Baking adventure # 1

Yeah, we baked a cake. After getting comfortable with cooking vegetables, mastering perfectly round chapattis, I decided it was time to try my hand at baking. I feel cooking is just like walking – you take one step at a time.

My hubby has been gifted with a sweet tooth. We have a Fresh Market right across the street and I have a tough time every time we go there. First, he spends at least 15 minutes staring at all the desserts. Then he wants to buy everything. When I decline, he literally behaves like a five-year old, looks all sullen and sad. Finally, I have to drag him away from the store. I promised him that I will make something that he always feels like buying from the store – a banana nut cake.

I bought a few things that are common in almost all the cakes – vanilla extract, baking powder, baking soda, and confectioner’s sugar. I also bought different baking pans (this costs around 2$ each in the Dollar Store),a measuring cup, and a blender. With this, I was all ready to start my first baking adventure. Here’s the recipe (adapted from here) for a wonderful banana nut cake:

Banana Nut Cake

Ingredients
Wet ingredients
1.2 ripe bananas
2.6 Tbs. melted butter
3.1 tsp. vanilla extract
4.2 large eggs

Dry ingredients
1.1-1/3 cup all purpose flour
2.1/2 tsp. baking soda
3.1/4 tsp. baking powder
4.2/3 cup sugar
5.1/2 tsp. salt
6.1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Method
1.Combine and whisk together all the dry ingredients except for the walnuts.
2.Mash the bananas, melted butter, and vanilla extract together.
3.Lightly beat the eggs together.
4.Mash the banana mixture with the eggs until smooth and well blended.
5.Pour the banana mixture onto the dry ingredients. Add the walnuts (reserve some for adding on top of cake).
6.Thoroughly mix all the ingredients.

7.Apply butter on all sides of the baking pan. Sprinkle some flour.
8.Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
9.Sprinkle some walnuts on the batter.

10.Bake for 55 minutes at 350°F.
11.Insert a wooden toothpick or knife in the center of the cake. It should come out clean.
12.Cool the cake for ten minutes.

13.Remove the loaf from the pan.
14.Wrap in plastic and store at room temperature for 4-5 days.


Verdict: The cake turned out absolutely Y-U-M-M-Y. While the cake was baking, our whole house was filled with its delicious smell. I and hubby were so excited, that we were opening and checking the oven every 7-8 minutes. The cake soon started disappearing before our eyes.
This is a wonderful snack for tea-time or a nice dish to serve your guests.