Banana and Walnut Cake and Fresh as a daisy? Almost!

Having the plague, I cancelled the dinner party I had planned for Saturday night so I could rest on the couch in front of a movie then head to be early where I hoped to wake as fresh as a daisy.

Banana and Walnut Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

But Alfie was difficult to put to bed because he’d been up late watching the Titanic.  And I suppose that’s a little inappropriate given it’s rated M15 and he has a few years to go before he reaches that age, but he has a Titanic sticker book with a zillion stickers you move into position to bring the story to life.  And he wanted to do this project in front of the movie so I let him watch some of it.  When I switched it off the questions started like, ‘How do you know how big an iceberg is under the water if you can’t see it?’, and ‘How deep is the water where the Titanic is?  Would it be like walking from here to my school?’, and, ‘What sort of fish live where the Titanic is?’ and, ‘Is Rose real?’, and then, ‘But if the story’s real, how come Rose isn’t real?’


So I was pretty burnt out from question time and went to bed later than expected hoping for a sound sleep.

But Archie came home at around midnight and clomped inside with his heavy boots pounding the timber floors and went straight to the kitchen where he switched on all the lights and started rummaging through the fridge which is a sure sign he had enough money for a night out but not enough money to eat.  Then I heard the bang of a plate hitting the glass in the microwave and the door slammed and the gadget whirled, then it was more slamming and drawers opening and then shut with great force while I lay there counting the minutes until he finished.

Perfect for dessert or a snack

He headed back up the hallway and poked his head into my room and said, ‘Are you awake?’

‘Yes’.

‘Did I wake you?’

‘Yes’.

‘Well just letting you know I’m home and I’ll be up early because I’ve got work tomorrow.’

‘Great.  Okay.’

So Archie went to bed and I was almost asleep when the doorbell rang.  It was Arabella.  She’s been to an 18th and promised she’d be home by eleven but it was now 1am.  I got out of bed and opened the door.  ‘Where have you been?’

‘I couldn’t get a taxi.’

‘I thought your friend was giving you a lift home.’

‘Change of plans’, she said as she took off her platform stilettos in the hallway.  ‘I have to pay the cab driver.  Do you have any money?’

‘You caught a cab with no money?’

‘I knew you’d have some.  I’ll pay you back after work tomorrow mum, but he’s out on the street waiting.’

‘For heaven’s sake’.

‘Where’s your wallet?’

‘Just a minute.  I’ll get it’.  So I went into the bedroom and found the money to give to the cab driver.

‘And mum, my alarm’s not working so can you wake me early because I’ve got to go to work.’

I think I was asleep by about 2.30am and was woken a short time later by two teenagers rushing to get to work on time.

Children living at home are there to thwart your best laid plans.

There’s a constant cry in this house of, ‘There’s nothing to eat’.  I made this cake and iced it with cream cheese frosting to diminish those cries.

The perfect way to use up over-ripe bananas

Banana and Walnut Cake

Serves:  10-12

Degree of Difficulty:  2/5

Cost:  Minimal.  This cake uses everyday ingredients and I only needed to buy walnuts and cream cheese so this was made for less than $10.00.

  • 125g butter
  • 3/4 cup castor sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 very ripe, small bananas
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
  • 3/4 cup self-raising flour
  • 3/4 cup plain flour
  • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

Preheat oven to 180C (375F)

Mash bananas finely with fork (you should have 3/4 cup mashed banana).

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Add bananas and vanilla, beat on low speed until well combined.  Stir in walnuts, then sifted flours and soda in two lots; mix well.  Spread mixture into well-greased 20cm ring tin, bake in moderate oven 40 minutes or until cooked when tested.  Stand few minutes, turn onto wire rack to cool.

Serve with ice cream, cream or just on its own

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 250g cream cheese
  • 60g butter
  • 1 tsp vanilla essence
  • 2 1/2 cups icing sugar

Mix cream cheese, butter and vanilla essence until smooth, gradually beat in sifted icing sugar.

Ice over cold cake.  Decorate with walnut halves if desired.

The banana cake recipe is from The Australian Women’s Weekly ‘Best Ever Recipes from the Weekly’ Cookbook that I doubt is still in print.

Want to keep in touch?  Join the fun on the Hotly Spiced Facebook page! 

Comments

  1. You’ve never going to get over the plague this way, Missy! Do what I used to do.. change your name. It’ll give you a break. Mum doesn’t live here anymore, I’m Esmerelda. 🙂

    Cake looks yummy but is it filled with germs or did you bake those out?

    • hotlyspiced says:

      You are too funny Maureen. I’m quite sure the germs were killed in the cooking process and if anyone’s concerned, not to worry, I’ll eat it all myself!

  2. Green Dragonette says:

    Poor Charlie-but I’m sure eating that yummy cake will make
    everything seem a whole lot better…if it doesn’t then treat yourself to a second
    slice!!

  3. Oh no! You need to rest up! Next time just pretend you’re sleeping even if you’re not 😉 Hope you get well soon! This cake sounds like the perfect comfort food.

  4. Jed Gray (sportsglutton) says:

    Hope you were able to get some rest Charlie…teenagers can be such a pain, but many years later they’ll appreciate everything you’ve done for them. 🙂

  5. I love cream cheese and banana together. What a lovely cake, Charlie. Too bad about the sleep, though. I find if I can get some good solid sleeps, I can beet the cold well. I hope you feel better soon.
    Eva http://kitcheninspirations.wordpress.com

  6. niasunset says:

    I wanted to knock your door now 🙂 You are so nice dear Charlie… I hope and wish you to get well soon… This cake seems so artistic and delicious! Thank you, love, nia

  7. A_Boleyn says:

    You’re amazingly patient and kind. 🙂 Great cake to satisfy those bottomless tummies.

    http://a-boleyn.livejournal.com/

  8. My goodness but you still have the energy to bake? I’d eat the whole cake as comfort, Charlie! It’s probably best that I don’t cook as much as you do…I wouldn’t be able to resist my own tempations! I love a good banana bread, so this cake must be very moist and tasty. It’s quite a pretty comfort food, too! I hope it is appreciated, if not, send it my way! 🙂

  9. Mary @ beyondjelly says:

    You’re a saint. The plague is horrible this year… Get well soon.

  10. great cake and oh my I have it all to come he he

  11. Jennifer Cullen says:

    Mmm. That cake looks divine! Hope you’re feeling better. And have gotten some rest. My 15 yo is packing for a month away at his grandparents. The questions are coming fast and furious. Ayyyy.

  12. Victoria at Flavors of the Sun says:

    What a great and understanding mother. In all of your stories, I’ve never heard you say once that you were mad. Exhausted, frustrated, slightly annoyed…but, what can I say? You are a saint. But your kids sound great too.

    I wish I had a piece of that cake right now. This minute.

  13. The cake looks amazing, I guess that that’s what is like having teenager kids!!! Hope you get better soon!!

    http://www.bakinginspain.blogspot.com

  14. Hope you’re feeling better soon Charlie – this cake looks great… I bought some bananas recently which were terrible. Not over-ripe per se… just tasted really bad. I might make those into a cake like this 🙂

  15. claire @ live and love to eat says:

    Mom of the year award? Love the simplicity of the cake recipe, and the banana/walnut combination! 🙂

  16. Claire @ Claire K Creations says:

    Oh Charlie you poor thing I hope you’re feeling better. I do like Alfie’s inquisitiveness though. Very clever questions!
    I wish I had that cake sitting on my bench!

  17. Steph @ Lipstick & Cake says:

    Oh I would love a slice (or two) of that cake right now Charlie! Yum.

  18. In my experience, those bloody teenagers wake me up just as much now as they did when they were babies. Only now it’s more difficult to get back to sleep as I lie there worrying about what they’ve been up to!
    I think I might just have given up and stayed up eating that splendid looking cake.

    • hotlyspiced says:

      That is so true. When they’re little they wake up so much but at least you know where they are! When they’re older they tend not to wake you as much but you like awake anyway because you have no idea where they are! xx

  19. A constant cry of “nothing to eat” it a house with a mom who posts recipes with pictures? I think they deserve a reality check.

  20. Love this recipe, I always have over ripe bananas in the house, but no teenagers. I sure hope you get some rest and get well soon!

  21. Oh you poor thing Charlie 🙁 you’re sick but yet you haven’t had the chance to rest or get much sleep at all…i really hope you’re feeling much better now! this looks like an amazing cake and I have all the ingredients at home so i think i’m gonna make it VERY SOON 😀 Take care xox

  22. SarahKate (Mi Casa-Su Casa) says:

    Bless your heart! I hope you’re feeling a bit better now. I think that cream cheese icing cures ALL ailments!

  23. I LOVE a good cream cheese frosting and on a banana walnut bread?! What could be better! I better start enjoying these few years of sleep before the teenage years set-in.

  24. ChgoJohn says:

    Bananas and walnuts go so well together. Combining them in a cake batter and topping that cake with cream cheese frosting is such a great treat! Surely, with your family, that cake didn’t last a day and you were lucky to get your photos taken.

  25. Oh I hope you are feeling better! Banana cake? You totally have my attention, I adore baked treats with bananas:-) Hugs, Terra

  26. I think Alfie will always remember that you let him watch Titanic. I will never forget the joy I felt when Mum and Dad let me, at the age of 9 or 10, see Romeo + Juliet in the cinemas, because they knew I’d read and reread the play many times before I even knew there was a movie. Hurrah happy childhood memories!

  27. justonecookbook says:

    Hm! Your Banana & Walnut Cake looks delicious! Charlie, I hope you will feel better. I can especially relate to you about endless questions. I’m dying from all these WH questions right now from both of my kids… arrrh!

  28. Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says:

    Hehe Charlie, I’m nominating you for mum of the year 😛 I’m quite serious! I bet the kids would agree too 🙂

  29. I hope you got some of this! It sounds like you needed it!

  30. Mandy - The Complete Cook Book says:

    Never a dull moment in your home Charlie!
    🙂 Mandy

  31. I hope you had a lot of this delicious cake my friend, after all this you deserved it!

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

  32. tania@mykitchenstories.com.au says:

    Do you know Charlie I have 1 child and I sometimes think that i must have failed as a parent because my son does these things, but you are a brilliant parent and it happens to you too. So now I am lost……….. very nice looking cake

  33. Minnesota Prairie Roots says:

    What is it with teenage boys? I love mine dearly. But he makes so much noise (also when I’m trying to fall asleep) that I think there’s an elephant in the house. It doesn’t help that the master bedroom is right next to our bathroom, of which he have only one.

  34. My kids always though there was nothing in the house to eat too. There was just no junk food! This cake looks perfect – though and anything with cream cheese is a definite must for me. I even put cream cheese in mince pies – deluxe! (on my blog).

  35. yummychunklet says:

    Ooh, I like the sound of your cream cheese frosting. Yum!

  36. Sweet Posy Dreams says:

    I always hear that there is nothing good to eat. My 20-year-old has taken to frequently cooking for himself because he wants to eat at odd times, and my leftovers don’t seem to be suitable. Scrambled eggs and stir-fried vegetables has become quite a favorite. I’m just glad he no longer expects me to wait on him hand and foot!

  37. Can’t believe I missed this one! Such a funny post, Charlie, all the more so now that I’ve met your kids.. 😀 My mum has a friend, and her children are all single and have never left home. They’re 43, 46 and 47. Can you imagine!!

  38. This cake sounds delicious. In fact, I could go for a slice right this minute. You can’t ever go wrong when you have a recipe that calls for bananas and nuts. And let’s not forget the cream cheese frosting!

Leave a Reply to Hannah Cancel reply

*