'When the going gets tough the tough get baking '

Right now im huddled over my computer with a giant plate of roast chicken- becuase roasts are always better on a monday ...Nursing my blistered feet and wishing i was somehwhere else. This weekend was the most possibly one of the most tiring in my life and i currently have many painful blisters the size of my toe to prove it. Well i did manage to pick up a few lovelies from Urban outfitters .More on that later . So what do i do to cheer myself up ? I crack out the mixing bowl thats what ...

Im finding it really hard to give up chocolate for lent at the moment -i've already suffered two 'accidents ' involving a galaxy bar ,this is just a little sweet alternative:

 Izzy's banana cake- 
Ingriedients

Melted butter, to grease

125g butter, at room temperature

315g (1 1/2 cups) caster sugar

1 1/4 cups mashed overripe banana (about 2 large bananas)

2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
100ml buttermilk
225g (1 1/2 cups) self-raising flour
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 banana, extra, to decorate
Fresh lemon juice, to brush
Cream cheese frosting :
125g cream cheese, at room temperature
50g unsalted butter, at room temperature
230g (1 1/2 cups) icing sugar mixture
1 1/2 tsp buttermilk-or full fat milk

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Brush a round 20cm (base measurement) loaf tin with melted butter to grease. Line the base and side of the pan with non-stick baking paper.
2. Place the butter, sugar, banana, eggs and vanilla in the bowl of a food processor, and process for 2 minutes or until well combined. Add the buttermilk and process until combined.
3. Add the flour and bicarbonate of soda, and process until just combined. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin. Shake the pan to settle the mixture. Bake in oven for 1 hour or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Set aside in the pan for 10 minutes to cool slightly, before transferring the cake to a wire rack to cool completely.
4. Meanwhile, to make the cream cheese frosting, use an electric beater to beat the cream cheese and butter in a bowl until well combined. Add the icing sugar and beat until well combined. Add the buttermilk and beat until the mixture is pale and creamy.
5. Place the cake on a serving plate. Spread the cream cheese frosting over the top of the cake.

 Serve it warm -it really is heaven,one slice may lead to another i know it did for me !  Switch on some music,sing along , and have a good  dance .

Happy Monday!

Izzy XXX