Last week Swami Madhavanand and his wife Asha-Tai arrived in the
Everybody vies to host Swami-ji and his wife, even if it is just for one meal. This year my husband Subodh and I had the pleasure of hosting Swami-ji and Asha-Tai for an overnight visit at our home. I must admit I was more than a little nervous about entertaining the Swami……this was something my Midwestern Mom hadn’t prepared me for! The proper care and feeding of a swami should not be left to chance.....so I did what any smart girl in my predicament would do:
- Phoned my mother-in-law for reinforcement.
- Phoned the nearest Pizza Hut for take out.
I’m not kidding about the Pizza Hut; it turns out Swami-ji’s favorite meal in the States is a large, hand-tossed veggie deluxe pizza with jalapenos and extra cheese. So, at the Swami's request, we trekked down to the local Pizza Hut for a piping hot pie. The Swami was in heaven (figuratively speaking) and I could rest easy, having averted a potential culinary crisis for the time being.
The following morning, I helped my mother-in-law prepare a savory Indian breakfast dish called Pohe, which consists of diced potato, onion and chilies which are sauted, then mixed with rice flakes and garnished with lime and cilantro.
My contribution to the meal was my favorite banana bread, loaded with pecans and topped with a sweet orange glaze. I was pleased to see Swami-ji and Asha-tai eat a second helping. I was even more tickled when the Swami called us the next day to ask if we could bring him more "banana cake!"
Here is my recipe for "Swami-ji Banana Cake." It is guaranteed to impress a visiting swami or, even more important, your own family.
Swami-ji Banana Cake
6 Tbsp butter, softened
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
2 mashed ripe bananas
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup chopped pecans, divided
Orange Glaze:
1/2 cup confectioners' (powdered) sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp orange juice
1/2 tsp grated orange peel
In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg, beating well. Add bananas and vanilla; mix well. In a separate bowl combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture. Fold in 1/2 cup pecans.
Transfer to greased 8 x 4 x 2 inch loaf pan. Sprinkle with the remaining pecans. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 to 1 1/4 hours or until toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
In a small bowl, whisk the glaze ingredients. Drizzle over loaf. Cool for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack.
My contribution to the meal was my favorite banana bread, loaded with pecans and topped with a sweet orange glaze. I was pleased to see Swami-ji and Asha-tai eat a second helping. I was even more tickled when the Swami called us the next day to ask if we could bring him more "banana cake!"
Here is my recipe for "Swami-ji Banana Cake." It is guaranteed to impress a visiting swami or, even more important, your own family.
Swami-ji Banana Cake
6 Tbsp butter, softened
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
2 mashed ripe bananas
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup chopped pecans, divided
Orange Glaze:
1/2 cup confectioners' (powdered) sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp orange juice
1/2 tsp grated orange peel
In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg, beating well. Add bananas and vanilla; mix well. In a separate bowl combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture. Fold in 1/2 cup pecans.
Transfer to greased 8 x 4 x 2 inch loaf pan. Sprinkle with the remaining pecans. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 to 1 1/4 hours or until toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
In a small bowl, whisk the glaze ingredients. Drizzle over loaf. Cool for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack.
