Fruit decorations

A simple cake, and then the tricky bit... making it look great!
This was my first attempt at decorating a cake with fruit. It's tricky keeping everything spaced evenly. Next time I think I might draw some guidelines in the whipped cream before I add any fruit.

Here's the result of my efforts:

And a close up of the centre - a strawberry flower. Worked okay on the first try. Cut carefully!

Also, what you can't see is that I cut the cake horizontally and added a thin layer of strawberry slices, topped with a very thinly sliced kiwi. To keep everything stuck together I used whipped cream. I happen to not have a good storage container for round cakes, so I couldn't decorate the sides, otherwise, I would have coated the sides with almond bits.

Enjoy your summer fresh fruit!

Frozen Banana Pie... with an added flair!

Recently a friend introduced me to Tahini. Tahini is a paste made from ground, hulled sesame seeds. It also happens to be an excellent source of copper, manganese, omeaga-3, omega-6, calcium, and protein. Opening a jar, you have to stir before use as the oils separate. It has a nutty flavor, but don't expect anything similar to peanut butter. I'd say it has a much deeper, raw edge to it. I couldn't eat it on it's own, but apparently it is used as a dip for bread or topping for vegetables.

And, what does all this have to do with Frozen Banana Pie? It just so happens to be the secret ingredient that makes this recipe come alive with a flavor you would never expect in your typical banana pie.

I'm not going to vouch for the nutritional value of this recipe, but it's a great use for your extra bananas and some Tahini.

Recipe:

Base:
1 1/4 cup chocolate crumbs
1/4 cup margarine

Filling:
4 Bananas
4 TBSP Tahini
2 TBSP Peanut Butter
6 TBSP Plain Natural Yogurt

Directions:
1) Combine the chocolate crumbs and margarine and press into a pie pain

2) Put the Ingredients for the filling in a blender and puree (or use a bowl and hand blender) until smooth and creamy.

3) Taste test the filling and add more Tahini if desired
4) Pour the filling over the base
5) Cover pan with lid, or plastic wrap and place in the freezer

To Serve: Cut a wedge and place on a plate. Decorate with chocolate shavings, or whipped cream if desired. Let stand for 5 minutes before eating.

(sorry, forgot to take a picture of the final product... ate it too quickly to think about that)

This is a delicious treat for a warm day!