Monday, March 24, 2008

More Than A Spice Dictionary:

Have you ever had any difficulties in finding spices' names in another language?

Gernot Katzer’s Spice Pages is a superb website, introduced to me by our friend, Kia. Gernot Katzer’s Spice Page is more than a spice dictionary and offers answers to many of your questions about spices, like their origins, usage and botanical information.

To find out about most of spices that you know the names in other languages, for instance in Farsi: click on indices, click on Multilingual and then choose your language’s script, for instance Arabic script. You can find the name of your spice in Farsi and find more information on it in English. There are six lingual categories offered in that part.

Be my guest take a look at it and you will go back there whenever you have spice questions” Says Kia.


Tuesday, March 11, 2008

A Simple Banana Cake

A Miracle Banana Cake:

Baking a cake is the hardest thing that can happen in my kitchen and for me every single time I bake a cake and it tastes good is a miracle. This Banana cake was the first cake I have baked. And it is a miracle that has never stopped from happening. It is easy to make for its ingredients are easy to find in every kitchen. Among my friends Dario loves this cake and I know another friend is waiting to examine this recipe.





Baking Time: 50 - 60 minutes
350° F and 5x9 in loaf pan







Ingredients:
3 Ripe Bananas: Tip: I have made this recipe with two or even one bananas. It still comes out perfect. So go with as much ripe banana you have ready at your kitchen.
1 ½ cups Flour
1cup White Sugar
¼ cup Canola Oil: you can use the same amount of butter instead of canola oil
1 tsp Vanilla Powder or Vanilla Sugar Powder
1tsp Baking Powder
½ tsp Baking Soda
1 Egg


Directions:
1- Preheat oven to 350° F. Use an aluminum foil to cover your loaf pan and spray your pan with canola oil nonstick spray or just grease it with a small amount of canola oil.

2- Mash the ripe bananas: I use a fork to smash the bananas. It is really easy; just put the bananas in a big plate crush them with the back of the fork.

3- Mix the bananas with the flour, baking soda and baking powder and oil. Then add the egg, vanilla and sugar. Mix well and pour into your baking dish.

4- Bake for 50 - 60 minutes. See if it is baked through. Check with a narrow stick or a toothpick.