Banana Slice with vegan condensed milk

I had planned to only review recipes from <em>Neighbourhood</em> by Hetty Mckinnon. once every few months but just can’t help trying out another recipe from this gorgeous cookbook. As I flick through the book I think about what neighbourhood means to me personally.    I live in a ‘hood’ very close to a small town which I have been in love with for the last ten or so years. It is a country town with a difference. We are two blocks down from the main drag and often I get frustrated with loud machinery, the constant obsession of people building and adding on to their houses and the very regular lawn mowing.    However more often than not I have to pinch myself when I realise how quiet and how quaint the streets are where I live. I have an elderly neighbour who I rarely see, an elderly lady lives diagonally opposite who I wave to every bin night, the artist neighbour I also rarely see but love a smile, wave or a sometimes chat with. I take my compost over to the lady across the road as she loves good organic food matter and knows that’s what she can get from me. She runs permaculture classes and has a garden bursting with produce either falling off the trees or growing prolifically in veggie beds. Then my friend Monique lived up the road for the four years we have lived here, even though we really only got together once every few months, I miss her terribly now that she has recently moved. I often saw her drive past or just the thought that she lived up the road comforted me.  Mind you she has only moved a fifteen minute walk away so all should feel better soon.   Writing about my neighbourhood makes me realise how much I am so busy or up to something that prevents me from getting to know my neighbours better. Reflecting on all of this I ask myself what it all means to live where I do in this ‘hood.’ I feel like a passer by who has got stuck for a period of time, a person who will move on to another ‘hood ‘ at some point but like all hoods that I have lived in I will remember this one and its inhabitants forever, as even though they only play a small part in my life it is a part of the big picture that makes up my every day life. Thank you neighbours I am so happy to be staying another year and am planning to wave and smile and take the compost out more often.   The recipe I share with you this week was taken from Hetty’s book but it is nothing like her recipe as her recipe is laden with butter and dairy. This is a veganised version.   Banana and Coconut Slice Ingredients  Base ¾ cup of activated buckwheat ¾ cup dates pitted ¼ cup sultanas ¾ cup desiccated coconut   Topping 2 ¾ cups soy milk  ½ cup coconut or rapadura sugar pinch of salt  extra rapadura sugar 3 to 4 bananas sliced lengthways   Method Place the soy milk, sugar and salt in a saucepan and leave on a low heat with the lid off. Whisk often and leave until the milk thickens and reduces to just 1 cup. This can take a couple of hours. In the meantime place the buckwheat and coconut in a food processor and process until it is very fine, add the sultanas and process further. If the base is not sticking together add a small amount of water and process again. Line a small baking tin or serving tray with paper and then press the base onto this. Bake in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes. The base won’t firm up completely so watch it doesn’t burn.     Once the milk is thickened pour it onto the base and place the bananas on top and sprinkle on some sugar. Place under the grill to brown the sugar. I found this slice cut much better when cooled down.   Three Places Left! There are three places left for the April intake of the Full Vegan Chef and Lifestyle Training and just want to let you know that 2017 is the year to take the jump and do this training as in 2018 the school will not be offering the training until October. So make 2017 the year to enroll and learn how to cook vegan food like a professional. If you are not wanting to commit due to financial reasons let me know as we can work on a payment plan.    I would so love to know about your neighbourhood so if you have the energy to share please either do so on my facebook page or send and email to <a href="mailto:info@veets.com.au">info@veets.com.au</a>   Have a wonderful week of cooking with kindness.   With gratitude  Veet   

Categories:Sweets Breakfasts

Tags:Banana Coconut Condensed milk Soy milk