… there’s a very funny episode of Friends where, for some reason or other, the gang are talking about how to explain to kids that a beloved pet has died and that the classic story to tell is that the cat has gone to live on a farm where it’s now chasing mice and chickens, living a happy and fulfilled life… as is always the case Ross remarks that it’s so funny because their cat actually did go to a farm to chase mice and chicken and of course Monica has to break the truth to him gently… well on Saturday we took Audrey The Cat to her new home, well I say ‘we’ but The Viking couldn’t quite handle the goodbyes and even though I told him it would only be au revoir he was wracked with mixed feelings of guilt and remorse at losing her so he very much stayed at home. To be honest it was quite an emotional event but I know that Elaine and George will give her a wonderful home and whilst these past couple of months have been fraught with anxious emotions over the welfare of the poor little beast, one hopes she’ll now have the chance to live a full and fun life for many many years, chasing mice and chickens… I decided we needed something sweet to help stifle the emotions a little…
banana date and lemongrass muffins
you’ll remember that a couple of weeks back I had a wonderful evening learning to cook asian food at the School of Wok courtesy of the gorgeous World Foods… one of the amazing dishes they served up to us was a sponge cake made with an entire pot of their incredible lemongrass paste. It was an impressive and innovative cake and was like nothing i’d had before. I was lucky enough to be given a pot of the lemongrass to take home and i’ve been wandering what to do with the stuff for a while now and then on Sunday evening I saw that Janice from Farmersgirl Kitchen had made some banana muffins and I was instantly inspired to make some too and whist routine around for the ingredients the pot of lemongrass almost fell into my hands and, like all eureka moments, the seed was sown…
… they don’t look like much but they were phenomenally good, getting more moist the longer we left them and fortunately for one of you lovely people out there you don’t just have to read about how good they were… you can be in with a chance of not only winning a pot of lemongrass but the entire range of World Food sauces and pastes… I know!… the range has a whopping 18 items and has the value of over £30 and includes: Thai Red Paste, Thai Yellow Curry, Thai Masaman Paste, Thai Panang Paste, Thai Basil Curry, Indonesian Fried Nasai Goreng, Malaysian Rendang Curry Paste, Singapeorean Nyonya Laksa Paste, Thai Tom Yum Paste, Thai Green Paste, Garlic Paste, Chilli Paste, Lemongrass Paste, Thai Sweet Chilli with Kaffir Lime Dipping Sauce, Chinese Ginger, Garlic & Chilli Dipping Sauce, Pad Thai Noodle Sauce, Thai Turmeric Lemon Grass Marinade, Malaysian Sweet Chilli Coconut Marinade
… all you have to do to enter is answer the simple question in the rafflecopter gadget below – good luck!
makes 12 medium muffins
8oz self raising flour
4oz butter
4oz brown sugar
4oz dates – roughly chopped
1 ripe banana – mashed
2 large free-range eggs
3 large tablespoons lemongrass paste
pre-heat the oven to 170C and line a 12 hole muffin tin with paper cases
in a large bowl use your hands to rub the butter into the flour and brown sugar, then add the mashed banana, lemongrass paste and eggs and mix together with a wooden spoon – the mixture will start quite dry and then very quickly turn into a wet batter
spoon into your muffin cases so that they are two thirds full and bake for 25 mins then set aside to cool
a Rafflecopter giveaway//widget.rafflecopter.com/load.js
//widget.rafflecopter.com/load.jseat and of course, enjoy!
Laura Denman says
I think it's cinnamon though it's quite hard to choose. It depends on my mood really but cinnamon is really versatile.
Sally Sellwood says
Favourite spice? Got to be smoked paprika. I use it in pretty much everything. Although not muffins, granted!
Tracey Peach says
Basil xxx
Jane Willis says
Probably cumin, I use it in dishes from all over the world.
Janice Pattie says
Aw, poor Viking and poor you. I'm sure Audrey will love chasing the mice and chickens 😉 Might as well have another go at one of your giveaways. My favourite spice is ginger.
Claire Toplis says
thyme
Craig says
I'm torn – smoked paprika or ginger? In the end I think it would have to be ginger – where would we be without it?
daisybeebee says
Cumin , love the taste and the aromatic smell.
winnie says
coriander 😀
Tracy K Nixon says
Basil 🙂
Dee says
Cumin – especially freshly roasted ones.
kj19 says
cinnamon I do loads of baking
Gill says
Easy – cinnamon!
Natasha Mairs says
mine paprika
Kim Neville says
Corianda
Anonymous says
Hard to choose but probably cinnamon
Hazel Rea – @beachrambler
Maggie Ali says
chilli powder!
Melanie Ed says
cinnamon as it is super yummy and can be used in sweet and savoury food
Catherine says
These would be perfect for breakfast with coffee. Catherine
freerangegirl says
Cinnamon – cinnamon in coffee, perfection!
Natalie Crossan says
Cinammon x
Louise Fairweather says
chili – but not too much!
sarahlouisa says
Cinnamon !
emily4444 says
cinnamon
katie skeoch says
I like a pinch of cardamon
leila Benhamida says
Cumin, can't be without it.
Stuart Vettese says
I'd never have thought of using lemongrass paste in muffins. Very inventive Dom x
Bev B says
Difficult choice…ground cumin for versatility, but couldn't be without cinnamon either…
Ben Maclain says
Lovely! I have been thinking about this combo (never tried) recently and have decided to bake some banana and date cookies. Perhaps, I will opt for muffins now:)
Choclette Blogger says
What a wondrous flavour pairing – I now have to try lemongrass and banana. Your muffins sound divine.
As for a favourite spice – goodness that's just too hard, so I will opt for cinnamon! But I wouldn't be without chilli & cumin either.
Tiddles12 says
nutmeg
Kate Glutenfreealchemist says
Love these muffins….. Inspired! I would never have thought of pairing banana with lemongrass and with the addition of dates, they sound amazing!
On to the subject of spices….. Has to be the ever popular cinnamon, although ginger and then cumin are also high on my list
Mary Chez says
Cumin
Jean | DelightfulRepast.com says
I've never used lemon grass paste, but these muffins sound marvelous. I use a lot of mace and nutmeg.
Karen S Booth says
LOVE this recipe for these zingy muffins Dom and especially the lemon grass paste which I have NEVER used before!
Cat Williams says
Basil
Lauren says
Smoked paprika – I add it to loads of different cuisines….love it!
Anonymous says
Garam masala
mister_steven says
gotta be HOT chilli powder 🙂
daisylove98 says
Onion Seeds – I use them all year round, in salads for the Summer and in loads of my other dishes throughout the year such as Indian dhal. They give a crunchy bite!
laura banks says
i like Cinnamon
Mellissa Williams says
cinnamon
Janice says
Cinnamon – I use it in sweet and savoury dishes
Zoe says
Cumin, that's definitely one of my favs.
tamalyn says
italian seasoning
gaby lovatt says
cajun
frances hopkins says
Cinnamon x
Natalie White says
I really like paprika 🙂