Monday, June 2, 2008

Banana, chocolate and oatmeal tea bread or how I will never understand kids

Banana, chocolate and oatmeal tea bread

One of the problems of my obsession with baking is that there’s no one to eat the tons of things I make. Joao doesn’t like sweets or baked goods and I cannot eat them all myself – no, that is definitely not an option. So it’s a great thing my nieces have been asking me for cakes. Since great part of my pleasure is in the making, we pretty much have that covered. I’ll have just a tiny slice – in order to tell you guys if the recipe is good or not, of course – and the kids will have all the cake they want.

Everything was going well - they loved both the orange and lemon cake and the marbled cake. So when I saw this loaf Valentina posted, I thought I’d hit jackpot. I’d even score a few brownie points for adding oats to the bread – which, you know, are good for you.

Auntie Patricia did not choose wisely this time. The girls did not like the bread – the older niece did not try it at all and the other one – who will eat just about anything on earth – told me she wanted a chocolate cake instead. :(

But not all is lost: the adults liked the bread.

Banana, chocolate and oatmeal tea bread

Banana, chocolate and oatmeal tea bread

1 large egg
75ml vegetable oil
125g caster sugar
3 bananas – 2 thinly sliced, for the batter, and 1 in thicker slices, to decorate the bread
30g rolled oats* - set aside 1 tablespoon, for sprinkling
150g all purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
40g dark chocolate, finely chopped – I used 60% cocoa solids

Preheat the oven to 180ºC/355ºF. Line a 1 liter (15cm x 7.5cm) loaf pan with buttered, non-stick baking parchment or silicone paper.

Whisk the egg, oil and sugar together until thick. Whisk the thinly sliced bananas into the mixture. Fold in the remaining ingredients until the mixture is smooth.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and sprinkle the surface with the reserved oats.
Arrange the thicker banana slices on top.
Bake for 40–50 minutes or until golden.
The cake is done when a metal skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. Allow the tea bread to cool in the pan, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

* I used oatmeal

Serves 8

48 comments:

Unknown said...

too bad the kids didn't like it! it looks ace, though.

LyB said...

This post made me chuckle! Kids are like that, one day they like something and the next they won't touch it, well, at least my kids are like that. That loaf looks delicious, I would sure like a slice right now with my morning coffee. :)

Manggy said...

Bah, kids! They're crazy! They don't know what they're missing :P Well, I would be very happy to receive a slice of that! :D

Anonymous said...

Yeah, my nieces are like that as well. They are so fussy! But your banana, choc, oatmeal tea bread might just make them happy cos they are crazy over anything bananas.

Peter M said...

This more of a grown-ups cake...with coffee. Kids want sickly sweet stuff.

I would smear some butter on this and take with my morning coffee and then put cayenne pepper in the kids food!

Peter G | Souvlaki For The Soul said...

I had a laugh about the kids Patricia..it's true, they can be so funny at times. I wish I was your neighbour to test everything!

Karen Baking Soda said...

It's so true! You made me smile! One of mine loves anything chocolate and banana...made him a banana loaf studded with chocolate. After one bite he declined. Why? He didn't like the banana flavour...Aaargh!!

Deborah said...

I have the same problem - not enough people to eat what I make. I should start sending it off to my nieces!!

I think this cake sounds lovely. I would be happy that the kids wouldn't eat it - more for me!

Terry at Blue Kitchen said...

Just reading the recipe, this sounds like a deliciously adult dessert. Nice and complex. I'm guessing the dark chocolate may have been a key deal breaker with your nieces. Still, I'm sure they looove their Auntie Patricia!

Gattina Cheung said...

still a good try Auntie Pat :) :) Wish I was your neighbor!
Kids can drive me crazy sometimes...

eatme_delicious said...

That bread looks delicious! I love the pieces of banana that are on the top (or well that was probably the bottom and you flipped it over).

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

Kids are finicky eaters as you know so I know you didn't take it to heart. Your bread looks delicious and if ever you need someone to share....you know where I am:D

Sarah said...

Banana, chocolate and oatmeal--sounds like a winning combo to me.

Anonymous said...

Crazy kids, mine oldest doesn't really like most of the stuff I make.
I would have thought that the banana and chocolate would have been excellent for kids. Maybe you should have told them there were oats inside ;)

Cookie baker Lynn said...

It's great to have other people to bake for. I know if I ate everything I baked, I'd be the size of a house!

Anonymous said...

"Did not choose wisely..." I love that expression. We use it all the time around here. And I say they chose a good one to not like because like you said, the more for the adults! Bananas and chocolate are always great in my book.

Brilynn said...

I'm in the same situation you are, I want to bake all the time but don't have enough people to give it all away to. I don't understand people who don't like sweets... or kids with underdeveloped palates who don't appreciate good food like this amazing cake!

Peabody said...

I hear ya about running out of people to eat the baked goods.
Bread looks good...I must be an adult. :)

Anonymous said...

I walk 6 miles a day so I can eat all the junk I conjure up over! My kids are picky eaters so it falls on me to finish it up!

This looks like another wonderful meal.

Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) said...

This is just the kind of wonderful but not too rich bread I like. My husband is the baker in our family, so I'll pass this along to him. I wish everything he baked didn't taste so darned good.... I always want to eat more than I should.

Jen said...

I have the same problem. I love to bake, but the hubby does not like sweets too often, and my family is watching their weight. :(

Emily said...

The kids are foolish. ;)

I love how the top has bananas on it - that looks cool. I like banana, oatmeal, and chocolate together, so I think this sounds great.

Silvia - Magnolia Wedding Planner said...

Patricia darling don't worry you know how kids are always wanting kind of chocolate cake or whatever..more for the adults then :-D
perfect job darling as ever!
have a fantastic day sweetie
Silvia

Nic said...

I'm limited with the baking I do because of the kids - I'm getting a bit fed up with chocolate!!
I would happily eat this lovely cake, all of it, lol!

PS. Just kidding about the chocolate!

Marianna said...

hehe aahh kids!! I admit though, when I was a kid I think I only wanted goey rich chocolate stuff and lots of whipped cream! Now fortunately I have changed! Your cake nonetheless looks delicious for "us adults" hehe. Loved reading your post Patricia!

Marianna said...

hehe aahh kids!! I admit though, when I was a kid I think I only wanted goey rich chocolate stuff and lots of whipped cream! Now fortunately I have changed! Your cake nonetheless looks delicious for "us adults" hehe. Loved reading your post Patricia!

Patricia Scarpin said...

Celine, thank you!

LyB, so you know that situation pretty well, my dear! :)

Mark, they are!

Didally, I'm glad to know they would like this!

Pete, I thought that at least the younger niece would have some, since she'll eat just about anything. :)

Pete, that would be nice! ;)

Hi, darling! Your kids sounds like a funny kid. :)

Deb, I'll be moving in a month or so, and will give some to the new neighbors! :)

Terry, the chocolate was not the issue here - they did not try it at all, so they did not know how the chocolate tasted.

Gattina, I wish you were my neighbor, too, darling!

Ashley, that bananas are placed on the top of the batter before it goes into the oven. :)

Bellini, I'd love to share it with you, dear!

Sarah, I thought so, too. :)

Linda, I cannot believe it - you make the most wonderful things! your cookies and cakes are to die for, sweetie!

Lynn, I hear you. :)

Kelly, really? You made me smile. :)

Bri, I don't understand them, either, my friend. :)

Pea, you are an adult that cracks me up most times. :)

Cathy, I'll be doing that soon, too, my friend. Exercise like hell! :)

Lydia, I know how hard it is to control ourselves. :)

Jenny, I have been watching what I eat lately, too. :(

Emiline, thank you, dear. :)

Silvia, you are so kind, my dear friend! Grazie!
xoxo

Nic, I knew you wouldn't be serious about chocolate. ;)

Marianna, I'm glad to hear you got wiser! :)

Kana said...

HI Patricia:
I know what you mean. There is only two in our household and Brad WILL eat a whole cake ...if I let him. We alternate giving it away between our offices and friends, especially on special occasions.

My Sweet & Saucy said...

Kids- you gotta love them...they are quite opinionated about their culinary tastes. You can send this bread my way anytime though!

Maria♥ said...

Patricia kids will be kids! My son is a fussy one and has been known to refuse to even try something he "thinks" he won't like!! This banana bread looks delish and something I would love to try myself!

Maria
x

Steph said...

My kids are so picky. I always try to sneak healthy items in our food and my 3 year old can pick it within the first 3 seconds. The bread looks delicious to me though!

Anonymous said...

Bread looks great to me! What if you threw some chocolate chips in? Do you think that would work to satisfy the kiddies? Well, more bread for you I suppose!

Anonymous said...

I know what you are talking about - my daughter gets picky by the day. Things that taste heavenly to us, the adults, are "yucky" (that's what she says to her. Your bread looks lovely! Lovely combination of ingredients too!

pam said...

I love the bananas on top!

cookworm said...

I think the bread looks great! It's funny; banana bread seems so American to me, but in a place where bananas are actually grown, the kids don't like it! Anyway, you can't please everyone - and I'm glad you got to share it with the adults. Those kids will grow in new tastebuds someday! :)

test it comm said...

That banana oatmeal bread looks really good!

ChichaJo said...

If the kids wont take it...please send some over!!! :)

I know exactly what you mean though...C doesn't really eat sweets or desserts either so I am always looking for people to foist what I make on!

Anonymous said...

Yeah - sometimes kids just don't know what they are missing out on! This looks yummy :)

Anonymous said...

Aw, what do kids know? Looks delicious if you ask me!

Kelly-Jane said...

I go in and bake with 4-6 year olds at school - won't try banana bread ;) It's funny itsn't it things you thing they'd go mad for and they are not keen! I'll have a slice please if there is any left :)

Patricia Scarpin said...

Maya, I have doing the office thing, too, and all I can say is that I have become pretty popular among my coworkers. :)

Melody, you are right - kids will say how they feel no matter what, and that's wonderful.

Maria, thank you for your visit! I'm glad you like the loaf!
xx

Steph, how can they do it? They must have special sight or something. :)

Joy, I told them there was chocolate inside, but that didn't work, sweetie. :)

Farida, "yucky" made me laugh. :)

Pam, thank you!

Cookworm, bananas are so common here in Brazil, you are right!

Kevin, thanks!

Joey, you and I are on the same situation, sweetie. :)

Kristen, you have 3, you know better than me! :)

Hannah, thank you, darling!

Kelly-Jane, that sounds like a lot of fun!

Elle said...

The kids don't know what they are missing. This looks delicious!

Aimei said...

I find most people, especially kids prefer creamed - (cream with butter and sugar) cakes rather than quick breads cos' of its texture. :) Guess only people who like to bake will appreciate the goodness of quick breads. Yours definitely sounds good to me!! :D

joforjoanna said...

the bread looks so delicious! kids are definitely missing out... ;)

Jaime said...

i don't understand kids, either. that bread look irresistible!

Anonymous said...

Totally understand how it feels when nobody's around to appreciate my bakes which also explains my ever expanding waistline. Hee

Your bread looks great tho!!!

Y said...

Oh what a shame. Kids are hard to predict aren't they? I made muesli bars for a friend's daughter once and she sort of turned her nose up at them because there weren't any chocolate chips in them! :-D

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