselves when she wasn't available.My experience of baking cakes during those times was just limited to a plain vanilla cake made in the round oven which evoked admiration from the uncles and aunties who visited our house and gave me a sense of confidence and achievement.
When I embarked on the amazing journey of marriage ,I had the oppurtunity to learn lessons and gain areas of expertise and one of these was cooking.These ten years in the defence forces where socialising and parties, with an array of mouthwatering and appetizing spreads play an important role,where I met those incredible ladies apt at burning the candle at both the ends and I knew I had to perform to thrive here.With the passing years these cooking expeditions have become pleasurable and satisfying and the kitchen has become an integral part of me, my domain, my personal space.Baking and icing is still an area that I haven't ventured to a great deal except for the occasional cakes ,pies and tarts thatI have tried my hand at.Now that I have a nice big oven and blog friends who are experts in baking I am going to experiment with the complicated and intricate stuff.
Today I am going to post an easy ,moist and aromatic banana walnut loaf which I normally bake for my tea parties and my daughter's lunch box. This recipe is adapted from the well known chef Sanjeev Kapoor's TV show "Khana khazana".
Bananas are a rich source of vitamin c, potassium and iron and low in sodium,cholesterol and fats.Each banana is packed with minerals which are necessary for bones and great for the development of growing children.
Walnuts are a delicious way to add nutrition ,crunch and flavor to a dish.They are rich in omega 3 fatty acids and help in lowering the LDL( bad cholesterol).

You need:
3/4 cup plain flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
3 eggs
1 cup butter
2 bananas mashed
1/2 cup walnuts chopped
1 cup sugar powdered
1 tsp ground cinnamon
A pinch nutmeg(optional)
1 tsp vanilla essence
2 tsp baking pwdr

Method:
1.Cream butter and sugar till the mixture is fluffy.
2.Sift all the dry ingredients together.
3.Add the eggs one at a time,beating well with each addition.
4. Add the mashed bananas and stir gently.
5.Now add the sifted ingredients portion by portionwith the gentle cut and fold method.
6.Lastly add the vanilla essence and walnuts and stir gently.
7.Pour the mixture into a greased and lined loaf pan and bake in a pre-heated oven at 180 deg C for 30-40 mins,or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

I have been passed on the Excellent award by DK of Culinary bazaar.Thanks a lot Dk for considering me,I am overwhelmed...a second award within 4-5 days:).Isn't this an achievement?I pass on this award to these blog friends for their talent,their friendly demeanor and their excellent recipes and beautiful presentation.

Sunita of Sunita's world
Shn of Mishmash
TBC of The Budding Cook
I know you all have these awards already but it would mean a lot to me if you accept this from my side.