Hello friends, how is it going?  I just came back after a long needed walk with my son.  We went to a park nearby, he played and I walked around.  It gave us both some fresh air and exercise.  Blessings of a summer morning.  We came home and enjoyed this delicious muffin.  This one is quite an interesting mix you will agree with me.  Read on if you don't believe.  Cheerios and banana; a breakfast by itself go in to make another, muffin.  Yeah! I thought incredulous too, but it's true. 

  As cliched as it may sound the truth is I have had Cheerios hatching in my pantry for a while.  It came easy, free from our local supermarket.  However, it's proved not so easy to feed my family.   Therefore, I had them all fooled with this ingenious concoction of mixing it up to make some spongy, melt in the mouth muffin.  The recipe is courtesy the 'Cheerios' site.



Ingredients:

Cheerios/ Any plain cereal- 1 cup
All purpose flour- 1 1/4 cup
Baking powder- 2 tsp
Brown Sugar- 1/4 cup
Granulated white sugar- 2 Tbsp
Mashed ripe bananas- 1 cup( 2 or 3 bananas)
Raisins- 1/2 to 1 cup
Walnuts (optional)- 1/2 cup
Milk- 2/3 cup
Vegetable oil- 3 Tbsp
Egg,lightly beaten- 1
Pure vanilla extract(optional)- 1 tsp



Method:

1.Preheat the oven at 400 degree F and line the muffin pan with paper liners or grease it.
2.Crush the cereal.Stir this with the flour,baking powder and sugar.
3.Throw in the other ingredients ,one by one and mix well using a wooden spoon.Do not overdo this step.
4.Spoon into the prepared muffin pan and bake for 17-18 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean.

Notes:

1.I haven't tried this with other cereal,but I guess it should work fine with the normal corn flakes and other plain cereal.
2.This recipe will give you 12 medium sized muffins.
3.You could replace the white sugar with brown sugar for a more healthy muffin.



Recipe adapted from : cheerios.com

Contributor: Namitha

        Hope the spring/summer weather is treating you well.  We are enjoying some beautiful, though humid weather here in the south of U.S.  After a brisk walk around the block and some 'tread milling' in the gym I am feeling quite good.  Apparently, I had a roaring hunger when I got back home.  Grabbing a couple of ingredients I made some pan cake for myself. Growing up, my mother made this once in a while.  It's one of those lazy day breakfasts that can be put together in a jiffy.  Load with butter and coconut I love it but now resort to a little healthier version.  They are not a fancy fare unless your taste is an earthy, old fashioned one.  I find the uneven curly 'ada' quite to my taste in looks and taste. Hoping you will enjoy it too here is today's recipe.
Ingredients:

Whole wheat flour - 1/2 cup
Banana                  - 2 small or 1 big
Sugar                    - 1 tspn
Salt                       - 1/8 tspn
Milk                      - 3-4 Tbspn
Coconut                - 2 tspn
Method
1. Mash bananas and mix together with wheat, salt and sugar and coconut
2. Add milk to make the batter a little softer
3. The batter is the consistency between a bread dough and pan cake dough
4. Heat a pan and spray a little oil
5. Ladle half of the batter into the tawa and spread using your fingers. 
6. To avoid the dough from sticking to your fingers dip you fingers in water and then slowly spread the dough to make a round cake
7. Cook on both sides till a lightly browned.



Contributor: Sunitha

Everyone in the family loves muffins; strawberry or banana muffins tops the list. Therefore, muffins have become a regular in this household.  Seeing that these two flavors are a hit and having some of both to spare, my mind went into overdrive.  I wondered what if I combine the two.  Ok, secret only for you: I had only a little of both but together they would just be the right amount to bake a loaf.  I gleaned the web and used some stored memory in my gray cells, and what do you know, I baked some delicious combination bread.  Try it to see the flavors blend in marvelously.

  Digressing from cooking, I wanted to tell you how spring has been treating me.  These days I am out in the yard either in the pretext of educating my son or mowing the grass or something else.  Whatever the excuse I make it a point to be out a couple of times.  Guess what fantastic sights I have been enjoying.  The other day I was out and about and lo and behold I spotted this sparrow working away within the pine tree.  I craned my neck a little and confirmed my doubts.  It was making it's nest!  Oh! the thrill of it.  I sneaked in and got my camera and clicked away.  Hmm... it was something else! I have updated a picture on facebook and if you would like a peek its here.  




Ingredients:

Strawberries (hulled and chopped)- 1 cup
Banana mashed -1 cup (~2 numbers)
Walnut (chopped coarsely)- 1/2 cup
Flour- 1 3/4 cup
Oats- 1/2 cup
Cinnamon- 1 tsp
Nutmeg powder- 1/8 tsp
Salt- 1/8 tsp
Baking powder- 1 tsp
Baking soda- 1 tsp
Butter/ oil- 1/2 cup
Eggs- 2
White granulated Sugar-3/4 cup



Method:

1.Preheat the oven at 350 degree F.Grease a loaf pan (9 by 5)
2.Whisk together the dry ingredients except sugar in a mixing bowl.
3.Beat the butter/oil and sugar until soft.
4.Add the eggs one by one and beat well to mix in.Also add the mashed bananas in and beat well.
5.Throw in the strawberry pieces into the flour mixture and toss well to coat the pieces.
6.Fold in the wet mixture into the dry one along with the chopped nuts.
7.Transfer to the loaf pan and bake for 45- 50 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean.

Notes:

1.I have tried both with butter and oil and both works fine.
2.If you wish you could add a little more fruit.
3.I read that this tastes best if you cut the loaf after 24 hours.I was never able to do it,though I had a couple of slices left on the second day and sure that tasted better.
4.If any of you happen to make this and let the loaf ripen before you cut, do let me know :-)




Contributor: Namitha

What do you do, if you have some over ripe bananas and some left over nuts? I would make some muffins that melt in my mouth for breakfast.
When did you have or see muffins for the first time? In India we get sugar loaded version known as cupcakes, which are far from healthy. This being my experience when I first moved to Germany, a few years back and my first travel outside India, I saw muffins and confused them for cupcakes. I thought it bizarre people eat cupcakes with their morning coffee. My curiosity got the better of me and I tried it myself. Instantly, realized why it was good to be served for breakfast. The muffins were sweet but just enough and the fruity flavor was apt to kick start my day. I was hooked. Among my many adventures with muffins I came across banana muffins with nuts and I was smitten.
Now I bake them regularly and thankfully the whole family shares my delight for muffins. I hope you will enjoy the following recipe too. It is simple, not too banana-ish, yet with a bite of nuts in between and healthy to boot. Now, tell me how you make banana muffins. I am waiting to hear from you.



Ingredients:

Butter-1/2 cup
Sugar- 3/4 cup(or 1/2 if you do not like sweet)
Eggs- 2
Really ripe bananas(large)mashed- 2
Cinnamon powder- 1/2 tsp
Flour- 2 cups
Salt- a pinch
Baking powder- 3/4 tsp
Baking soda- 1/2 tsp
Buttermilk- 1/2 cup
Walnuts- 1/2 cup



Method:

1.Mash the bananas well.
2.Sift the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda together.
3.Beat the butter and sugar until it is smooth and fluffy.
4.Add eggs one at a time and beat well to mix.
5.To this mix the cinnamon powder and beat in.
6.Finally mix in the buttermilk by beating well.
7.Fold in the flour mixture alternately with mashed bananas and walnuts.
8.Meanwhile prepare the muffin pan by spraying the cooking oil or by lining with paper liners. Preheat the oven to 375 degree F.
9.Spoon in the prepared dough into the muffin pan.(this gives you 18 std. muffins)
10. Bake for ~20 minutes or when a skewer inserted comes out clean.


Note:
1.This is just mildly flavored, banana muffins, just perfect for my family's liking.You could add one more banana if you wish.
2.This measurement is for 18 standard muffins or 12 extra large muffins. If you need only 12 muffins take only 1 1/2cup flour and change all the other ingredients proportionately.
3.This could be served warm or cold.


Contributor: Namitha

It’s freezing here! I need no excuse to bake, but when it gets cold like this, there truly is a need to bake. The warmth of the kitchen that smells of vanilla, chocolate and fruits is an irresistible combination.

Also, my daughter has been pressing me to keep some of my promises. I keep telling her I will bake this or that, and she never fails to remind me every so often. Therefore, here I am keeping some promises, enjoying the warmth and aroma of baking goodies, and telling you this is the way to go.

Ghiradelli chocolate chips, the king in this recipe. I have fallen head over heels yet again.

You don’t need an excuse to bake these, they are the excuse themselves.





I used some Ghiradelli chocolate chips this time.Oh boy ! they are really good :-)



Believe me, kids will just love this!



Ingredients:

Flour- 1 1/2 cup
Baking powder- 1 1/2 tsp
Baking soda- a pinch
Cinnamon- 1/2 tsp
Nutmeg powdered- 1/8 tsp
Salt- 1/4 tsp
Banana- 1 big mashed
Egg- 1
Milk- 3/4 cup
Vegetable Oil- 1/4 cup
Granulated sugar- scant1/2 cup
Chocolate chips- ~1 cup
Nuts, chopped (optional- 1/4 cup


Method:

1.Sift the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg and cinnamon powder.
2.Preheat the oven at 375 degree F and line a muffin pan with paper liners or grease well.
3.Using a hand blender mix together the sugar ,oil,egg,milk and mashed banana.
4.Mix in the flour mixture .
5.Fold in the chocolate chips and the nuts.
6.Fill the muffin pan 3/4th and bake for ~18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
7.Cool on a wire rack.





Contributor: Namitha

Good morning. Its a new week starting off nice and bright. The snow has melted away and the earth looks washed clean. I decided its time for me to clean my slate clean and start afresh too. I have made my most needed 'to do' list to get through this day. Cleaned my house where the laundry was looking like it will walk up to me. There is something about pattern and discipline I love, maybe its the fact that its so hard to get. But today is different I am loving it. Laundry is in the washer and carpets are cleaned soft and plumped. I feel like I am walking on air. With a song on my lips and happy flutter in my heart I am feeling generous. Here is a easy peezy recipe to get you into the zing of things.

The following recipe is an easy to make banana bread. There is no heavy beating once you have creamed your butter and sugar. Easy to do and gobbled down as easily. Its quite tasty. I have no flowery words to describe its taste. However, the matter of fact recipe is easy and if you have banana thats gone too dark that it will jump into the trash can on its own accord, salvage it. Peel off the black spotted banana peel and mash it up to whip up a quick bread. Now, you can use fresh bananas too it will work just fine. What I am trying to tell you is any reason is good engouh to bake this bread. Dig in it won't disappoint.

With wishes that you have a great day as I am having, I am signing off.


Butter - 1 Stick/ 113 gms 4 oz
All purpose flour- 2cps
Sugar - 1 cup
Bananas - 3 mashed
Eggs - 2
Baking soda - 1 tspn
Vanilla essence - 1 tspn

Mix baking soda in 1 - 1 1/2 tbpn water
2. Cream butter and sugar
3. Add all the other ingredients and blend together. You will only fold in no more beating to give a soft and moist texture
4. Bake at 375 D F for 35 - 40 minutes

Contributor: Sunitha

  After a roll this week with sinful desserts and pork, let's talk healthy today.  These muffins with oats and whole wheat flour is super soft and delicious.   Great in your tummy and yet gentle on your love handles.

   Don't mistake healthy to be dry flakes falling off the muffin.  No, far from it.  My little guy enjoyed it so much he finished a big huge muffin (huge- used relative to my 2 year olds size). And on a lighter note here is a snippet of dialogue we shared while I was making this recipe:

LM:     Muffin menam ( I want muffin) The words are distorted like when babies first start talking.  Like 'twain' for train etc.

I (Playing along in his child talk): eppo tharame..(Wait a second)

LM(Pouting his lips and giving me a wide eyed doll look): Veleelu vachittu matiye (Only after you have kept it outside)

I: Open jawed, hands on hips making a face at him.

  Did you get it?  He is teasing me! Yeah, the little one is growing up quickly in the teasing department.

  He says 'only after keeping it outside' because I cook and then run outside with it to the patio to photograph.  I do this little hip hop between stove - dish - patio - table thingy.   Therefore now, I am the butt of the joke even for my 2 year old!   Gosh! What do a being do when they have to blog and photograph and feed kids and not have them tease you!!%@%$#



Ingredients:

Brown Sugar- 1/2 cup to 2/3 cup
Oats- 1 cup
Whole wheat flour- 3/4 cup
Baking Powder- 2 tsp
Baking soda- 1/2 tsp
Salt- 1/4 tsp
Eggs- 2
Mashed bananas- 1 cup (3 med)
Vegetable oil/Any oil of your preference- 1/4 cup
Cinnamon powder(optional)- 1/2 tsp
Walnuts chopped- 1/2 cup
Low fat milk/Buttermilk- 1/4 cup



Method:

1.Preheat the oven at 350 degree F.Prepare a muffin pan by either greasing or lining with paper liners.
2.Crush the oats in a blender and mix it with the whole wheat flour,salt,baking powder and baking soda.
3.Beat the eggs and sugar to mix them well.Add oil and mix once more.
4.Spoon in the mashed bananas and cinnamon if you are adding into this and mix well.
5.Finally add the milk/buttermilk and mix again.
6.Pour this wet mixture into the dry mixture and fold in using a wooden/plastic spatula.Also mix in the walnuts in this.
7.Spoon into the prepared muffin pans and bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until they are done.



Notes:

1.This recipe gives you 12 standard size muffins.
2.You could add 1 tsp of pure vanilla extract if you prefer.
3.You could add more nuts if you wish.

Sending this to Champa's Bake off event

Recipe courtesy: Various Internet sites
Contributor: Namitha