The good, the bad and a Yasi week.

First of all lets send our thoughts, prayers and affordable donations to those in the path of Yasi (Loved the sign "Kiss my Yasi" on a shop in Townsville), everyone in Victoria affected by the flooding and those in W.A. facing fires - not forgetting everyone in N.S.W. affected by the heat wave.

Thing should improve as The Chinese year of the Rabbit has just started and it's forecast to be calmer and more prosperous than the Year of the Tiger (explains why I'm a dog person!)

So on to the cooking ..................  and I need help!!!

I am still looking for the best ever Banana Bread recipe and have tried about 3 but while Gianni loves them all - I know there is a perfect one out there so if anyone can help - let me know please. I bought 3kgs of Bananas and froze them for cooking before they become an urban myth!

Also -  I was wrong in my first blog - I actually can't follow a recipe!!

Shaheen from India sent a sensational recipe for Byriani which is like an Indian Risotto. To do it properly the recipe is cooked over 2 nights/days - so despite the heat on Friday night I did the first part with lamb and the best smelling combination of  Indian spices....the whole house had an amazing smell all weekend .....

Then to the second part on Saturday - all the way to serving and .... I forgot the saffron!!!  So no colour in this beautiful dish!!! I did take a picture but didn't feel that I could post someone else's dish unless it was cooked according to the recipe!!!

Will do it all again with pleasure (and Saffron) and I can't wait to share the recipe over the next few weeks.

Today is a very basic but delicious and healthy loaf of Pumpkin, Almond and Raisins. The owner of the coffee shop near work has asked me to make a few loaves for him to sell so it must be OK!

So - hope you enjoy this recipe and happy eating!!

Pumpkin & Raisin Loaf

Ingredients

1 cup cold mashed pumpkin ¾ cup skim milk

¼ cup oil (vegetable or olive) ¾ cup raw sugar

¾ cup unprocessed bran ½ cup almonds

2 tsp grated orange rind

2 eggs lightly beaten 1 ½ cups S.R. Flour

1 tspn Mixed Spice (I add a large pinch of ginger)

1 cup raisins (cranberries, sultanas – whichever you prefer)

Method

Grease 1 large Bar Pan. Combine Pumpkin, orange rind and milk, eggs and oil in large bowl. Combine flour, sugar, spice, bran raisins and almonds in a 2^nd bowl. Add flour mix to pumpkin mix and stir until combined. Pour into pan. Bake at 180 C for Approx 1 hour Stand in pan for 5 mins – cool on cake rack.