Banana, Macadamia Nut & Coconut Cake

I’m pretty excited that this is the first time I’m hosting  The Home Bakers (THB)event  organized by Joyce of Kitchen Flavours . We’re actually baking from Lou Seibert Pappas’s cookbook – Coffee Cakes . Well, I’ve chosen this recipe just coz my hubby loves coconut & the only coconut recipe that I can find in the cookbook was this Banana, Macadamia Nut & Coconut cake .  And another ingredient that intrigues me in this recipe was olive oil .  I’m sure by now , most of you know how much I love to try innovative recipes ! LOL  This is a lovely moist , soft  & flavourful banana cake .  I’ve tried both olive oil & canola oil for this recipe & I must say that olive oil does makes the difference .  The first time that I baked this cake a couple of weeks ago, I’ve used a 20cm cake pan .  And this time round I wanted to make them into muffins & topped with few slices of bananas, sprinkle cinnamon sugar .  I’ve reduced the sugar to ½ cup & replaced sour cream with crème fraiche .  As for the muffins I’ve baked them at 170°C & only for 25 minutes .  Well, to my disappointment that it doesn’t look as presentable as it should be .  Well, no worries, you will find more lovely bakes of this delicious cake from all the wonderful THB members HERE . So do hop over & enjoy 

Banana, Macadamia Nut & Coconut Cake

Recipe from Lou Seibert Pappas ( Coffee Cakes)

Ingredients for a 20cm (9-inch cake)  or 12 muffins

2 cups unbleached all purpose flour

½ teaspoon salt

2 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

¾ cup dark brown sugar ( I’ve added  ½ cup)

1 ¼  cups mashed bananas ( about 2- 1/2 large bananas)

2 large eggs

½  cup sour cream ( I’ve used crème fraiche)

2 tablespoons dark rum or amaretto liqueur

1/3 cup extra –virgin olive oil ( best with mild buttery one) or canola oil

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

½ cup sweetened flaked coconuts

½ cup chopped macadamia nuts or pecan halves

1 tablespoon granulated sugar mixed with 1 tsp ground cinnamon

Directions:

1)      Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F) . Greased & flour a 20cm (9-inch) springform cake pan or muffin tins.

2)      In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda & brown sugar. Stir well to blend. 

3)      In a blender or food processor, combine bananas, eggs, oil, rum or amaretto, sour cream with vanilla & blend till smooth. 

4)      Stir in coconut till well combined. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Sprinkle evenly the chopped nuts. & cinnamon sugar over the batter. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes till golden brown & a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Let to cool. 

Jane Austen moment in Persuasion

Chapter 12

There was too much wind to make the high part of the new Cobb pleasant for the ladies, and they agreed to get down the steps to the lower, and all were contented to pass quietly and carefully down the steep flight, excepting Louisa; she must be jumped down them by Captain Wentworth. In all their walks, he had had to jump her from the stiles; the sensation was delightful to her.  The hardness of the pavement for her feet, made him less willing upon the present occasion; he did it, however.  She was safely down, and instantly, to show her enjoyment, ran up the steps to be jumped down again. He advised her against it, thought the jar too great; but no, he reasoned and talked in vain, she smiled and said, "I am determined
I will:" he put out his hands; she was too precipitate by half a second, she fell on the pavement on the Lower Cobb, and was taken up lifeless! There was no wound, no blood, no visible bruise; but her eyes were closed, she breathed not, her face was like death.  The horror of the moment to all who stood around!
Captain Wentworth, who had caught her up, knelt with her in his arms, looking on her with a face as pallid as her own, in an agony of silence. "She is dead! she is dead!" screamed Mary, catching hold of her husband, and contributing with his own horror to make him immoveable; and in another moment, Henrietta, sinking under the conviction, lost her senses too, and would have fallen on the steps, but for Captain Benwick and Anne, who caught and supported her between them.
"Is there no one to help me?" were the first words which burst from Captain Wentworth, in a tone of despair, and as if all his own strength were gone.
"Go to him, go to him," cried Anne, "for heaven's sake go to him. I can support her myself.  Leave me, and go to him. Rub her hands, rub her temples; here are salts; take them, take them."