Baking Mondays

Another monday and another baking day! Todays bounty includes banana bread, chubby breadsticks and pea and ham soup.

 

 These are big fat salt and pepper breadsticks and are so moreish that I had to bake double so they could last more than one day around my house. This recipe was taken from Lorraine Pascale's Baking made Easy book which has loads of brilliant ideas include the "I can't believe you made that"cake that lookes awesome and as the book title suggests is actually quite simple to make.

 

This pea and ham soup is a variation on a recipe for pea soup by Sophie Dahl. Simply chop and fry 3 spring onions in a little olive oil for around 3 minutes. Next add 450g of frozen peas and coat them in the oil before adding 1 litre of vegetable stock and either some mixed herbs or some mint (or even both) and leave to simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Blitz it up in a blender and serve in bowls with some chopped ham and a dollop of creme fraiche. Miss Dahl suggests her version cold for the summer but as there has been a surprise snow shower today I kept it hot and served with the breadsticks to dip.

  

This banana bread is also taken from Miss Dahl's Voluptuous Delights and is by no means a disappointment. My sister and me grew up on banana and chocolate chip cakes and this is a little bit of an adult version albeit without the chocolate. Next time I think a few chocolate chunks thrown into the mix or a melted chocolate frosting on the top might make it even better. Served warm with a swipe of butter and a pot of tea.