Banana Cake with Caramel Sauce

What you need
3 medium over ripe bananas; 125g butter; ¾ cup (150g) firmly packed brown sugar; one teaspoon of mixed spice; 2 eggs; 1 ½ cups (225g) self-raising flour; ½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda; 1 cup of mashed bananas; ½ cup (120g) sour cream; ¼ cup (60ml) milk.

Caramel Sauce
½ cup of fresh cream; ½ cup brown sugar; 125 g butter; heat in a small saucepan on low heat until sugar has dissolved.

What you do
Preheat oven to moderate. Grease a muffin tray. Beat butter, sugar and spice in a small bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time until combined. Transfer mixture to large bowl, stir in sifted flour and soda with remaining ingredients. Spoon mixture into prepared tray. Bake in a moderate oven for about 20-25mintues. Stand cakes for about 5 minutes before turning onto wire rack to cool. Prepare caramel Sauce and pour over individual cakes.

Mini Pavlovas

What you need
Egg whites; ½ cups caster sugar; teaspoon white vinegar; teaspoon vanilla essence; 1 tablespoon of corn flour; whipped cream; top with fresh or tinned fruit.

What you do
Heat oven to 180 degrees Celcius. Beat egg whites and sugar for 10 to 15 minutes until thick and glossy. Mix vinegar, vanilla and cornflour together. Add to meringue. Beat for a further 5 minutes. Line an oven tray with baking paper. Spoon the mixture onto the baking paper. Will make approximately 12. Smooth top surface over. Place them in the preheated oven then turn oven temperature down to 100 degrees celcius. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes .Turn oven off. Open door slightly and leave mini pavlova’s in the oven until cold. Carefully lift onto a serving dish. Decorate with whipped cream and fruit.

Afghans

What you need
200g butter, softened; ½ cup sugar; 1¼ cups plain flour; 3 tablespoons cocoa; 1½ cups cornflakes.

What you do
Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Sift flour and cocoa. Stir into creamed mixture. Fold in the cornflakes. Spoon
mounds of the mixture onto a greased oven tray, gently pressing the mixture together. Bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes or until set. Makes approximately 20.