Chocolate Banana Loaf

Ingredients 

Dry Ingredients 

All purpose flour 6 cups

Cocoa powder 1 cup

Baking powder 6 tsp

Baking soda 1 tsp

Salt 1 tbsp

Cinnamon powder 1 tbsp

Instant coffee 1 tbsp

Wet Ingredients 

Sugar  2 cups

Oil 1 cup

Butter 1 cup at room temperature 

Milk 1/2 cup

Thick yogurt  1/2 cup

Eggs 6

Mashed bananas 7 heaped cups

Toppings

Walnuts 1 cup

Skor bits 1 cup

Chocolate chip 1 cup

Pecans 1 cup

You can mix all these and then divide into four portions for each loaf or just use one topping per loaf.

Method 

Preheat your oven at 350 f.

Butter and line 4 loaf pans. 

Sift all dry ingredients well.

Mix wet ingredients till it looks homogeneous. 

Pour dry ingredients over wet and mix using a spatula.

Divide the batter into loaf pans.  

Spread the toppings on the batter.

Bake for 45-50 mins on middle rack. To test the doneness,  insert a toothpick in the loaf. If it comes out dry and clean, your loaf is done.

Let rest in the pan for 20 mins then slide onto a baking rack using the parchment lining to cool down.

Note: 

Do not cut immediately.  Let it sit for another 30 mins before slicing or it will crumble.

Once cool to touch , you can wrap the loaf in plastic wrap and freeze for a couple of months. Thaw on the counter for a couple of hrs before serving.

Lemon Cake

I love to simplify the recipes specially when it comes to baking. It's a turn off for me when it involves multiple dishes/bowls to be used for one. Not that anything is wrong with those but I am probably too lazy.

Citrus is a favorite flavor at home, be it an ice cream or a cake. Smell of fresh lemons inspired me to whip up this simple yet flavorful,  light and fluffy cake. No creaming of ingredients and complicated recipe, here is how I made it.

Ingredients 

Flour 1.5 cup
Butter 1 cup (at room temperature)
Sugar 1.5 cup
Baking Soda 1/2 tsp
Baking Powder 1 tsp
Lemon juice 1/4 cup
Sour cream 1/4 cup
Milk 1/4 cup
Lemon zest 1.5-2 tbsp
Eggs 2
Vanilla a tsp
Salt 1/2 tsp

Method

Turn the oven on at 350 while you prep the cake batter.
Mix all wet ingredients in one bowl , add sugar and mix using a whisk. 

Sift all dry ingredients and fold in the wet. Grease a 8 inch square pan or 9 inch round. Line it with parchment paper/baking paper.

Pour in the batter and bake on the middle rack for 45-50 mins. Insert a tooth pick in and if it comes out clean your cake is done. 

Transfer to a cooling rack. Wait for at least 30 mins before you slice it.

Notes
You can replace cream with coconut milk for an extra flavor note.
You can add icing if u like. Two tbsp of lemon juice plus a cup of icing sugar. Add more juice if needed and drizzle over the cake once its cooled.

You can use vegetable oil to replace butter.