An Old Vintage Hovis Bread Tin and Nigel Slater’s Black Banana Cake Recipe
An Old Vintage Hovis Bread Tin
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Nigel Slater’s Black Banana Cake Recipe
An Old Vintage Hovis Bread Tin and Nigel Slater’s Black Banana Cake Recipe
I am an avid collector of what is called “Kitchenalia”, although some of my collection comes under the banner of “Kitsch-enalia”! I have plans to share my vintage collection of much-loved kitchen equipment soon – over many posts I am sure, as I really am a bit of a magpie. My collection is vast and covers many sorts of baking and cooking apparel, of which my favourites pieces are vintage (and antique) cake tins, patty tins, jelly moulds and bread tins. In my collection I have two old Hovis bread tins – each one is sufficient to bake a 1 lb loaf (that’s 450g in modern money) and they both have that iconic of names on the side AND underneath the tins, HOVIS, which is then imprinted on the bread as it bakes. I bought both of my bread tins from a Norfolk bakery, who were sadly closing down, they had hundreds of these bread tins up for auction, as every single loaf of Hovis bread they baked on the premises was baked in these type of loaf tins. It’s very sad to see the demise of our local bakeries, but I am happy to report that things are starting to look up, as we all start to demand “artisan” bread again. And, I am happy to keep these humble bread tins in production with my own baking experiments.
An Old Vintage Hovis Bread Tin and Nigel Slater’s Black Banana Cake Recipe
Anyway, to get back to today’s recipe, which I baked in one of my Hovis tins, it’s that good old standby, the saviour of old bananas, a Banana Bread or as Nigel Slater calls it so eloquently, a Black Banana Cake. I had some black bananas, I also had some yellow bananas, somehow my shopping went a little haywire and I ended up buying fresh bananas before using my old ones……it happens! I am NOT one to throw food away, and even though my old bananas were VERY black, funnily enough they were still okay inside. (This usually happens when bananas are transported in cold containers where the temperature is too low, and are then kept in over-cool storage areas before being sent to the shops and supermarkets) As part of Janice (Farmersgirl Kitchen) and Sue’s (A Little Bit of Heaven on a Plate) Dish of the Month, where everyone is encouraged to make or bake something a la Nigel Slater, I decided to try his recipe for Black Banana Cake, rather than my usual recipe for Banana and Walnut Tea Bread. Nigel’s recipe suggests hazelnuts, which sounds like a great nutty addition, but I had to use walnuts, as I still have several jars from my own walnut tree harvest of last year.
Nigel’s recipe also has the wicked addition of CHOCOLATE! I was out of chocolate too – I know that puts me in the minority of the population, but I am on a diet and if I KNOW there is a bar or four of chocolate in the house, I’ll scoff the lot! So, I added some extra nuts to my banana cake and added a few white chocolate chips that I had in my “baking odds and ends tin”. (I don’t count white chocolate as chocolate, but I do use it for baking and butter-cream icing now and then) The cake was remarkably forgiving about these changes and the result was a deliciously moist and nutty banana bread of the very highest calibre. I even had a faint “Hovis” embedded in the sides of my cake as well as underneath……it was an easy recipe and I plan to make it again with all of Nigel’s ingredient suggestions, as I imagine that dark chocolate chips and hazelnuts will enhance this recipe even further.
Black Banana Cake by Nigel Slater
Nigel’s recipe can be found here: Nigel Slater Black Banana Cake and the recipe is taken from Nigel Slater’s Simple Suppers, which is a VERY successful BBC programme where Nigel takes us through a week’s worth of seasonal and simple supper recipes. If you don’t have the ingredients, like me, then just do as I did and add a few extra walnuts as well as any other chocolatey stuff, such as white chocolate chips (drops). I DO advise using very ripe (black) bananas, as they have the flavour and texture that make this recipe work – fresh bananas are JUST too firm. This banana cake recipe has fortified both of us over the last few days, as we start to “spring clean” the house, and I have served a couple of slices (buttered) with our afternoon mug of tea…….pure bliss! I also have a FABULOUS Chocolate Paradise Bread and Butter Pudding recipe that makes good use of black bananas, if you fancy something on the pudding side! Have a great Wednesday, and see you later, Karen
An Old Vintage Hovis Bread Tin and Nigel Slater’s Black Banana Cake Recipe
An Old Vintage Hovis Bread Tin and Nigel Slater’s Black Banana Cake Recipe
Agnieszka Jarecka-Griffiths says
Hm, I’ve never thought of adding chocolate to a banana cake… Guess what I’ll be baking next!
Gill bland says
I love those hovis tins. I have one too and it’s out on display all the time. Always after new banana bread recipes too. Must try this one
shelley jessup says
tweeted this post as @jessups
Jane Colston - Updown Cottage says
I definitely need a Hovis tin in the cottage!!
Karen Booth says
I know! They are lovely aren’t they and as you say, for the location of your cottage, JUST perfect! Karen
Camilla @Fab Food 4 Alll says
Ooh that look squiggy and delicious and I remember watching Nigel make this on the TV several years ago. Really must give it go – thanks for the push Karen:-)
Anne McCutcheon says
This looks really delicioous
Fiona Matters says
I just love fruit bread and banana bread is one of my favorites. Generally my bananas never have time to go out of date! But just incase they did 😀
Giulia Cupcake says
Delicious. I made my version http://giuliacupcake.it/banana-bread/
Keegan says
Banana bread is one of my favorite things!
Dominic says
I absolutely LOVE Nigel’s banana cake, it’s one of the best out there… love the retro cake tin too… I imagine your kitchen is like a vintage heaven!
Susan says
Lovely entry Karen, and a fabulous cake. Thanks for your entry to dish of the month. x
Vohn says
Love, love, love that Hovis tin Karen. Vohn x
Kevin Dooley says
Made a couple of bananas cakes before, recently I was making some muffins and wanted something to add to the mix to add more bulk so I decided to add a single banana, I was amazed at how one banana completely transformed the muffins/cup cakes. At first my tastebuds were taken aback by the strength of the banana but I soon adjusted and they were very nice!
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
The bread is gorgeous as is the Kitchenalia loaf pan. I have a vintage baking sheet of theirs and I just love vintage bakeware in photos! And I love banana bread. This is moist & perfect!
Karen Booth says
Thanks Averie! There is something very special about baking in vintage bakeware! Karen
shelley jessup says
I have just tweeted this recipe as @jessups
shelley jessup says
I have just tweeted this recipe as @jessups thank you
Herbert Appleby says
shared here https://twitter.com/SmokinHerbz1/status/315250264238088192
Angie Hoggett says
shared here: https://twitter.com/angiehoggett/status/315269304448860161
Jane Middleton says
Shared http://www.facebook.com/jane.middleton.71/posts/424554097634540
Claire Butler says
love this as i hate ripe bananas so fab use for them
alison c says
Hi i have shared this recipe on twitter and also bookmarked it as im going to try it on my day of on wednesday – see if it betters my tried and tested recipe
Becs@Lay the table says
Love the Hovis tins – I know you can buy replica ones but I don’t think they have the Hovis wording on the bottom. I bet you have a treasure trove of goodies, can’t wait to see them!
shelley jessup says
I am sharing your post on twitter as @jessups
Tracy Nixon says
Shared via G+ thanks!
Maya Russell says
I have three black bananas just waiting to be made into a cake!
Maya Russell says
Shared on Twitter as @maisietoo – https://twitter.com/maisietoo/status/316464303890907136
Rachel McGrath says
God I’m craving banana loaf like a deranged thing now!
JUDITH LUSCOMBE says
I dont normally like black bananas but this looks delicious
Maya Russell says
Shared on Twitter as @maisietoo – https://twitter.com/maisietoo/status/323684689607008257
olivia kirby says
yum tweeted @olivia280177
Nayna Kanabar (@SIMPLYF00D) says
I love this twist on the banana cake it looks delicious and the clicks are awesome.
Jayne Sullivan says
I want one of those tins. What a great to use up those mushy bananas.
Tracy Nixon says
Tweeted thank you x
Maya Russell says
I just want to make some right now! Shared on Twitter: https://twitter.com/maisietoo/status/355942683052740608
Tracy Nixon says
Greatest recipe for a picnic!
Maya Russell says
Shared on Twitter – @maisietoo
claire gray says
mmm I have to try this, looks lovely x
Kirsty Woods says
sounds lovely
Tracy Nixon says
I made this cake yesterday with my kids help! It turned out much better than I thought and we enjoyed a slice with a nice warm cup of tea after watching the Rememberance parade through our town centre. It was really cold out so we looked forward to our cake when we got home!