Banana & chia porridge bread

Friends of ours are about to have their first baby. We actually introduced them in a slightly aggressive way, so sure were we that they’d hit it off. This is the second match I have been involved in that has resulted in marriage. I reckon if this whole recipe thing goes wrong then I have a future in matchmaking.

Anyway, our pals being about to embark on a few years of sleep deprivation, intense love and financial run, (I joke; kind of) I thought it might be worth pulling together a few pointers on parenthood. The stuff that I wish I’d been told.

Babies have an inbuilt crying sensor that is set off by any food being eaten whilst warm. Microwaves are your friend.
Ditto tea/coffee/hot beverage of choice. Insulated cups are your friend.
At some point in the first 3 months of parenthood you will look at your partner and (whisper it) hate them a little bit. Sleep deprivation is a beast. Just remember you are not yourself and carry on.
There will be someone irritating in your NCT/preggo yoga group who will bang on about how if everyone just did everything like them then their baby would feed better/sleep more/smile earlier. Give them a wide berth if they make you feel inadequate. It is not your responsibility to be pals with them.
Babies are happy to hang out in baby gros all day. If you can’t be arsed to get the baby changed into proper clothes, just don’t.
Accepting help is not admitting defeat. Mother in law wants to do your ironing? Oh go on then.
Find your own way and enjoy it. Want to hang out in PJs all day with the baby? Do it. Like to be out the house and racing about with the buggy by 8am? Do it. Whatever gets you through the day.

What do you wish you’d known? Any gems to pass on?

I thought you ought to have this recipe before the end of January. It’s so worthy, it’s practically health food. Bananas and oats and those uber cool chia seeds. Everyone on Instagram loves chia seeds, it’s the law. I resisted trying them for some time, just to be awkward.

Lots of great recipes like this in my books, Recipes from a Normal Mum, (available on Amazon, at The Works, Waterstones, WHSmith, The Book Depository and many smaller outlets) and The Power of Frozen (available exclusively in Iceland stores and through their website) which is just £2.99 at the mo! And no, the recipes are not just about frozen food. Every recipe has instructions of how to make with chilled ingredients too.

Last January: Lamb and pea pie on This Morning, Halloumi, courgette and carrot fritters, Crunchy piggy meatballs (also on This Morning) and Granola breakfast muffins.

Two years ago: Lemon & blueberry loaf, my Bake Off Cherry Bakewell inspired cupcakes, plus Sesame bread sticks

Three years ago: Love cupcakes, White chocolate, lemon and macadamia cake and a perfect wintery Roasted celeriac, carrot and parsnip soup.

Four years ago: Bake me not chocolate cake, Jelly and ice-cream meringue roulade, Good flapjack and Banana, butterscotch and fig traybake.

Five years ago: Treasure hunt ice-cream, Rhubarb and ginger chutney and Carrot cake.

Banana & chia porridge bread

Ingredients:

150g soft butter
100g castor sugar
50g soft dark brown sugar
1tsp baking powder
150g self raiaing flour
3 large eggs at room temperature
2 ripe bananas, mashed (approximately 230g)
50g chia seeds
1 tsp vanilla extract
115g oats
150mls double cream

Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan 160°C/Gas Mark 4 and line a 2lb loaf tin with non stick baking parchment. Cream together the butter and sugars with an electric mixer or wooden spoon until soft and fluffy – this takes between 4 – 8 minutes.

Mix in all the other ingredients and beat until well combined. Pour into the loaf tin and bake for about 1 hr 10 minutes until well risen and a toothpick comes out of the centre clean. Cool on a wire rack, in the tin, for 15 minutes before carefully removing the loaf from the tin and cooling further on the rack.