Wednesday 22 July 2015

Buttermilk Banana Bread with Oats and Chia Seeds


The sole of my shoe bailed out on me one morning. The right one fell off just as my partner was ready to drive us off to a seminar. And that was my only pair. Drat! 

Ini dia.
I tossed it into the garden and was left with one shoe without soles. It felt funny and it made me walk with a slight limp. But since I was going to be seated for most of the day, I was not worried.

After lunch, the left sole acted up. And I almost tripped. My partner noticed. In fact he laughed. "Do you have spare shoes in the car?", he asked. Nope. This madam only buys shoes when the current one has fallen apart. Tsk..tsk..tsk...

Then half way through the afternoon, as the trainer was getting into the thick of things, my sole sole (hee..hee...) fell off .



When the session was over, I simply left the departed sole under the table. As we made our way to the lift, I told my partner. "You are always like that one", was his response. 

Then I visualized the cleaner finding the sole under the table. "Uiks! Tapak kasut!". My twisted mind went further into the deep recess of the funnies.

In this age of social media, my sole appears on FB with the caption "Terjumpa tapak kasut bawah meja. Siapa punye?". It then gets 5 likes.



This is my fourth experience with runaway soles. The first time, both the soles of my Reeboks almost came off and I limped my way to the cobbler nearby. Then the next time, one sole came off while I was exercising. It was the weirdest feeling because I felt as if I stepped into a pit. And not forgetting the one that happened on one rare date night. 

So that's the most interesting thing that happened to me so far this year.



Oh, sorry. I digress. Banana bread. It's a cake of course, not bread as we know it. This one I saw on Diana's blog and I couldn't stop thinking about it. I love banana cake and this is a variation that contains rolled oats and chia seeds. The thick slice I saw on Diana's post made me very hungry and I simply had to bake one for myself.



I happened to chuck 4 ripe bananas into the freezer because I had no time to bake the week before. So that's what I used for this cake. The bananas looked hideous because the skin turned black and the bananas were super soggy. But they still smelled good and tasted....well, they still tasted like bananas. So it was all good. They were super easy to mash.



This cake is easy to put together because you don't need to cream the butter. It is just like making muffins, you simply add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix. What comes out is a dense and moist cake with wonderful banana aroma. I love this banana bread and it's best to serve thick slices for ultimate satisfaction.










Buttermilk Banana Bread with Oats and Chia Seeds
Recipe source : Adapted from The Domestic Goddess Wannabe

Ingredients :
- 200g self-raising flour, sifted
- 100g caster sugar (This amount to barely sweet. I will addo 130g in future. Please adjust according to the sweetness of your bananas or your own taste)
- 45g rolled oats
- 20 chia seeds
- 4 medium sized bananas, mashed (I used frozen pisang berangan)
- 1 large egg
- 120g buter, melted
- 200ml buttermilk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional, I added just to finish off my leftover vanilla extract hah..hah...)

Method :
1. Mash bananas in a mixing bowl.
2. Add egg, buttermilk and melted butter to the mashed bananas and mix until well combined.
3. In another mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, oats and chia seeds. Use a whisk to combine the dry ingredients.
4. Pour the banana mixture into the dry ingredients and use a spatula to fold the ingredients until just combined (do not overmix).
5. Pour batter into a lined loaf pan (9"x5") and bake at 160C for 60 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
6. Cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes and transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Notes for my own reference : 
I set the oven for 50 minutes. Upon checking 5 minutes before time,  I noticed that the cake was still not done. I tented the cake with aluminum foil and left it in the oven for another 10 minutes to bake using residual heat.


57 comments:

  1. I also don't have spare shoes in the car.. Lastime, I always put shoes in the car, but last last, I feel that they are very "chor teng".. Some people put slippers/flops in the car, just in case, but not for me, no no.. And in the office pulak, some people put slippers underneath their desk, and wear slippers when they are seated.. But when they stand up, they change into their heels.. No no for me too, so mafan.. Nevermind la, seminar with your partner, and you will be seated, and noone will notice, ok la, hehe..

    Your banana bread looks very rich and soft and moist.. I can see those banana bits inside, sekali pandang, know already it's homemade.. So much liew.. Unlike those bought from outside, very dark brown colour and only got banana essence, no butter smell.. But most of the time, I still buy it coz "ho ko mo" (better than nothing).. Wah, I want yours leh, milky milky white, soft, moist, dense & padat with liew, siapa tak nak? Yummzzz..

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    1. Louiz, after this experience, I think it is a good idea to have at least a pair of sandals in the car. Now I remember another incident. That one, my shoe strap koyak. Also at seminar. I very suay one. So I walk to the lift and carpark barefooted. It was at Berjaya Times Square :(

      This banana bread is a comfort food. I feel happy eating it. Full of banana fragrance and chewy oats. Sedap!

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  2. Overripe bananas are best for banana bread.... ;) or ice cream.

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    1. Yen, that way we don't have to throw out our very ripe bananas. No wastage. Yay!

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  3. Hahaha...time to.get a new shoes. Can send the banana bread to me? Quick quick poslaju! Hahha

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    1. Send to me too! Use DHL please cos Pos Laju ..dijamin tak sampai esok.

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    2. Chris and TM, this one cannot send by courier lah :) By the time reach you, it will all hancur lebur.

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  4. This bake is so fantastic, I am hungry immediately I see this healthy bake bananas,oats, chia seeds bread.

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    1. Yannie, this is good, that's why I could not resist trying out the recipe.

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  5. Hi Phong Hong,

    You are a funny gal... Nevermind the shoe and all the comments that you got from FB and your partner. You know what... It is shoes shopping time!!! Are you excited? I know that you don't really like shopping but shoes shopping can be quite therapeutic to me :p

    Very moist and yummy banana loaf... At least, enjoying this wouldn't make your shoe soles fall off... Oh! Don't tell me that it did!!!!

    Zoe

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    1. Zoe, I hate shoe shopping hah..hah... Most of the designs I don't like :( Such a fussy pot! Anyway, I'll have to look for shoes soon.

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  6. Muahahaha you funny lady. You must be heavy or drag your feet till soles scream to drop dead. I always have spare shirt and slipper in my car because I wear office uniform and had to take it off if I have outings after office.
    These days our shoes are poorly made by factories and give cobblers rousing business.

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    1. TM, these days, nothing is made to last. Even the handbags, the skin peels off unless if I buy those high quality expensive ones, which I won't. Anyway, that's how businesses survive. We have to keep buying.

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  7. For me, I have 1 pair of slippers, and 1 pair of working shoes, and 1 pair of Vibram (for exercise) and that's it. I don't have shoe rack at home, I usually leave my shoes in the car and change to slippers to walk home from the car. This way I can be flexible, depending on where I am going, I can go with slippers or quickly change into shoes. XD

    Why you tell lari tajuk grandmother stories lah... The banana bread, If it is a cake, why not call it banana cake instead? Very confusing leh :/

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    1. You are very practical. I should throw at least a pair of sandals in the car for emergencies like this.

      Aiya, at my age I am prone to telling grandmothers stories lah...

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    2. I used to wonder also why they call it banana bread when it is not a bread. Apparently it is because it is baked in a loaf tin and looks like bread, hence the name.

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  8. Hi Phong Hong,
    Oppsie ! that sole of your shoe .... for me I once had one of the heels of my high-heel shoes "ripped off" while attending a dinner function in hotel ballroom. You can imagine the poor me asking around for "super glue" ... hee... hee !
    Back to your healthy Buttermilk Banana Bread ... with the addition of oats and chia seeds ... yummy.. so moist :D

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    1. Hi Karen! Oh, that is not good hah..hah... I have had many bad incidence with shoes :( This banana bread is highly recommended, that is if you don't mind dense and moist cake.

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  9. Hi Phing Hong, this post of yours reminds me that my friend still owes me a packet of Chia Seeds which he promised to get me from his supplier. Haven't tried any baking with this ingredient.

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    1. Hi Kimmy! Beside putting in cakes, I also like to eat chia seeds with oatmeal. Just add into the overnight oats and enjoy the next morning.

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  10. Haaa...it happened once for me at church service many years ago..I am very grateful that my better half went to the nearest shopping complex just to get a pair of shoes for me.
    Looks like a very rich banana bread/cake.

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    1. Hi Agnes! Lucky you to get a replacement so quickly :)

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  11. My girl would love this. I always buy chia seed bread for her whenever I see it at the bakery here.

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    1. I always can't resist those breads with chia seeds or any kind of grains. Very nice to eat.

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  12. Hi Phong Hong, Ha haa...you are so funny today. Oh yes! it happpened to me a few times! Now I always check my shoes before I leave for some dinner or events. The quality of shoes especially the glue are very poor. Ok, can you spare me a piece of that cake please? Just one small piece? Lol!

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    1. Hi Nancy! I also noted that if shoes are not worn for some time, they tend to give way. Haiz.... Oh yes, you can have a piece of the cake, as big or small as you like hee..hee...

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  13. Lol..got 5 likes...never gone viral yet ke.?

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    1. hah..hah..no lah, just my imagination only :D

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  14. When are you going to DHL over? wink wink hint hint hahaha...

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  15. Ooo...I love banana cakes and yours must be really moist and soft. I like it with chia seeds or walnuts....yums! ;) For me, I have no incidents with fallen soles coz I got so many pairs of shoes that I usually stop wearing them before the soles have the chance to fall off! :D

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    1. This cake is very moist and so satisfying. You will love it for sure! Well, me and my sad shoes hah..hah... Some of my shoes fall apart because I wear them only once in a while. I am more of a slippers/sandal person.

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  16. I have not made banana bread for several years, I am glad that you remind me about this nice and moisty cake:)

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    1. Ola, if you can get bananas, do bake one!

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  17. OMG .... you're a hoot!!
    And it's a coincidence that you have oats and chia in this coz I've been into those two things lately.
    I haven't tried chia and oats in banana cake before ... sounds good. And yes .... I love making banana cake ...no creaming involved! Gotta try this! Hope you've got yourself a new pair of shoes ... lotsa sales on right now.

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    1. Ping, I saw your overnight oats with chia seeds! Yes, these two ingredients are sooo hot in my house right now hah..hah... Try this cake, very dense and moist. One of my new comfort foods. Nope, haven't got my new shoes yet. Tsk..tsk...tsk...

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  18. The only shoes I have in my car is a pair of red high heels with gold dagger heels. It is nice to look at but useless for wearing because it is too tight. Heehee.

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    1. Those are very fierce shoes! Can also use a a weapon hee..hee...

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  19. I love banana bread like yours... moist and delicious!

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    1. Thanks, Ann! These are currently my favorite banana cake.

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  20. Your banana bread really looks super delicious. Even better than the one from red bean bag. You can bake for a living now. Did your shoe sole really get 5 likes on fb or are you just saying only? So funny!

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    1. I was only imagining what it would be like if the cleaner had put it on FB hah..hah...

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  21. Haha, I am the exact same! I only bought new shoes when my soles looked like this:
    https://instagram.com/p/vOWzC1udkH/?taken-by=atasteofmadness1
    Your banana bread sounds so good! I haven't taken out my chia seeds in a while!

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  22. good morning! hv you not been wearing that pair of shoes for a long time? at times it do happen when shoes are abandoned . eh i usually hv spare shoes in my car boots. once my friend saw it, wah, so many shoes in your car..hehe..but now just keep one pair.

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    1. Lena, spot on! That's why it kaput. I need to go shoe hunting which I hate :(

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  23. it looks really fluffy and this is also my first time to see a banana bread with oats... what's chia by the way?

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    1. It's actually dense and moist. Chia seeds are the in thing for health food now :)

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  24. Hi Phong Hong, your sole story reminds me of my runaway soles on a few occasions. It was really embarrassing walking so strangely to avoid tripping and dragging one foot to prevent the sole from falling off when crossing alone at the traffic light with rows of cars beside me. The drivers must be laughing their heads off ...lol! I like this moist banana bread which is so simple to put together and the extra nutrition with the addition of chia seeds. :)

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    1. Hi Cheryl! Looks like I am not the only one with such an experience. Phew! LOL!

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  25. eh I thot why suddenly you have one shoe sole in the midst of this banana cake post, haha!! really not match lah.. the shoe match with trousers but not banana cake, hahaha!! ooopss, sounds like my post~~ :p

    but very true, shoes nowadays don't last lah, I think if you wear it everyday, probably it will last one year the most.. I had a pair of gym shoes which the sole kept ripping out and I have been using glue to stick it back numerous times, still wearable, if not the rubber runs off at the bottom I guess I am still wearing it.. I wonder how long did yours last, errr, before you baked this banana cake??

    okay back to the cake.. so this looks like those banana cakes I used to eat since young.. and pssst, I actually didn't know those are made from banana when I was still a kid.. I just heard people say it's banana cake but in my mind, banana is yellow but this cake is brown.. the cake doesn't look banana at all and the texture also nothing like banana, why is this called banana cake?? haha.. only until I was older then I got confirmation from all other people, okay, this IS banana cake~~ :D

    I think banana cake is one of those first few cake I've eaten, besides sponge cake and butter cake.. last time mana ada so many kinds of cakes right?? and your banana cake lagi hebat, got chia seeds somemore.. but you know me well, I makan only, between chia seeds and poppy seeds I won't be able to differentiate lah, maybe you tell me those are black pepper also i would believe, but after tasting sure know they are not lah, haha!! and yes, thick slices are nicer!! when I was a kid, I even like to compress my cake into a ball with my palm, and eat them like kuih, haha.. have you tried this before?? it's nice also~~ :D

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    1. hah..hah...I deviated from banana cake and talked about my soles :D Nowadays, nothing is made to last. Have to keep replacing. Haiz!

      Banana cake to me is one of the best cakes ever. If I can only choose one cake to eat, it will be banana cake. Not any of those fancy sponge, mousse or even cheesecake. There are many variations of banana cake, I think I should try them all!

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    2. Your compressed cake ah....I have not tried but I want to try! Wait one day when I bake another banana cake, I'll do it and let you know :)

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  26. LOL on that poor left-behind sole status.

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  27. LOL! I suspect this is going to happen when I wear my running shoes later ....I havent ran in awhile.

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  28. Running shoes are notorious for that! Imagine buying a branded one, wear it onece or twice and then the next time you wear it, the soles start to rip apart. It's like punishing us for not wearing it often!

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