Banana Chocolate Muffins

It's been so long ... oops... so much to update, so little time.

We had spent time with cousins who trotted across the globe, nursed sick boys (the usual fever for S.P but a really nasty experience with Microplasma for Peanut - he had a high fever which hit 40 degrees C for a few days and could not walk because this particular strain of bacteria attacks the calf muscles! Took a whole week to recover, dah), gone on a holiday in Phuket, hosted Peanut's birthday party at home, attended 2 birthday parties, enjoyed the boys' first Mandarin speaking puppet show (The Monkey King's 3 encounters with the Skeleton Spirit - pardon, my crude translation), watched a play (Pinocchio - not too bad for a local production; almost magical except for the big blue bird which looked ghoulish), celebrated Halloween, visited the zoo (in torrential rain typical of this time of the year), went for our first McDonald's organised Superhero party, performed in the school's annual concert (the boys, I mean), had numerous playdates with neighbours' kids and watched the latest instalment of The Chronicles of Narnia - the Voyage of the Dawn Treader (highly recommended, totally captivating though a little long for Sweet Potato).

There, that's a quick summary. Well, until I find time to sort out my thoughts and photos for some of the backlog, here's a recipe to keep you distracted - for those who enjoy baking.

Banana Chocolate Muffins
(Adapted from Nigella Lawson's recipe - see title link for original recipe)


2 very ripe or overripe medium bananas (or 3 if you like your muffins with a strong banana taste)

125ml vegetable oil (or 120g melted butter)

2 eggs

100g soft light brown sugar (or caster sugar)

225g plain flour

3 tablespoons (Nestle) cocoa powder, sifted

60g of grated dark chocolate (optional)

2 teaspoon of baking powder


1. Preheat the oven to 190°C and line a muffin tin with paper or muffin cases.
2. Mash the bananas by hand. Still beating and mashing, add the oil (or butter) followed by the eggs and sugar.
3. Mix the flour, cocoa powder, grated chocolate and baking powder together and add this mixture, beating gently, to the banana mixture, then spoon it into the prepared papers.
4. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, by which time the muffins should be dark, rounded and peeking out of their cases. Allow to cool slightly in their tin before removing to a wire rack.
Serves: Makes 12