Chocolate Walnut Cake

Chocolate Walnut Cake

Cake was one of the first things I learnt to bake when I was still a schoolgirl. Over the years, I have made many cakes, both simple and complicated, but a favourite that I keep returning to is this Chocolate Walnut Cake.

Family favourite

Ingredients

All-purpose flour 1 cup (220 g)

Cocoa powder 3 tbsps

Sugar 3/4 cup (150 g)

Butter 180 g

Eggs 3

Milk 2 tbsps

Baking powder 1 1/2 tsps

Walnuts 1/2 cup, roughly chopped

Method

Cream the sugar and butter in a stand mixer.

Add the eggs.

Sift the flour, baking powder and cocoa powder.

Add it a tablespoon at a time to the mixer pan.

Add the milk and walnuts.

Grease a baking pan and pour in the batter.

Bake in a 160 degree C oven for 40 minutes.

Cool and slice.

Banana Bread with Walnuts and Raisins

Banana Bread with Walnuts and Raisins

When I was working on the newspaper desk in Singapore, we would start work at the unearthly hour of 4.30 am and the one thing that kept us going was that we would take turns to bring in warm bread for an early breakfast. One of my colleagues used to make this really divine banana bread. My banana bread recipe is based on hers though I have tweaked it to add nuts and raisins and also sour cream to make it more moist. This has been a hit with my family for more than 20 years. In fact, my sister-in-law said this should be my retirement plan: to make and sell banana bread.

I make this in the bread maker and so it is super easy. I set it for baking overnight and it is ready for breakfast the next morning.

Ingredients

Vegetable oil 1/3 cup
Sour cream 1/4 cup
Eggs 2, beaten
All-purpose flour 1 1/2 cups
Brown sugar 2/3 cup
Baking powder 1 tsp
Baking soda 1/2 tsp
Salt 1/2 tsp
Vanilla essence 1 tsp
Bananas 2, mashed
Walnuts 1/2 cup
Raisins 1/4 cup

Method

Add everything to the bread-maker pan in the order given above. Set it to Sweet or Cake setting depending on your machine.

When done take it out and let it cool. Slice and serve.