ChildCare Leave & Banana Nuts Muffins

Dear daughter has been down with fever since 10th Jan, so she has been absent from school for 3 days now. Yesterday her form teacher called me up just to check on 'Ufairah.

Today, her fever has subsided but she's still down with cold. Dear son has the cold too since yesterday evening. Wanted to bring them to the clinic after but the rain has been 'cranky' - rain, stop, rain.... So decided to bring them this morning, hoping that the weather will be better.

It has been raining since morning. With the help of my mother (who travelled from the western part of the island to northeast), brought the kids for a check-up. When it comes to the children's health, there is absolutely no compromise. Therefore I had to apply for ChildCare Leave. Thanks to my understanding boss, she approved despite today being 'operations day'. If it was just one of the kids being ill, I wouldn't take the leave but 2 kids.... I don't think my domestic help can handle both. Just yesterday, she had forgotten to give dear daughter her medicine.

Anyways, decided to try out Layla's recipe Banana Almonds Muffins while the kids are asleep. Instead of using only almonds, I've added a mixture of walnuts & hazelnuts. The result is simply yummy, especially since it's raining. Fresh & hot muffins from the oven with a cuppa *slurp* mmmm..........

Banana Nuts Muffins

2 cups flour

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

2 tsps baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 cups mashed ripe bananas

113g butter, melted

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup sliced almonds (toasted)

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

Method:

1) In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda & salt. Stir in sliced almonds.

2) Mash bananas. In a mixer, blend bananas, melted butter, milk, eggs & vanilla. Add to flour mixture, stirring only until just blended. Do not overmix, otherwise the muffins will not be well risen. Fill muffin cups.

3) bake for about 18-22minutes or until skewer inserted comes out clean. Let stand several minutes before transfer to wire rack.

Note: Yields 12 large muffins

Gave some to dear mom as a gratitude for coming all the way & for my lazy brothers at home to enjoy.

I'll probably catch on sleep as dear son couldn't sleep well last night due to the cough. He even vomitted twice. I really hope the kids will get better soon, so they'll not be so cranky.

P.S: Dear hubby will be back tomorrow. Planning to cook Assam Pedas ikan pari.