Home baking on a budget

If you fancy doing a little bit of home baking on a budget, and you don’t like a lot of washing up, this is the perfect recipe for you.

Its all whizzed up in one bowl and makes enough for a large loaf tin ( approx 12 good slices).

The Step Up group at Carrickfergus Cookery School , Carrick YMCA, were surprised how easy it was to make and I was surprised how quickly it disappeared off the plate!

Banana loaf cake

100g softened butter

175g caster sugar

2 large eggs

2 ripe bananas (mashed)

225g self raising flour

1 tsp. baking powder

2 tbsp milk

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180C / Fan 160C / Gas 4.

2. Lightly grease a 2lb loaf tin, then line the base and sides with baking parchment

3. Measure all ingredients into a mixing bowl and beat for about 2 minutes, until well blended

4. Spoon the mixture into the tin and level the surface

5. Bake in the pre-heated over for about 1 hour, until well risen and golden brown. A fine skewer inserted in the centre should come out clean if the loaf is ready.

6. Leave to cool in the tin for a few minutes, then turn out, peel off the parchment and finish cooling on a wire rack.

COOKS’ TIP: Decorate the banana loaf with honey icing and pecans : Sieve 25g icing sugar into a bowl and mix in 2 tsp clear honey with 1⁄2 teasp cold water.

Drizzle zigzag fashion over the loaf and arrange a line of pecan halves down the centre.