Banana Cake with Lemon Icing

Growing up, whenever we had extra and overripe bananas my mom would make this cake for us.  It was a favourite!  I loved the combination of banana and the lemon icing.  For the best results, use three very ripe bananas.  I don't know the original source for the recipe.  My mom would have these little pieces of paper that looked like tracing paper with recipes typed up on them.

Naseeba if you are reading this...I made this cake for Eid when you were away for Hajj...that is how behind I am on my posts...Lol...

Banana, Date and Almond Protein Smoothie

Lately I've been paying more attention to the food I eat and trying to be more active.  One thing I've been doing is trying to eat more protein.  This Banana, Date and Almond Protein Smoothie is one of the ways I've been trying to increase my protein intake.  I will have this smoothie after my workout.  I personally don't like the taste of protein powder so in the recipe I've given a range to use.  You can start out with less and try to increase the amount as you get used to the flavour.  Currently I use about 3/4 scoop in my smoothie.

One Bowl Banana Bread

Whenever bananas have gone past their edible stage, the best thing to do is to make banana bread!  I have a recipe for Banana Bread currently on my blog but it makes two loaves and has a lot of sugar and oil.  It is delicious but I wanted something that would make a smaller quantity and had less sugar and oil.   This One Bowl Banana Bread recipe I am sharing with you today is our new favourite banana bread.  I've also mixed in some white whole wheat flour to make it "healthier"!  My boys loved to toast a slice and then slather on the butter which probably defeats the idea of making the banana bread healthy....

Strawberry Banana Oatmeal Cups

Ramadan Mubarak!  We began fasting this past Saturday which means a month of fasting and ibadah (worship).  Today I'm sharing a recipe for Strawberry Banana Oatmeal Cups which would be great for suhoor (the pre dawn breakfast).  For Suhoor, we don't like to have something very heavy.  Usually we have cereal, eggs or oatmeal.  

I like to make suhoor ahead of time, so all I have to do is warm it up in the morning.  These oatmeal cups can be made before and kept in the fridge.  When you want to have them, all you have to do is warm them up in the microwave.  I've adapted this recipe from my Baked Maple Walnut Banana Oatmeal Cups.  This recipe is very versatile so you can experiment with different fruits and nuts.

Banana Scones with Brown Sugar Glaze {Tea India}

My day always needs a good cup of tea.  After dropping the kids at school I love to sit and enjoy my tea.  If for some reason I don't have it, I feel like something is missing the whole day.  My go to tea has always been Orange Pekoe.

Lemon Olive Oil Banana Bread

Banana Bread is always a favourite in our home.  The recipe I usually make is our favourite but it makes a lot.  I wanted a smaller loaf that wasn't as sweet.  I found this Lemon Olive Oil Banana Bread recipe and liked that it has some whole wheat flour in it.  I didn't put the glaze as in the original recipe to keep it more like a bread than a cake.

Banana and Vanilla Pudding Parfaits with Coconut Whipped Cream #GayLeaMom

The weather has warmed up and BBQ season is here!  We love to grill up chicken, kebobs and even pizza on our grill.  After such a heavy meal, a nice light and refreshing dessert hits the spot!  Today I am sharing a dessert that fits the bill!  Banana and Vanilla Pudding Parfaits!  Best of all you don't need to turn on the oven to make this dessert.

Gluten-Free Vanilla Banana Bread Pancakes {Catelli}

Today I am sharing with you a gluten-free recipe for pancakes that uses Catelli Gluten Free Pasta.  This recipe is courtesy of Kathy Smart, one of North America's leading gluten-free experts.  In our home, we don't have any issues with food containing gluten so the idea of a gluten-free pancake was intriguing.  This pancake is actually made with cooked pasta!

Whole Wheat Oatmeal Banana Applesauce Bread

I had some overripe bananas that needed to be used up.  I wanted to make banana bread but just about every banana bread recipe I've made or eaten really doesn't taste like bread. It's more like cake in a bread shape.  I love banana bread but wanted a recipe that was healthy and I wouldn't feel guilty eating it.  This recipe fit the bill!  It's mildly sweetened with honey, uses whole wheat flour, oats and has 2 fruits in it!  It makes a great breakfast toasted with some butter although it is more delicate than a loaf of bread.

Healthy Cookies

Yes..you read that right....Healthy Cookies!!!  But seriously these are no equivalent to a regular cookie but is a great substitute when you are craving something sweet but don't want to eat junk.  These taste best when eaten right away.  They are very versatile so you can change them up in so many different ways.  Just be careful to add no more than 2 tbsp of add-ins otherwise they may fall apart.  You could also try it with different nut butters to vary the flavour.  How healthy or unhealthy they are really depends on what add-ins you choose to mix in.  These are also a great way to use up any overripe bananas.  I find the more ripe the bananas the better these cookies are.

Banana Oatmeal Pecan Breakfast Bars

Seems like I've been posting lots of breakfast items lately.  Here is yet another one!  This is a recipe I found on Baking Bites.  I omitted the chocolate chips and used pecans to keep this more on the healthy side.  I also added a little bit of whole wheat.  These were a great breakfast item, especially if you eat breakfast on the go.  It makes quite a bit so next time I will try to halve the recipe.

Skinny Oreo Banana Milkshake {Guest Post}

Today I have the pleasure to be guest posting at my best blogging buddy Henna's blog My Ninja Naan! I can't even remember how I discovered Henna's blog.  I remember when I would visit she would make things that I had recently also made or things that I would most definitely want to make.  We both posted the same Spinach Quiche and Wheat Thins recipes.  Henna posted a recipe for Garlic Knots which I had also made but never posted about because they over rose and where humungous!  I had long ago pinned the Jalapeno Popper Chicken recipe she posted but have never gotten around to making it because half of my family are not cheese fans.

Skinny Chocolate Fudge Banana Muffins

In yet another attempt to make some healthy breakfast goods for the boys I tried out these Skinny Chocolate Fudge Banana Muffins that I found over at Sally's Baking Addiction.  After the last couple of muffin recipes I've made I know that I can't sneak bananas into Hasan's muffins. He knows...and he doesn't like it.  But I have to say these muffins were very good.  Hasan had one and really enjoyed it.  Then he noticed there were some white flecks in it and once he knew it was banana he was done.

Baked Maple Walnut Banana Oatmeal Cups

I'm always searching for healthy breakfast ideas that I can make ahead.  Lately I've been tired of eating cereal.  I found a recipe for Baked Honey Oatmeal with Raspberries and Pistachios on Munchin with Munchkin awhile ago.  I loved the idea of making small servings.  These turned out very good.  They are pretty healthy except for the 2 tbsp of maple syrup.  They are sweet so if you want something that isn't high in sugar you can reduce the amount.  I also tossed in some chia seeds but if you don't have any it's fine to leave out.  This recipe is quite versatile.  You can change up the nuts, add some blueberries or chocolate chips and even use honey instead of maple syrup.  They would even be great  topped with some Greek yogurt.  Bilal loved these and they were also great as a snack.

100% Whole Wheat Banana Muffins

Trying to stick with baking some breakfast goodies for the boys to help our mornings go smoother, I tried out these Whole Wheat Banana Muffins I saw on Joy of Baking.  I made half the recipe which gave me 6 muffins.  Since these are 100% whole wheat flour the banana flavour is more muted.  To get the boys excited about them I sprinkled some with some chocolate chips.  The first time I made these Hasan loved them.  The second time I didn't mash the banana as well and he wasn't happy with mushy parts in his muffins.  So next time I will be sure to thoroughly mash the bananas so he has no clue that it's in there.

Mango Date Green Monster {Guest Post}

This will be a different Ramadan.  A Ramadan without Baba.  In the picture above I have placed a pocket watch we found in Baba's things.  It is an antique pocket watch and my dad had written on the bag Eglinton Ave E/Laird (where he bought it) and $5.35.  Baba was such an organized man.  Always thought of everything and made sure everything was in place.  During Ramadan, iftari at my parents place was usually the tradtional waday, dahi baday and aloo bonday.  All things Baba loved.  He could never resist the Iftari.  When my brother and I were still at home, Baba would buy baklava and chocolate every Ramadan.  We would always have some at sehri/suhoor.  May Allah forgive him and grant him Jannat-ul-Firdous.  May Allah make this easy time for Mummy.  Ameen.

Mango Smoothie

Mango season is just about over.  This is one of the ways we were enjoying them this summer.  They never lasted long so it was always difficult to get a picture of them.  Bilal has been loving smoothies this summer. It all started with the Green Monster.  They are a great way to get him to have some extra fruit.  I love the citrus flavour that the orange juice brings.  I find these smoothies are best if had immediately.  They thicken up while sitting in the fridge.

Green Monster {SRC}

It's the last Monday of the month which means it time for The Secret Recipe Club!  This month I was assigned Life on Food written by Emily.  Emily is a young foodie who has lived in several different cities across the US (unlike me who has lived all my life in Toronto...I now live in the suburbs which I don't think really counts as another city....it is still GTA).  Emily has some great recipes on her blog like this Grilled Chicken Marinade or this Shrimp Thai Noodles with Spicy Peanut Sauce.

Roasted Banana Ice Cream (Eggless)

Ramadan Mubarak!  This past weekend the month of Ramadan began.  During this month Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset.  May Allah accept our fasts and ibadat during this blessed month.

This recipe is great for having as a dessert in Ramadan, especially with Ramadan occurring during the hottest time of the year.  It is cold and refreshing.

Baked Oatmeal with Blueberries and Bananas

I am not a fan of oatmeal.  But I really do want to like it.  The thought of a warm bowl of oatmeal on a cold winter morning seems really appealing but honestly I have never liked those oatmeal packets.  They are lacking in flavor and a mushy bowl of oatmeal really is not appetizing for me.  But after making this baked oatmeal my thoughts have completely changed.  If you are not an oatmeal fan this is the dish to change your mind!  My only complaint is that it bakes for 35 minutes and rests for an additional 10 minutes which is too long for me to wait in the morning.  I don't like waiting for breakfast but this is really worth the wait!  I made some minor changes to the original recipe.  I replaced the butter with oil and reduced the quantity.  I omitted the nuts and reduced the amount of blueberries.  You can change up the fruit in this to whatever you think will taste good.  I've also made it with strawberries and bananas.  Next I'm going to try it with apples!