Made With Whole Wheat Flour
I have been out of the blogging radar for so long. As my friend, Katie, rightfully said, “blogging and summer just don’t seem to go together”. I fully agree with her because I have not posted anything new since the 16th of June. I sit back and try to wonder what I have been doing for almost two weeks but I can’t really tell you anything tangible. I guess it’s just the normal ups and downs of life and the usual changes we keep on experiencing within our families.
Last week my daughter graduated from Grade 8. You can imagine how all the Grade Eights in her school were so excited. They are finally going to high school. It was funny when the Principal reminded them that they are going to move from being the most senior (in Elementary School of course) to being the most junior in High School. The last day of school was filled with tears and hugs. You can visualize not being able to see your best friend on a daily basis as you used to, before. But as we always say “life must always goes on, for better or for worse, in happy or dull moments, in busy times and in times of vacation.
So much for the graduation stint and buddies and tear-filled-moments. Life must go on: so here I am, grudgingly trying to refocus my mind and get used to the blogging routine but I tell you it’s very hard. I have been at this post since morning. I hope I finally post it and get back to a blogging routine (it will probably, be a lazy routine) but a routine all the same!!!
Today I want to share with you a recipe for: Banana Strawberry Bread with Chocolate Chips, made with some wholemeal flour. The cake was very good, while it lasted. I hope you enjoy it, if you ever try to make it. To Canadians: wish you all a Happy Canada Day, to our buddies in the US, wish you the best of the summer holidays. Enjoy those special bonding moments while they last. HAPPY SUMMER HOLIDAYS TO ALL!!!!
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Please always make sure you assemble all ingredients before you start.
Sift flour, baking powder and baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)
Cream butter, vanilla essence and sugar with an electric mixer
until light and fluffy.
Add the first egg and beat until combined,
Add the second egg and beat until combined.
Stir in half the bananas with half the sifted flour and then Stir in remaining banana, and remaining sifted flour, stir until combined.
This is what the mixture should look like after adding all the flour and banana
Fold in strawberries and chocolate until just combined.
This is what the final mixture should look like
Spread mixture into prepared pan (loaf tin). (I tried being fancy and arranged strawberries on top, but it didn’t work, they all sunk into the cake, don’t bother trying that.) Bake at 360°F (180°C) for about 50 minutes to one hour (I baked at360°F (180°C) for one hour). Stand for five minutes before cooling on wire rack.
I decorated the top using strawberries, after all, it’s a strawberry cake!
Then sliced it as soon as it cooled…
Then enjoyed it with a cup of tea..or was it coffee??
I wish I could hand you a slice…
I really enjoyed eating this cake. Hope you enjoy it too!!!
Banana Strawberry Bread with Chocolate Chips
Preparation time: 20 minutes; Baking time: 50 minutes Makes: 8 slices
Ingredients:
- 125g (1cup, 4½oz) all-purpose (plain) flour
- 125g (1 cup, 4½oz) whole wheat flour (I used Five roses specialty flour)
- 5ml (1 teaspoon) baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)
- 5ml (1 teaspoon) baking powder
- 125 g (½ cup, 4½oz, 1 stick +1 tablespoon) butter
- 5ml (1 teaspoon) vanilla essence
- 180g (¾ cup, 6½oz) sugar
- 2 eggs
- I cup mashed bananas (3 bananas)
- 1 cup chopped strawberries
- ½ cup chocolate chips
Ingredients
- Grease a 14cm x 24cm (5.5” x 9.5”) loaf pan, preferably with shortening (white shortening fat). Line the base and sides with parchment (grease-proof) paper.
- Cream butter, vanilla essence and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs, one at a time, beat until combined.
- Stir in half the banana with half the sifted flour. Stir in remaining banana, and remaining sifted flour), stir until combined.
- Fold in strawberries and chocolate until just combined. Spread mixture into prepared pan. Bake at 360°F (180°C) for about 50 minutes to one hour. Stand for five minutes before cooling on wire rack. Serve with butter.
- **I weigh the flour and butter, I do not use cup measures as the weight of a cup of flour tends to vary based on individual interpretation or publication, (from 125g to 13og to 155g per cup).
- Cup measures based on 1 cup = 125g flour so that would be the US cup of 240ml, not the Australian Cup.
Points to Note:
- Please note that oven temperatures are given as a guideline only. You may need to add or reduce the suggested temperature depending on your oven. I baked the banana bread at 360°F (180°C) for one hour.
- I always weigh ingredients, especially the flour and butter. You can use cup measures, but please note if you scoop flour directly from the bag you will end up with 150-185 g of flour instead of the recommended 125g. I suggest you spoon the flour into the cup, heaping it up over the top, then slide a knife across the top to level off the extra. Be careful not to shake or tap the cup to settle down the flour or you will have more than you need. You can also sift the flour first then scoop. My best advice: please use a weighing scale.
myfavouritepastime.com
My Favourite Pastime 
I have to make this for my boyfriend, he LOVES strawberries! Thanks for sharing!
I loved eating it. It’s one of my favourite cakes. I hope your boyfriend will enjoy it as much as I did. I keep my fingers crossed for you. Wish you a very pleasant day!
looks yummy )
and tastes very yummy too. I enjoyed reading your poems and I loved looking at the photos that go with them too! Have a lovely weekend!
This looks absolutely delicious! Going to have to print out the recipe and try it myself! Thanks for visiting me and for following 🙂
Thanks for visiting too. Enjoy the cake and please give me a feedback, if you can. Wish you a lovely week!
Looking at all your amazing recipes I am realizing how little time I am spending behind the computer lately. Why do summer days seem so short 😉 Loving looking at all your amazing dishes and reading your lovely stories!
I was away for almost three weeks. Now I’m just forcing myself to post but I must admit I have to put triple effort to get anything done, sometimes I actually have to go to the library to complete a post. Thanks so much for being here. I wish you a lovely summer!!
Going to the library – maybe I should try that. (But to be honest I have accepted that until the fall I will be a bit of a slacker)
Don’t feel guilty or pressured, just enjoy your summer. Blogs are always there, summer comes but once a year! have a pleasant day!
Wise wise words! And yes I am living life to the fullest with all its ups and downs. Hope you are having a happy wonderful weekend!
Hi Afra,
so nice to have a glimpse of you and to know you’re living life to the fullest. I’m having a fantastic weekend. The temperatures have cooled down, windows and doors are open, a soft breeze is flowing in….what more can I want? Wish you a happy weekend. I’m so glad to see you!!!
Looks delicious!!!!
And tastes delicious. Thanks for visiting! Wish you a great weekend!
How lovely! I need to make this.. do you think I could substitute the strawberries with raspberries? Maybe cook them first if they are too tart?
Yes you could substitute strawberries with raspberries and you don’t need to cook them first. Please try and let me know the result. Thanks for being here. and enjoy the rest of your week!!!
Hey Liz!
I was just browsing through the blogs to find this kind of recipe & I am happy that I found exactly what I was looking for! Yes! I made it already 2 timers & each time loved it! MMMMM it was! X😊
Thanks so much for making this, not just once but twice, you’ve made my day. Hope you liked it. I wish you a happy week!
😜
Ooh this looks delicious! I bet my kids would love it!
My kids loved it. So I bet yours would love it too. Thanks for popping by and have a wonderful week!!!
What a beautiful blog–really a pleasure to visit. Wonderful work! And this look just yummy.
Thank you so much for the kind complimentary words. Hope you will visit more often!!!
I certainly will–your blog is refreshing and gorgeous-looking!
Thanks. Look forward to seeing you! Have a lovely week!
🙂 You too!
Hey Liz… Thanks for swinging by and liking my recent post! Have a great week!
Hi Frances,
I’m so glad to see you after such a long time. I have been a bit busy doing other things but will soon get back to the blogging rhythm. Thanks for stopping by and for your friendship too!! Have a lovely week!
This looks pretty yummy! You’re totally right though. Summer is too hot here for cooking and baking. You really can only get SO excited over a salad.
Ha, that was then, now our summer has virtually turned into spring. It has been raining for days, no sunshine I have just had soup for lunch and it was delicious!!! Have a nice weekend!!!
Looks just marvellous! I want a bite! 🙂
I think you can just have a bite. Thanks and have a lovely weekend!
it is 11pm in the UK and am hungry I could do with some of this cake… with a nice cup of tea…
Perhaps I can send you some via the blogosphere, if only it were possible. Thanks for visiting at 11pm and have a lovely weekend!!!
Firstly, it’s beautiful!
I am definitely making this; I’ll let you know how it turns out! (Thank you so much)
Please let me know if you make it. Thanks so much for stopping by and have a lovely week!!!!
Liz, I swear to you that I feel like grabbing several pieces of this bread and eating them right now. Wow. I can’t wait to try this recipe. Thank you for sharing it with everyone.
Thanks for liking it. Hope you will have time to try it and if you do, please enjoy it, like I did. Thanks for stopping by my blog and wish you a wonderful week!!!!
I have a friend who once told me he wants a cake with banana, chocolate and strawberry, and I thought ‘such a weird combination’. But your bread totally changes my opinion now, I’ll bake this the next time I see him & will let you know ^^. Btw this looks so yummy, and strawberry is just perfect this season.
Thanks. Your friend must have read my mind…It was very delicious, I really liked it. Try it and send a slice to your friend. Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely week!!!
Liz i so want a slice now …..its so tempting as usual ur photographs are super.
Have a lovely Sunday and happy summer holidays
I wish I could e-mail you a slice right now. Thanks summer holidays are good. Have a wonderful week!!!
Strawberries and me are not so good friends but I might give this a try. 🙂
I love strawberries, I love all fruits. You should give it a try sometime!. Have a pleasant week!
Yes, I will. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Just popped over as I realised I hadn’t visited in a while. Once again we’re doing parallel baking – just made a banana loaf myself, but not so indulgent as yours – I love the choc chips in there and don’t think I’d EVER have thought of adding strawberries – scrumptious! I bet this went some way to cheering up your daughter?
Ha ha nice to know you made a banana bread as well. I always have lots of bananas going black every once in a while so I have to find way of using them. I hope you have posted. I’m on my way to look at it now. Thanks and have a wonderful week. Yes she enjoyed eating the cake and I did take her out for a long weekend!!!
OMG .. .what is with that 8th grade graduation! lol….we never had that growing up. My daughter will have hers coming in a year.
And … I should eat your cake up before I don’t feel like it lol….nevertheless…as usual, your photos are fantastic!
And….who is this Katie friend of yours that is telling you lies, lies, lies about blogging and summer?!?!? lol
*huugggss*
I am so sorry I was away celebrating Canada Day. My weekend was full of dancing and fireworks…
My friends son graduated from Kindergarten three weeks ago, and they were all dressed up, in graduation gowns and hoods and caps…the world is undergoing transformation. And thereafter, the grade 8s had a dance…yes we had to pick them later.
And this Katie friend of mine is right here. You were right about summer, it now takes me days to respond to messages. Thanks for stopping by, thanks for your friendship and Bear Hug for you!!!
I have just been to your blog….I am thinking about you now and will keep on hoping for the best. Thanks again for leaving this message despite all. You have a lot of courage. I admire your strength and determination. Take care!!!!
Congratz on your daughter’s graduation, Liz! 😀
Banana cake! It must be centuries ago since the last time I made one! (Classic treats tend to make me feel old and replay all those sweet memories in my head. Sometimes it’s hard to believe I am still twenty something years old. LOL)
I wonder if I can use caned strawberry for this recipe. I got one in my kitchen. A friend bought me one during the Chinese New Year. (It was the time of the year when we get to buy imported food in my hometown, such as water-chestnut)
Hi Hari
Sorry I was away in Ottawa celebrating Canada Day, and I wanted a real break so I didn’t carry my computer with me. Thanks so much for your congratulatory message. Enjoy your life while you’re still twenty something. I think you can use canned strawberries, but just make sure you drain them. And let me know how it turned out for you! Thanks so much for visiting my blog. Have a pleasant week!!!
oh my does this looks good!
And tastes good too. Thanks for visiting my blog. Wish you a fantastic week!!!
It look yummy. Pls givme one. HAha!!
Thanks for being here. Have a lovely weekend!!!
WIth bananas, strawberries, chocolate how could this bread be anything but delicious? It certainly looks good! Thanks for sharing your recipe and congrats to the graduate! What a day that must have been for her.
Hi John,
Thanks for being here. I thoroughly enjoyed eating this cake, while it lasted. The graduate is very excited about going to high school. It was a great day for all them and the parents too. We took many photos…. Have a fantastic weekend. I shall be away for a few days but will visit your blog sometime, midweek. Best wishes!!!
Wow looks delish. Can’t wait to try it!
It tasted delish too. Have a great weekend!!!
This looks so, so delicious! I love the way you’ve complied your ‘making of’ photographs. Just beautiful, from ingredients to plate! Congrats to your daughter on her year 8 graduation. I still remember mine. Such a milestone!
Hi Laura,
Long time no see, glad to see you after a long spell. Summer is here (it’s been raining continuously for two days here) Thanks for the compliments, for the congratulatory message. Yesterday many of the year 8s were in the local mall being bought gifts by their parents. Have a lovely weekend and thanks for stopping by!!!
I definitely agree, it’s been a long time. Too long! Hope that you had a gorgeous weekend too xx
All my favourite fruits packed into a bread! Yum! Congrats on your daughter’s graduation 🙂
HI Sabrina,
Good to know that we have the same taste. Thanks for congratulating me on my daughter’s graduation. Have a wonderful weekend. Just seen the carrot cookie cake!!!
Liz
I wish I had some! It looks so good… /drool
I wish I could give you a slice through the internet. Have a lovely weekend!!!! Nice to see you after such a long spell of silence!!!!
Hubby has whole 3 weeks off work, so I am hunting for some new recipes to try out during this time. I think this bread just made a short list.
The bread is happy to have made the short list. I enjoyed eating it. It’s a lovely combination of flavours. Enjoy your recipe try outs. I’m sure you’ll have great fun. Thanks and take care!!!
Yuum! Not sure if there is any better combination than banana, strawberry and chocolate!
Absolutely delicious. I really enjoyed eating it. Have a wonderful weekend!!!
This looks like deliciousness! Your photos and flair for food art are just fabulous. It’s always a sad time when the children move on into new schools, and I sometimes think it is just as hard on the teachers. My niece is a teacher in elementary school and she is almost heartbroken at the end of school. Enjoy your summer and do not feel bad for taking time for yourself and your children. Bloggers will always wait and look forward to your return when you feel ready.
Thank you so much for your kind words and continued friendship and support. The Grade 8s’ and their other colleagues had a hard time saying goodbyes. It was such a sad moment. The teachers felt it too and even the bus drivers too. Parting is always a sad moment for everybody. Enjoy your summer too, I shall be blogging sporadically. You are right blogging can always wait. I also look forward to chatting with you once summer is over. Thank you so much for your kindness and friendship. Take care and wish you the best of summer and a Happy Canada Day!!!!
Looks delicious!
and tastes delicious, enjoy your weekend!!! Ours is full of rain, been raining cats and dogs since morning!!!!
This is going on my to do list. Looks amazing. Have a great weekend.
Have a great weekend too. This is a long one for us. We are celebrating Canada Day on Monday. Thanks for stopping by!!!
Have a great long weekend then. Take care.
The weekend was awesome, full of fireworks and dancing. Hope you had a lovely weekend and I hope the week started well for you. Enjoy the rest of the week!!!
Have a lovely week. I’m glad you had a great time. I had a lovely weekend thanks, we finally got some proper sunshine here. About time!
Lucky you. Our summer here, has turned into spring. It’s raining every single day, even now it’s drizzling continuously. I have been a bit lazy this week but hope to get back into serious blogging by the end of the week. Have a lovely week!!!
Excellent! Lovely recipe and great presentation.
I was just wondering as to where you vanished 🙂
Sorry I missed this message amongst a pile of messages. I am on and off right now. It’s summer time so sometimes I blog and sometimes I just forget about blogging and enjoy the summer!! (it comes only once a year!) thanks for stopping by!
I have a fave banana bread recipe, however I must try this recipe with the strawberries. Sounds delicious. Have a great summer and if we don’t see you too often, or at all, it will be a happy reunion in September!
September it will be although I shall be blogging sporadically. Have a great summer too and enjoy Canada Day!!! Thanks so much for being here. Best wishes!!!
Could i have that fav banana recipe please??? thanks!
Sure, it’s actually a banana cake from the cookbook Second Helpings. Would you like me to post it in the comments?
Oh yes I can grab it from there. Thanks so much and have a wonderful weekend!
No problem, I’ll get that done by Monday hopefully. Have a great holiday weekend!
Take your time. I shall be away till mid next week and will not be back to active blogging until mid July. Take care and thanks for everything!!!
OK Liz, sorry it took me so long. Here is the recipe as promised. It comes from the “Second Helpings Please!” cookbook by the Mt. SInai chapter (Montreal) of the Jewish Women International of Canada. This cookbook is in every bookstore in Montreal and sells out all the time. I’m on my third copy from using it so much!
Sour Cream Banana Cake:
-1/2 c soft butter (I use Becel)
-1 & 1/4 c. sugar
-2 eggs
-1 tsp Vanilla
-1 tsp baking soda
-1/4 c sour cream (let it get close to room temperature)
-1 c mashed (very) ripe banana.
-1 & 1/2 c flour
-1/4 tsp salt
Beat butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla until light and fluffy. Dissolve baking soda in sour cream. Add to batter and beat well. Add bananas alternately with dry ingredients. Mix just until blended. Pour into prepared 9″ square baking pan. Bake at 350ºF for 45 to 50 minutes.
There you go, I hope you enjoy it =)
I shall definitely make it, sometime this week. Thank you so much for taking so much trouble to make this recipe available. I really appreciate. I wish you a fantastic weekend!!
It was my pleasure Liz, I hope you enjoy it. I hope you too have a wonderful weekend.
This looks good! Funny thing too, I just made a whole wheat quick bread this morning, hopefully posting later today or tomorrow. I know summer can be crazy, hope you manage to enjoy yourself too! Have a great weekend.
I look forward to seeing your whole wheat quick bread once posted. Summer is crazy but it’s only summer on the calendar, it has been raining non-stop the last two days. Good for the lawn but not for me as my BBQ is out on the deck. Have a lovely weekend. We have a long one and shall be celebrating Canada Day on Monday. XOXO to the little boys!!! liz