Although my work requires me to be in front of the computer most of the time, writing at this hour in the night, is something else. Sipping a cup of Chai latte while writing this post at this wee hour is somehow therapeutic. I am more of a tea person and I guess it is only because I can’t stand the taste of coffee. I am the only odd one out in the family as everyone else likes coffee. In fact, I do not take those desserts too which has coffee in them, unless the presence of the coffee is almost negligible, coffee ice cream included. Imagine ME saying no to ice cream.
As I am writing this post at 2 am, I am also ushering Monday. So after 2 days of play, we are back to work. Monday’s are hard for most people. Mondays means waking up to reality as we return to the stress and demands of our daily lives, especially when it comes to work. Monday means separating yourself from your cozy bed as early as 6 am, getting breakfast done and ferrying the kids to and fro from school. Many of us live for the weekend because it is a time to rest, go shopping, watch a movie or have lunches with friends. I have seen people literally cursing Mondays. Monday, it is hard being you. It is not fair to be just next to Sunday, yet all the love and focus is on Sunday only. I feel you baby. *hands on heart*
I am personally not someone that detest Mondays. I guess my jobs have always been pretty much chilled out on Mondays. When I was a full time baker, I used to bake like crazy over the weekends and I looked forward to Mondays very much, as that is when I get to hang my apron and keep my feet on the coffee table, not literally though, as my mom would start a speech as to how a lady should sit. The way a lady should talk, walk, behave, yes my mom is that kinda mom. Not complaining though. The Forex market is usually pretty placid on Mondays; most of the time at least. I guess that is why I rarely wake up cranky on Mondays. Furthermore how can I be cranky when I usually have yummy leftovers in the fridge from the bakes over the weekends, not forgetting the leftovers from dinner too. Leftovers from last night dinner = a better morning. Leftovers = love. Imagine waking up to a bowl of aglio olio that you cooked for dinner the night before? Pop it in the microwave and 2 minutes later, brunch is served!
“Leftovers in their less visible form are called memories. Stored in the refrigerator of the mind and the cupboard of the heart.”
My weekend was pretty fruitful I have to say. I worked on some orders, made chocolate mousse, cleared the closet and did a mega breakfast for my family too. Yes, my weekends usually does not involve any movies, or shopping, lunch etc but I am contented with Amazon. <3. I prefer to shop using my fingers. Anyways, the highlight of the weekend was the breakfast I prepared for my family on Sunday. My eldest brother loves to go out for breakfast whenever he is not working. I specifically told him that I would be fixing breakfast on Sunday and he agreed to stay home without any push. I am not a morning person, I guess he realized that the next breakfast I am gonna fix on a weekend would be 367 days later, so saying no would not be right. No I am not lazy. Every Wednesdays I make sandwiches at 6 am for everyone in the household. Why on Wednesdays and why at 6 am, we will save that for another day. So I told my brother that I am serving breakfast at 10 am but at 10.20 am. I was still flipping pancakes. My brother came to the kitchen and he jokingly said “This branch of McDonalds works slower than the rest, it seems.” My reply was “I guess the faster branch doesn’t serve you caramelized bananas along with your pancakes?” The look on his face, showed me that he knew he should never mess with his sister who is always more witty than him. *Flips hair* So yah, I also made frittata filled with peppers, onions and tomatoes and baked potato filled with tuna. I was on a roll that morning.
Pancakes are the perfect wake me up breakfast. Usually I would make pancakes using Nigella’s recipe and I decided to give Gordon’s a try this time, sans the rum. Waking up early in the morning is already a chore and if I were to consume even a drop of rum, I might just stay drunk the whole day. Yeah yeah, you guys must be muttering that a “splash” of rum won’t make you drunk. You guy’s dunch know me.
Gordon’s Buttermilk Pancakes with Caramelized Bananas is really delicious and the pancakes were fluffy. I have had good results with Gordon’s recipes most of the time. Jamie remains my favorite though. Sorry Ramsay, Jamie is just cuter.
- 100 g Plain Flour
- 1 teaspoon Baking powder
- Fat pinch of fine sea salt
- 80 ml Buttermilk
- 50 ml cold Water
- 2 large Eggs beaten
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 4 large, just ripe Bananas sliced length-ways
- 50 g caster sugar
- 50 g salted butter
- Sieve the flour, baking powder and salt into a large mixing bowl and make a well in the middle.
- Whisk the buttermilk, vanilla and water together.
- Pour the eggs into the middle of the well, followed by a good splash of the buttermilk mixture.
- Gradually start to incorporate the flour into the wet ingredients, by whisking from the middle and working your way outwards until you have a thick but smooth paste.
- Now start to add the rest of the buttermilk mixture, adding just a little at a time and whisking thoroughly between each addition, until you have a smooth and lump free batter.
- I prefer to use a non stick pan as I do not have to grease the pan. Wipe the pan with kitchen paper to grease the base of the pan evenly with oil, if you are not using a non stick pan.
- Pour a small ladle of the batter into the pan for each pancake. Cook for 1 minute until golden brown underneath, then flip over and cook for a further 30 - 45 seconds.
- Continue with the rest of the batter.
- Sprinkle the sugar into a heavy based non-stick pan and melt the sugar over a moderate heat. Once the sugar has turn to a mid-golden brown, stir in the butter
- Add the bananas and toss to coat in the caramel. Cook for 1-2 minutes until slightly golden and just tender.
- Place two pancakes on a plate and top with caramelized bananas and drizzle some of the caramel sauce from the pan.
- Perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.
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