Blueberry cake

The farmers markets in summer are such a riot of colours! Just walking past it inspires me to make all kinds of fruit compotes, berry muffins, sangrias, mojitos and ratatouille. Wow! I love summer - well, who doesn't!

So I picked up some blueberries - they have to be my favourite berry - they aren't too tart and go excellent in any dessert. I am thinking cheesecake, muffins, pies, cobblers, shortcakes ... quite an endless and mouthwatering list.
Since berries have a very short shelf life, I decided to use them up in a cake while they are at their best. Sure you could use frozen blueberries too - just remember to thaw them. So herez how its made.




2 cups flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract(Since we don't get vanilla extract, I used vanilla beans this time. Usually I use vanilla sugar)
1 egg
3/4 cup milk
1 cup blueberries
I don't use a mixer for this recipe, so its important to whip the egg nicely, and sift the dry ingredients. Mix the wet and the dry ingredients, and then gently fold in the blueberries. Pour to a greased cake tin, or better a silicon one. Bake at 400 for 35-40 minutes. Do the usual test - if a toothpick comes out clean you're done. They are great when served straight from the oven, and had with coffee. Share

Baileys, Mars and a banana

Bailey's Irish Cream, Mars chocolate bar, a ripe banana, butter. Now you can't possibly go wrong with that.

So this morning I woke up earlier than my usual weekend time - I was wide awake at 7 am! It's just a weekend thing - you can't sleep on Friday night, 'coz its Friday night. And since weekends are always sooooo small, I try (trust me I do try) to wake up early on weekends - just so the day seems bigger :)
So hubby and I went to the farmers market in the morning - ate some rustic looking butter bread with cranberries from one of the stalls for breakfast, came home and wanted to try something new, different and decadent. This one is mentioned in the Baileys website, and herez how it's made.




Heat up a tablespoon of butter (the more, the better, you could add 2), slice a banana lengthwise. Toss the banana in the butter, and let it cook until you just start getting a nicely golden brown colour on it. While thats browning, start melting a bar of Mars in a heavy bottomed pan on low heat. Once its gooey, remove from heat, let it cool a bit, and then add in 1 and half tablespoons of Baileys Irish Cream. Mix it so you have a sauce like consistency. Drizzle it over the cooked banana, and dig in! As you can probably tell, this combination is heavenly! Share

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson on a food blog? Sorry but I am overwhelmed with shock and some of the (horrible) jokes that I read on him on the net. I couldnt quite resist posting this.
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The web is abuzz with people talking in disbelief, shock and sadness over the sudden death of the legend. I am suddenly finding myself questioning my opinion of the 'Wacko Jacko', as I used to refer to him. In fact, as I watch his 'Earth song' on TV, I am feeling awful even using that moniker. I mean, think about it - you have a childhood of abuse from your own father at home, a childhood full of the pressure of performing, thats all you do since age 5 - at an age when you'd rather have friends than fans, ..
At age 30 you build yourself a fantasy land from Peter Pan rather than a home with a spa, gym, or your usual boys toys. It all is just crying out loud of a life that is confused, lonely, deprived of childhood and normality. But the world, your age and your fans demand something more star - like, gracious and normal. A fragile mind not equipped to handle his issues made him an escapist. It showed right from some of his songs to the multiple surgeries from changing his colour, his nose, his chin, cheeks, eyes etc.
Eccentric, bizzare, pedophile, mannequin. I'd rather remember him as the Thriller, 'Moonwalk'er, the King of Pop. Michael Jackson, you would be missed. Share