The Good & The Bad

Before I start this post: Sorry the pictures are not too pretty, it is a little hard with black skinned bananas

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You know what? More often than not, if you have a really good run going on in life, there will be something bad to stop your flow. I am not saying something bull-charging-towards-you bad but each day has a bittersweet element.

Of course we have those days that everything is sweet but they are evened out by those days that everything is bitter no?

It seems funny to me that I have never realised this till now. I would have thought it was obvious!
I realised it on the day my nose piercing got infected (the bitter part). Seems like I need an anti-allergen one – looks like a repierce is in order for the holidays!
Sorry, back to what I was saying!

Basically one that day, I had memorised my French, finished my homework, controlled my sweet tooth pretty well and was having a pretty brilliant day over all. Then at night, it happened. And the rest of the day felt like a bust.

But I have to wonder. Looking back, why did I react so upset? Sure it is a bummer, but I guess I forgot that unlike with ears, not both sides of your nose gets pierced … unless you want that in the first place!

The point is, I let that one bitter thing ruin a pretty good day! Why should I let that happen, it just seems so futile no?

The same goes for yesterday. I bombed my French speaking a little because that is what happens when you kind of lose your voice the period before and then start coughing during the exam . The day was cold, rainy, pretty miserable. But after a rant, I made sure this entire bitter day did not stay that way.

I went home and made what you have been seeing while (I hope) reading
I relaxed and enjoyed the fact that I had no study to do until today (Wednesday)

And you know what? I loved it! I turned what could have been a pretty cruddy day overall into a bad day with an upside
I like doing that. Want to keep doing it

Anyway so moral is to always focus on the good stuff and if there is no good stuff, get up and make it (we can all cook, or at the very least, get out a bowl of ice cream )

So here are some good times pictures!

1. I won a lava cake from Baskin Robbins and ate every single delicious bite teamed with ice cream and melted whipped cream. Kill me, it was gorgeous!

2. It really made my days when both Sally, a.k.a The Cat Protectress, @ Catpurrology and Lisa @ La Vie Eclectique awarded me with the Blog On Fire Award! Burn? I don’t think so. Hot? You bet it is
If you have not visited these fabulous bloggers, then I realllllly think you need to! CP is cat (her cat is the cutest – Slash!) enthusiast and against mistreatment of animals! Lisa, as it says in her About page is all for pursuing an eclectic life style, recording her wonderful life through her blog as she goes!

As far as this award goes, it requires you to nominate 8 other bloggers + tell 8 things about yourself.
Since I was lucky enough to recently receive the Versatile Blogger Award where I revealed some things about myself, I will not bore you with more information about my life

I will however, nominate these amazing bloggers! Congrats guys

• Lyn @ Lovely Pantry
• Suzie @ Two Dogs In The Kitchen
• Kristen @ Frugal Antics Of A Harried Homemaker
• Julie @ Outtakes On The Outskirts (thank you for your award by the way my friend, I will be giving it out in my next post no doubt )
• Kelly @ My Love Affair With Running
• Laura @ Laura Loves Cakes
• Kristianne @ My San Francisco Kitchen
• Carla Sue @ Eat Sweet

3. My mum surprised me with this amazingly smooth, rich and creamy cheesecake slice from a local cafe, Jamaica Blue! Thank you mummy

And now, if you are having a less than perfect day, I want to brighten it up with this creation (which I ate on behalf of you all, you must know this )

The banana becomes all smooth, soft and mushy, the brownie batter is undercooked and fudgy, but it is eggless so all good,  and the skin should be close to falling straight off the banana

Enjoy the 4-B treat my friends!

Brownie Batter Banana Boats
An original Choc Chip Uru recipe

Serves: 8 people + makes extra brownies

Ingredients

Eggless Brown Butter Brownie Batter/Brownies

• 1 cup plain flour
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
  
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup caster sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 cup + 2 tbs butter
• 100g dark chocolate
• 1/2 tsp coffee essence
• 1/2 cup full cream milk (add in 2 tbs at a time)

** Use leftover brownie batter and make brownies by lining a pan with baking paper, and baking in a preheated oven of 160 degrees C for 15-20 minutes, or until a skewer inserted comes out with gooey crumbs!

Other

• 8 large, semi-ripe bananas (if you have fully ripe, the skin will not be firm enough to hold boat shape)
  
• Any other add-ins desired – coconut, hot fudge, caramel sauce, chopped caramels, sweet chips, chopped chocolate bars, extra fruit, fruit sauce, spices, marshmallows (I went all brownie batter )

Method

Brownie Batter

1. Sift all dry ingredients into a large bowl
   
2. Brown butter over the stove until a nutty smell arises and colour has changed – immediately remove off heat and let cool till lukewarm
3. While cooking, add in dark chocolate and let sit for 2 minutes before gently stirring in so it melted and combines with butter
   

   Because I only made one, I didn’t bother browning the butter

4. Add in coffee essence and stir wet ingredients into dry
   
5. Add in milk, 2 tbs at a time until desired gooey consistency

Assembly

1. Preheat grill to medium-low
2. Place bananas on their sides, and using a paring knife, make an incision through the skin from the top of the banana to the bottom lengthways (do not slice through the bottom of the banana)
   

   MA 15+ picture!

3. Using a spoon, gently widen the cavity and scoop out some banana if more space required
4. Spoon in generous dollops of brownie batter
   
5. Smooth top, sprinkle or swirl through additional toppings
6. Place in grill for 1-2 minutes or until the skin turns black and soft (watch it like an eagle! It goes from fine to burnt in seconds!)
7. Take out carefully, serve vanilla ice cream and then eat (but they will be VERY hot, so try not to burn your fingers or your tongue!)

It went a little too fast

Notes

• If the top crust of the filling burns a little just scrape it off and release the gooey-ness underneath

Hope I made your day better mes amis, I shall see you all on an exam-free weekend!

Ciao!!!