Around Here

Around here I haven't taken as many photos over the last few weeks and find after I do my "Week in the Life" photo project I tend to have a little break from taking photos.  My WITL 2018 photo book arrived from America and I love it.  I have to go back and complete 2013 and 2015 and turn the photos into a photo book but at least I have taken the photos.

I have recently joined "Old Brisbane Album" facebook page where people post old photos of Brisbane and if they can a current photo of the same thing.  I've seen lots of tram photos and old Brisbane City Council buses when they were orange back in the day and it reminds me how important my "Week in the Life" project is by documenting everyday life.  The clothing, the cars, the buildings you can really tell what era a photo is and while life today might not seem that interesting in 20 years time it will be.  It's been such a great page to join and a lot of it has been a trip down memory lane for me.

This Friday the kids are on school holidays so it will be nice to spend more time with them not having to rush out of the house each day for school.  It's hard to believe we are at the end of half way through 2018 already.

Here's a link to some recipes that might be of interest over the school holidays.

These are amazing Raspberry Lemon Muffins, more like a cake really but 100% delicious.

Best bread roll recipe ever and they are so light and fluffy.

Swedish Meatball recipe which is so tasty and 100% better than Ikea meatballs.

Our very famous Chicken & Leek pies that the kids love.

Five Seed Bread which the kids love and Sienna made this a couple of weeks ago and it's more of a "Toast" bread so yummy and healthy for them.

This is my Mother In Law's recipe and amazing...Apple Slice recipe.

Our home made pizza base recipe.

Black & White portrait.

Our friend's dog will be visiting again over the holidays while his family are away.

Good old Aussie Kookaburra

My tween-ager.

Healthy Banana Bread Recipe

I've previously written about a fantastic Banana Cake Recipe here which is sweet and delicious but has lots of sugar and is a cake vs bread recipe.  We usually make this cake to take camping and it always goes down really well and is a 10/10 recipe.

Lately for school lunches I have been making this healthy Banana Bread recipe which has been great for using up those bananas that are at the bottom of the crisper.  I make this, then cut it into slices and freeze them in individual zip lock bags and then into the freezer.  On school mornings I can grab the packets out and pop them straight into the school lunch boxes.  The kids don't like butter with their Banana Bread however I love spreading some real butter on my slice with a coffee for morning tea.  I forgot to take a photo this afternoon before I cut it up and put it in the freezer so I'll settle for a coffee picture.  If you use the link below to the original recipe you can see a picture of the cooked Banana Bread.

HEALTHY BANANA BREAD RECIPE (posted on Cookie + Kate)

I like to type out the recipes on my blog because I've found over the years when blogs shut down I lose the recipe, so I have the link and also post it here for myself.

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup of melted coconut oil or extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup of honey or maple syrup
2 eggs
1 cup of mashed ripe bananas (approx 2 large bananas)
1/4 cup of milk
1 teaspoon of baking soda (NOT baking powder, they aren't the same ie bi-carb soda)
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon sale
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 and 3/4 cups white whole wheat flour
Optional - 1/2 cup of mix-ins like chopped walnuts

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 165c or 325F.
2. Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
3. In a large bowl, beat the oil and honey together with a whisk.
4. Add the eggs and beat well.
5. Mash the bananas and add to the bowl.
6. Add milk and whisk.
7. Add baking soda, vanilla, salt and cinnamon and whisk to blend.
8. Stir in flour until just combined.  Some lumps are okay.
9. Pour batter into greased loaf pan and sprinkle lightly with cinnamon.
10. Bake for 55-60 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
11. Let the banana bread cool in the loaf pan for 10 minutes.
12. Transfer to a wire rack to cool for 20 minutes before slicing.

I can highly recommend this recipe and I have been making it as my go to recipe to use up the old bananas.