Old fashioned goodies...

Amongst all the fancy food that we can create, eat and imagine these days, the different varieties of panna cotta, fancy names we call simple food, the mix of east and west, different types of sauces for pastas, and food for every person's desire, there is always going to be a soft spot for the old fashioned goodies... so we're back to basics today... and may I present you the very reliable chocolate chip muffins and banana and cinnamon bread.

Sometimes, and to sound very sentimental, it's the good old fashioned things, that last... that suit every person's palette... who can ever find fault with a chocolate chip muffin or banana bread? Okay, unless you really dislike those ingredients... but let me tell you, even if you dislike chocolate or banana, you will love the aromas that fill your kitchen when you bake these babies! I am not kidding... it's unexplainable... it's like you feel so comfortable, so homely and for me, very excited that my kitchen, was filled with the good old fashioned aromas. Whilst I have to admit that these muffins (From Nigella Lawson) were not the best - I have to tweak it for next time round - you honestly cannot help but smile when you take them out of the oven. Too bad for my kids next time, they will never be allowed to eat a store-bought muffin!!!



Why do I love banana bread? I just do! I have a soft spot for them... when I saw the recipe I couldnt wait to try it out! Let me describe this...now, these were extremely heavenly.... the whole living and kitchen area was embedded and showered with the aroma of bananas... my kitchen smelled like a bakery... I think what I love about cooking and baking is that it makes the house a home, the kitchen more than just a storehouse of pots and pans, but just totally alive!

When I was in Sydney last year for work, there was this small cafe at the bottom of the building next to mine that made EXCELLENT banana bread... and honestly it is the best I have tasted... in between toast and a moist bananan cake... they toasted it and spread it with a thin layer of butter... I looked forward to work each morning, knowing there was going to be banana bread and a cup of coffee :)

Whilst my banana bread last night was more like a cake, it was still very good, just not bread like enough.. although I'm going to tweak it to suit my taste buds, like my brother reckoned it could do with bananas (Im not sure it is possible! It seems saturated enough!), and I added a bit of milk due to my paranoia of dry cakes, and I think the sugar could be decreased.... and perhaps I would just put a couple of pinches less cinnamon, this was good... Best served as a thick slice! Im not sure the picture actually captures this, but whilst not as good as the Sydney one, it was certainly not bad!