Banana trail cookies

Summer, especially this summer, does little to encourage baking in a warm kitchen. But I had a couple over-ripe bananas and I'd been wanting to make cookies for some time. So, with the air conditioning on, I wrote this recipe for soft banana chocolate chip cookies.

Banana trail cookies

2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 very ripe banana, mashed
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup white flour
1 cup wheat flour
1 cup granola (I used Kashi GoLean Crunch: Honey Almond Flax) 
1/2 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips (I used Ghirardelli)

Melt butter and dissolve brown sugar in it, let cool. Beat eggs, add sugar. Mix in butter/brown sugar, banana, vanilla, cinnamon, soda, powder and salt. Fold in flour until well mixed. Fold in granola and chocolate chips. Chill dough before dropping, tablespoon size, on cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.

(Recipe by H. Farrell)

Africa's Big Five, through a lens

One of the advantages of visiting South Africa in winter: you get to see animals. Lots of animals. The grasses are low and the animals are out for water in the dry season. The disadvantage? Sitting in an open vehicle going 30 mph at 6 a.m. is not exactly warm and cozy. But it was worth getting up before dawn and staying out past sunset because we managed to see the so-called Big Five, not to mention dozens of other kinds of birds and animals. We began our tour with a sunset drive at Kruger National Park, and within the hour we were fortunate to spot the elusive leopard crossing under the road. 

Over the next day and a half we got up close to the other four animals that will turn on a hunter if wounded: lion, elephant, rhino and buffalo -- aka "black death" -- the only animal that won't give warning before attacking. Our last day we went on a morning drive at the private reserve Thornybush, where the drivers off-roaded and we couldn't stand up and "break the silhouette" of the vehicle (or risk getting attacked). In addition to getting uncomfortably close to many elephants and buffalo, we got to follow a cheetah on her way to track down breakfast. I have to say that after this, the zoo will never be the same.

(Photos by H. Farrell)

The taste of pesto, without the food processor

My latest food dilemma -- what to do with half a cabbage and half a bag of frozen spinach, left over from my last recipe? I started mentally going through my pantry... pasta! With garlic! And of course my favorite, vidalia onions. 
The creation certainly looked good when I finished making it, but I was surprised to discover how much it tasted like pasta with a pesto sauce. This is convenient, considering how much I dislike taking out and cleaning the food processor. I didn't have pine nuts or fresh basil on hand, but I'm sure they would have made it even better. Parmesan cheese also adds to the pesto flavor.

Pasta with garlic, cabbage and spinach

olive oil
1/2 head cabbage, chopped
1/2 bag frozen chopped spinach
1 vidalia onion, chopped
3-4 large cloves garlic, finely chopped
crushed red pepper flakes
basil (fresh or dried)
freshly-ground salt and pepper
pine nuts (op)
whole grain pasta, cooked
parmesan cheese (op)

Sauté onion in olive oil until translucent. Add garlic and spices, stir for 1/2 to 1 min. Mix in cabbage, then add spinach. Stir until heated through and cabbage has softened (7-10 mins on medium to low heat). Add more olive oil if the edges of the cabbage or onions start to brown. Add pine nuts if using. Serve over whole grain pasta with parmesan cheese.

(Recipe by H. Farrell)

Chapman's Peak Drive

The final part of our Cape Peninsula tour, after we already were amazed by the Cape of Good Hope, was nothing less than breathtaking. The lingering clouds and patchy, setting sun accentuated the cliffs and ocean below Chapman's Peak Drive, on the western side of the peninsula. We stopped twice to pile out of the minibus and take photos, but mostly I was snapping away with my camera half out the window. That afternoon remained at the top of my favorites list for the rest of the trip.

(Photos by H. Farrell)

Vegetable curry with rice

I'm pausing from South Africa photos to bring you a recipe inspired by food I had there. The staple in South Africa is meat, but they also make amazing curries. I had a particularly good, spicy vegetable curry at Mama Africa on Cape Town's Long Street. This recipe is very different from that dish, but tasty nonetheless. Invite some friends to dinner because this makes a lot, and serve with a flavorful white wine.

Vegetable curry

1/2 head cabbage
1 vidalia onion
1/2 bag frozen chopped spinach
1 yellow squash
1 medium eggplant
1 large tomato
1 can diced tomatoes (no salt added)
1 can chickpeas 
olive oil
3 bay leaves
1 T curry powder
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
1/2 tsp paprika
freshly ground black pepper and salt to taste

Chop all vegetables and rinse chickpeas. In a large pan, sauté onion in olive oil and add bay leaves while onions are cooking. Add squash. Remove bay leaves and add eggplant and tomatoes, stir. Mix in cabbage, spinach and spices a little at a time. Heat on medium until the vegetables are soft, stirring often. Serve over brown rice.

(Recipe and photo by H. Farrell)

Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope

Continuing my tour of the Cape (see previous post)... 
Here are some of my favorite photos from the lighthouse on Cape Point and the walk/hike down to the Cape of Good Hope. Some tour guides say this is where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet, but it's actually a couple of hours away. Nevertheless, I had a hard time editing down to a few photos, because the place is just. so. beautiful.
Enjoy.

The steep walk up to the lighthouse at Cape Point.

Not much to see from the Point on a foggy day.

Above the clouds at Cape Point.

Walking the boardwalk across rocky cliffs to the Cape of Good Hope.

There are people walking on those rocks that sweep toward the ocean.

When I got to the top of the Cape of Good Hope, there were a couple of kids piling rocks into little towers. I have no idea if they built all of these or were just adding their own, but the little art installation was quite a contrast to the breathtaking views, crashing waves and craggy cliffs.

One view from the top of the Cape of Good Hope, of the Atlantic Ocean.

A rocky Atlantic beach at the Cape of Good Hope.

(Photos by H. Farrell)