MANILA, Philippines — Did you know that every March 18 to 19, Banana Festival is held in Baco, Oriental Mindoro?
Banana is the fourth largest commodity produced in the Philippines, which is why celebrating its abundance is only fitting.
Every year, in Baco, the oldest town in Oriental Mindoro, varieties of banana such as Señorita, Latundan, Lacatan and Saba are featured through a cookfest, street dancing competition and beauty pageants.
There is also the traditional “lupakan,” “harana” and "pandangguhan." During this time, booths or houses are decorated using raw materials from a banana tree, making the celebration more artistic and festive.
The event is also held in honor of the patron, St. Joseph.
Below is an interesting recipe you can make using banana, the Triple Espresso Banana Cake:
Ingredients:
- 3 tbsp. ground flaxseed
- ½ cup warm water
- 2 oz butter, room temperature
- ? cup brown sugar
- ? cup "cup-for-cup" stevia baking blend
- 1 tbsp "coffee sugar" (ground Coffee Bean Brittle)
- ½ tsp. salt
- 1 tbsp. vanilla
- 1 tbsp. Kahlua
- 4 ripe bananas, mashed
- ¼ cup almond (or canola) oil
- ½ cup plain homemade (or low-fat storebought) yoghurt
- ¾ cup flour
- 1 cup spelt flour
- ¼ cup graham cracker crumbs
- 1 tsp. instant espresso powder
- ½ tbsp. unsweetened cocoa
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- ½ tsp. baking soda
- ? cup chopped almonds
- 2 tsp. turbinado sugar
Steps:
- Heat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 7” springform pan.
- Whisk together the flaxseed and water, let stand 10 minutes.
- Cream together the butter, brown sugar, stevia, coffee sugar and salt until well blended.
- Add vanilla, Kahlua, bananas, oil, yogurt and flax mixture, beating well.
- Add flours, graham cracker crumbs, espresso powder, cocoa, cinnamon, baking powder and baking soda.
- Mix until just combined, then fold in almonds.
- Scrape into the pan and sprinkle with turbinado sugar.
- Bake 55 to 65 minutes, until tests done.
- Cool 30 minutes in the pan, then remove the sides of the springform and cool completely.
Source: Yummysmells.Ca
— Alixandra Caole Vila