KIWI AND BANANA BREAKFAST MUFFINS

This morning I made these muffins for breakfast which was a lovely change from usual breakfast. These will be great as a snack at any time of the day or as a tea time treat. I added no sugar for this recipe because of natural sugars from honey and banana but if you prefer them really sweet, add 2 tbsp brown sugar to the mixture. It was sweet enough for me especially with spread of honey on top before serving. It is my own creation and enjoyed making them. Hope you enjoy too.

Below makes 12 muffins.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups of whole meal flour
• 1 and half  cups of oats
• 2tsp baking powder
• pinch of salt
• 1 tsp mixed spice
• 5 tsp of poppy seeds
• 2 large or 3 small bananas, mashed
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 cup milk
• 5 tbsp oil
• 5 tbsp clear honey or pekmez
• 2 tbsp tahini paste ( optional )
• 2 kiwis, diced
• extra jam or honey for glazing.
• sprinkle of poppy seeds.

Preheat the oven to 200C, 180 Fan setting.

Prepare the muffin tin with paper cups or lightly grease the bun tins with oil.

1) Sieve the flour with baking powder and salt. Stir in the oats, spice, poppy seeds in a bowl.

2) In a separate bowl, mix beaten eggs, milk, oil, honey, tahini and mashed bananas. Add this mixture into the bowl with dry ingredients.

3) Mix lightly until all the ingredients are combined, then stir in the chopped kiwi fruit.

4) Divide the mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 20- 25 minutes. Leave muffins to cool in the tins. Transfer them on to a wire rack to cool completely.

5) Warm jam or honey and spread over muffins. Sprinkle with poppy seeds just before serving.

FRUIT & NUT CHOCOLATE COOKIES WITH SESAME SEEDS (cukulota ve susam biskuvi,kuki ))

Yesterday it was snowing outside and I thought what better than to put the kettle on,  for a nice cup of coffee  and make some cookies while watching the snow falling. I was in a creative mood and  created this recipe. It took couple of attempts  to get the recipe right but the result was very good and the cookies were lovely. Makes 30- 32 cookies.

INGREDIENTS

• 4 tbsp melted butter
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 5 tbsp light brown sugar
• 1 egg and plus 1 egg white, beaten
• 2  full cups of self raising wholemeal flour ( 250 g )
• pinch of salt
• 1 level tsp cinnamon
• 2 tbsp sesame seeds
• 100 g fruit and nut chocolate, chopped
• 2 tbsp milk
• 1 yolk of an egg for glazing
• 2 tbsp sesame seeds for sprinkling.

METHOD

Preheat the oven and grease the baking tray. Place chocolate in a plastic bag and break them with the rolling pin until you have small pieces. Set aside. Separate one of the eggs to use the yolk for glazing and white for the dough mixture.

1) In a large  mixing bowl, cream the butter, olive oil and sugar until light and fluffy. I used electric hand blender. 

2) Add the beaten egg and egg white gradually. Sieve the flour, cinnamon and salt together. Mix the sesame seeds and chocolate pieces with the flour. Then add flour and nut mixture into the  creamed mixture, mix well with a wooden spoon. Add milk and mix thoroughly.

3) Divide the dough in to 30 walnut size pieces and shape them with floured hands,  into rounds. 

4) Place them into the baking tray and press them gently to make 5 cm round cookies. Brush them with egg yolk and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

5) Bake in preheated oven 190 C, 170 Fan setting for 12- 15 minutes. Cool them on wire rack before serving.