WALNUT BROWNIES

Whenever it comes to baking, I get into the kids' group as a learner. I search the internet for the simplest recipes, keep my i-pad on the kitchen counter, follow a recipe stepwise....a cup of this....a spoonful of that.....I find it difficult. It is necessary to know the basics of baking. I enjoy baking cake on my loved one's birthdays....however simple it is.....it is my way of saying you mean so much to us.....

Yesterday was such a friend's birthday who himself is an expert chef .....but...thank God...a poor baker as I am...His dear wife ordered for a huge Tiramisu Cake.... I thought Walnut Brownies should be fine to go with a scoop of ice cream the next day.....Moreover...anything done with love and care is worth having.

Going back to the 90's, during my college days, our mother got me a cake oven sort of thing, which had a plug socket system. I knew only two types of cake recipes then....it was such a fun and pleasure doing something for your loved ones. Throughout the year I would bake a cake with lots of cashews and raisins and on Xmas....a fruit cake....

In those days, in an average, middle class Indian family...cakes were eaten only on birthdays and Xmas. That simple cake oven gave some flexibility to me.... our daddy loved home baked cakes....he has his birthday this month....and how I wish to bake a cake for him. I remember, he always encouraged my cooking efforts..not a critic as our mom. That vintage cake oven found a place in Barrackpore's store room....given her nature.... the  mother could not throw it away...

Coming back to the present....the son and his father eats all of my experimental bakes without any noise. The friends liked my brownies too yesterday, told they did taste like brownies...hahaha....they are encouraging like our father. I made them eggless, used bananas, hence they may not be authentic in taste, but good. Also, I use less sugar.

INGREDIENTS :

Plain Flour : 1 coffee mug
Baking Powder : 1/2 tsp
Brown Sugar : 1/2 small tea cup [you may need more]
Cocoa Powder : 3 tbsp [ I used 2 tbsp of Coffee]

Plain Yogurt : 1 medium sized tea cup
Butter : 3/4 cup[melted] [I used 4 tbsp of Olive Oil]
Chocolate Chips: 3/4cup [I used Meiji Black Chocolate Bar I buy from Daiso Japan]
Banana : 2 small sized
Vanilla Extract : 1tsp
Walnuts : 4 tbsp [chopped]

PROCEDURE :

Preheat oven at 160* C [180* in your oven may be]. 

In a big bowl, take flour, baking powder, sugar, cocoa or coffee powder. Sieve well.

Melt the chocolate bar at lowest heat in the microwave oven. Once cool, add it to the batter you will prepare. Beat to incorporate.

Beat together bananas, yogurt, sugar, oil in a blender. Add the flour mix, little at a time, mix well. Add the vanilla essence, mix well.

Once the mixture is ready, line a square cake tin with butter paper,  pour the batter into it.  Arrange the chopped walnuts atop. Place the cake tin atop the low height wired stool we use in a microwave.

I baked it at 160*C for 15-16 minutes, your time may vary. Check inserting a fork if it's done. Once cool, transfer into a plate and cut into squares. 

It is to be had as it is or with scoops of vanilla ice cream....Heavenly....