Busy day

Another busy day between early band practice, floor hockey after school, a bit of housework , baking,a run to Chapters and Homesense.
I was given a Christmas gift certificate to Chapters and so enjoyed going in on a cold morning , browsing the stacks of books and picking out a few mysteries to read . These are some I have picked up , still have some money left on the certificate, too.
Really enjoyed my trip to the book store.
Back home ,some bananas were needing to be used up , did an online search and found at recipe at Nigella's web site decided to try it.
I used a great pan Sherry was given by her sister from William Sonoma.
The cake looks very pretty and turned out of the pan well.
Served up some slices to the boys after hockey dressed with carmel sauce and whipped cream.
Personally found the cake heavy and a bit dry, would add more liquid next time.
Nigella's Banana Cake ( with variations)
3/4 cup raisins soaked in 6 TBSP rum or rye
1 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup soft butter( increase to 2/3 cup)
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup mashed bananas
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
1 tsp. vanilla
Optional:
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 TBSP. lemon juice
2 TBSP. cinnamon
( I added all of the options)
Mix butter, eggs,sugar, bananas, vanilla and lemon juice,til light and fluffy, add dry ingredients sifting them together first. Fold in raisins,cranberries, walnuts, chocolate chips .Bake at 325 for 1 hour.
I sprinkled the top of the cake with sifted icing sugar , think it would be even better with a carmel butter cream icing.
Felt this cake was more of a loaf and the flavour is more pronounced the next day .