This recipe contains no butter, oil or eggs, which dramatically reduces the fat content and makes it a great alternative to a mid-afternoon muffin, cookie or slice of cake. It can also be eaten as a relatively healthy breakfast-on-the-run. The addition of whole grains, in the form of oats, increases the fibre content and, thanks to their being complex carbohydrates, should keep you feeling fuller for that bit longer.
Bananas are a fantastic source of potassium, which is essential for maintaining normal blood pressure and heart function. Studies have found that eating bananas can help lower blood pressure.
Thanks to their sugar and fibre, they are capable of providing an instant natural energy boost, are thought to help regulate the digestive system and can help strengthen bones. On top of that, they are rich in vitamins C and A and iron and do not contain any cholesterol.
Roasting the bananas really intensifies their sweetness, which, combined with the dates, means that the amount of refined sugar used in the recipe is minimised. The dates provide an additional dose of fibre and protein, are a very good source of antioxidants and contain minerals such as magnesium, selenium and calcium.
Roast banana and date loaf
Makes 1 loaf
3 large bananas
150g dates, pitted and chopped
100g caster sugar
125ml water
1 tsp cinnamon
200g self-raising flour
100g oats
tsp baking powder
50 ml milk
butter, for greasing
Preheat the oven to 190°C/fan 170°C/ gas mark 5. Grease and line a loaf tin. Lay the bananas out on a baking tray and place in the oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the skins are blackened and the centre feels really soft. Remove, leave to cool and scrape out the insides.
Tip the dates, sugar, water and cinnamon into a saucepan and place over a medium heat. Stir continuously until the sugar dissolves (between one and two minutes), then bring the mixture to the boil and remove the pan from the heat. Tip into a large bowl and leave to cool.
Add the flour, oats, baking powder, milk and bananas to the bowl containing the sticky dates and stir really well to combine. Tip the mixture into the prepared loaf tin, transfer to the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
Leave to rest for a few minutes, before turning the loaf out on to a wire tray.
Nutritional information for reduced-fat banana bread per slice
Calories: 133.4
Calories from fat: 38.7
Fat: 4.3g
Protein: 3.6g
Source: www.livestrong.com
eshardlow@thenational.ae
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NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs: 2018 Ford Mustang GT
Price, base / as tested: Dh204,750 / Dh241,500
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
Gearbox: 10-speed automatic
Power: 460hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque: 569Nm @ 4,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.3L / 100km
Tips to avoid getting scammed
1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
4) Try not to close the sale at night
5) Don't be rushed into a sale
6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
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Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
if you go
The flights
Flydubai offers three daily direct flights to Sarajevo and, from June, a daily flight from Thessaloniki from Dubai. A return flight costs from Dhs1,905 including taxes.
The trip
The Travel Scientists are the organisers of the Balkan Ride and several other rallies around the world. The 2018 running of this particular adventure will take place from August 3-11, once again starting in Sarajevo and ending a week later in Thessaloniki. If you’re driving your own vehicle, then entry start from €880 (Dhs 3,900) per person including all accommodation along the route. Contact the Travel Scientists if you wish to hire one of their vehicles.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday Benevento v Atalanta (2pm), Genoa v Bologna (5pm), AC Milan v Torino (7.45pm)
Sunday Roma v Inter Milan (3.30pm), Udinese v Napoli, Hellas Verona v Crotone, Parma v Lazio (2pm), Fiorentina v Cagliari (9pm), Juventus v Sassuolo (11.45pm)
Monday Spezia v Sampdoria (11.45pm)
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
