Lunchbox Banana & Apple Loaf Cake

I am really not a fan of processed food. I try give my family lovely homemade food where possible. Lunch boxes are no exception! Every week I make what I call a 'dry cake' what I mean is, something that I can store in an airtight container & dish out whenever my lovelies need a nice, substantial snack. Yes, i know we have been taught by media & so called health professionals not to mention government campaigns to stop children eating sugar but quite frankly, I am much happier feeding my children someone that is natural & chemical/additive free, even if it is high in sugar(which again is natural! No nasties!).

This one has proven to be one of the most popular I make. It is very moist because of the bananas so it keeps really well. Also you can mix it up but throwing in a few 'extras'. This week I chopped a small bar of Green & Blacks dark chocolate & added that. I often add some chopped dates too, which give it a lovely caramely, toffee like hint & a chewy texture! Feel free to experiment, it really is a easy cake to make & you'll feel all warm & cosy inside knowing you've sent your kiddies off to school with a healthy, natural, energy boosting lunch!

This is what you'll need;

 

150g light muscavado sugar (granulated will do- you just won't get a slight caramel twang)

85g soft, unsalted butter

2 large free range eggs

4 medium sized ripe bananas, mashed

1 apple, peeled & grated

250g self raising flour

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Pinch of salt

Cooking 40-45 mins, 10-15 prep. 10 good, thick slices, more if you like though!

 

 

 

Preheat oven to 180c/GM4 ( adjust for fans)

Grease a 2lb loaf tin

Cream together butter, sugar & eggs. This will look all split & repulsive, but stay with it.

Stir in mashed bananas & apple & sieve in the flour, cinnamon & salt.

Mix well, then tip into your tin, bake for 40-45 mins

Remove once cooked & allow to cool in the tin for 30mins or so, then remove & cool completely before slicing.

 

If you are adding any ' extras' as I have here, you would just stir them in with the flour, bananas & apple.

 

 

This is the last bit, the children demolished it hot from the oven. This is why I normally only bake in the evenings or during school!

 

Love Kitty x

Skip to main AbouCompany

 

Posted with Blogsy

A Heartbreaking Conversation with my Daughter

A few days ago, my eldest daughter, Grace was sitting on my bed, watching me get dressed. She had been considering me in a serious way, clearly something was puzzling her.

 

"Why are you so fat Mummy? Why is your tummy so big? "

And then, much to my absolute horror & heartbreak;

"Why have you let yourself go?"

 

I was so shocked & utterly upset, that I was speechless. I wanted to say so, so much, but nothing came out. No words. This was not a conversation I had ever considered I would be having with my 7 year old daughter.

Yes, the truth in her words stung bitterly, but as I gathered my thoughts & emotions, it became apparent that what horrified me more was the realisation that my 7 year old daughter was becoming aware of body image & more importantly, getting a very skewed view of what is 'good' & what is 'bad'.

We do not watch regular TV in our house, but the children all have access to watch blu- rays & catch up on the internet. We don't read print newspapers or magazines, everything is online. Grace is an avid reader. Enid Blyton being one of her favourites. As far as we were concerned, the children were pretty much protected from mainstream media. I have absolutely no idea where she was introduced to these thoughts & phrases.

 

How can it be, that a beautiful, intelligent 7 year old girl has become aware of fat or thin? Not to mention the mindnumbingly idiotic sentiment of 'letting yourself go'. I don't want her spending her time worrying about how she looks. Instead of worrying 'Is my dress pretty?' Now it will be 'Does this dress make me look fat ?'

What a very sad state of things when a 7 year old is concerned with such unimportant things as being fat. Her head should be full of fairies, pixies, wonder & an insatiable zest for knowledge. Her head should be filled with questions of worth, not fickle nonsense about someone's appearance.

Where did I go wrong?

What can I do about it?

 

Honestly, I don't know. Perhaps the single most depressing thing about it all is that it cannot be undone. She has become aware, someone has turned on a little light in her clever little head that I cannot switch off. It's like Christmas. Once you know, you can never be innocent & believe again. You simply can't 'unknow' something.

 

 

Love Kitty x

Posted with Blogsy

The Perfect Mac for an Hourglass

Every spring & autumn I have the same dilemma; too warm for a coat, too rainy for a cardigan.

I need a mac. And so my quest has begun. Here are a few I'm considering;

 

Sara Mac by Hobbs £159.99

 

Rainy Day Mac by boden £119

 

Classic Trench by Gap, £60

 

 

I love the classic trench shape, but I am a short hourglass shape so it have to be mindful that something doesn't, a) hang below my knees -at 5ft3 I really don't need to look like I've shrunk. And b) make me look like I'm wearing a tent. As little extra fabric as humanly possible! After literally years of searching I have finally admitted to myself that with my height & shape, I'm never going to look like the Parisien chic walking elegance I so dearly want to emulate. Instead I've accepted that I should look in a slightly different direction, which has bought me to these;

 

Pure Cotton Cropped Mac, M&S £50

 

 

And then there is this fantastic little number! From 'The Collection', by Debenhams. It's actually the cheapest at only £30 in their sale but for me, it is almost perfect. A chic, neutral colour, fits just above the top of the thigh (even for me as it comes in petite!) no, too fancy detailing or pattern to date it. And even though it is double breasted, it is low cut so that should be sympathic to my cleaveage, not suffocating.

 

I love it. This really could be 'the one'. My years long quest could really be over. I'm going to buy it tomorrow & see!

 

I'll do a post so you can see what you think.

 

 

Love Kitty x

 

 

 

 

 

Posted with Blogsy