Chef-fing with Covid
- fifshaense and friends
- Sep 3, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: Nov 23, 2020
The 2020 coronavirus pandemic brought the world to its sorrowful knees; sowing anguish, creating raged chaos and causing destruction to many, yet 6-months down, our wishful 'recovery' is still a question to be answered only with a vaccine. The disease is relentless, delivering unanticipated challenges in swift, precise execution, unlike anything that could be predicted nor calculated in rebuttal. Covid-19 impacted the lives of many - painfully consuming innocent souls, spreading health and economic misery sparring no one regardless of race, status and religion, significantly more so those in the poorest of hardships with no resource nor power remain helpless. Meanwhile, with no defence weapon against this invisible foe, no known treatment in sight and the entire human race threatened by malignant transmissions like wildfire, we turned to the most basic survival skill - to elude and avoid the enemy.
Many countries implemented a #lockdown order as the government and healthcare providers were laboriously, financially and emotionally overwhelmed. If anything were to be said, the #StayAtHome order brought more anxiety than calm to one's mind; having to live with new rules of controlled movement, closed travel borders, food rations, child care with school closures and stranded loved ones in a foreign land. To say it was a nerve-racking is an understatement, but people soon came to their senses and realized it was for the good of all humanity so we endured as best we can however we could with whatever resource and means. Continuity of jobs was top of the list almost instantly translated to #WFH working-from-home where possible, which by default, increased interaction between family members was unavoidable having to play multiple roles - professional, domestic, nanny and clown - simultaneously under the same roof! Never before performed but achievable as we soon discovered. I have faith in mankind to be intelligent beings; naturally programmed to learn, evolve and adapt to harmful situations. We search for an alternate route, we persevere, and we soon refocused on the good that comes amidst adversity.
As much as we hate to admit it, Covid's lockdown did us a favour forcing on progress, advancement and discoveries. Like a continued cycle of change, adapting to this new norm led to the sweet awakening of many hidden talents, one, which is very apparent being culinary skills! Staying home was opportune in honing cooking skills amongst others, and remarkably so, Chefs were born in our circle of peers, family and friends which otherwise, would have remained buried. In times of despair, food comforts and feed the soul. Sorry (but not sorry) my dear keto followers, carbs are the way to go here. I'd say -Make the bitter better with batter!
Never one to be recognised for my culinary skills (but the lack of it) so having succeeded in this high carb, high protein, chocolatey goodness of devious dessert brought on a serious sugar rush. Skip cake-in-mug, skip a day of keto (ketogenic) diet, feed yourself some loving carbs and give this a try!
(i do have a keto version for those who care and will post that later on my keto experience blog)
HEALTHY CHOCOLATE BANANA CAKE / brownie (recipe)
i. 5 average size bananas (coarsely mashed/chopped)
ii. 1 cup organic high protein wheat flour
iii. 1/2 cup organic buckwheat flour
iv. 1/2 cup unsweetened Cocoa powder
v. 1 cup natural greek yoghurt
vi. 1 cup brown sugar (low glycemic)
vii. 50gm butter (salted natural butter)
viii. 2 eggs (room temperature)
ix. 1 tsp vanilla
x. 1/2 tsp baking soda + 1/2 tsp bicarbonate soda
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 175 C for approx 10-minutes
2. Line an 8-inch round cake tin with baking paper (or just smear tin with remaining melted butter on wrapper)
3. In a food processor (I used just a hand whisk though), combine eggs, Greek yogurt, mashed bananas, vanilla extract, brown sugar until smooth 1-2 minutes. Do not over mix/whisk.
4. Sieve buckwheat flour, wheat flour, baking powder, cocoa powder, bicarb soda into the batter. Process another minute or so until dry ingredients are well combined with wet ingredients.
5. Test the batter now for consistency; some individuals tend to have preferred textures but ensure it is not too 'thick' or clumpy. I prefer less sugar in my baking but if you like, you can add a little more sugar.
6. Pour out batter from the food process into prepared tin.
7. Bake 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick can be removed clean from the center.
8. Remove from the oven and this point, sprinkle choc chips (if u like) onto the surface of the cake . IT melts in nicely without disappearing entirely into the cake mixture.
9. Cool in the pan 60 minutes before slicing.
Note: As the recipe contains dairy, please keep unfinished portion refrigerated. To eat, just thaw to room temperature.
Do you think you have a hidden talent? What would it take to unveil your inborn gift? WAIT NOT for another calamity before you share your flair with the world but explore now where your heart desires.
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