This city really is like no other. The moment I got of the plane, I knew this was where I belong. No weird butterflies in my stomach. The city that screams be yourself. And so I am. I wander around town over the weekends and I never once got the feeling of being lost. It all makes sense. In a way, it feels more like home than actual home. Every morning, I take the U-Bahn and twenty minutes later I find myself in a completely different city. All doe it's all Berlin, every part of it feels completely different. It's like there's this invisible wall (ironically) between them. I haven't done much sightseeing so far, taking things easy. I'm not one of those crazy museum humans. I got all the time I need for that. Well that's that I thought until a few days ago, when I had a freakout I've been here for nearly a month and haven't done any sightseeing. At all. And then I pretty much ran from one to another gallery.




















In the evenings, I often find myself in Tempelhof. Maybe because it's pretty much our backyard or maybe because of the fact that the sunsets there are kind of magical. The sky turns from blue to pink in the matter of a few minutes. The sun setts and the day is over.

There's this amazing oriental shop on our street. The kind that's full of nuts, seeds and spices. I've been eyeing the medjool dates for so long and I think it's about time I buy some since this time in a week I'll be back home. Well, I'm not sure the word home is proper here. Maybe just back to usual. Back into my routine. And I'm not sure if I'm fine with it. I like to explore things, take time and I know it won't be that way when I get home. I won't be able to get lost and get found, because I know every single spot of the city all doe it's only been my "home" for two years now. I'll miss this city, big time. I hope I'll be back sooner than planned.

Anyways, back to the shop. I was walking by the other day and I just couldn't pass the half off bananas that were perfectly ripe. I got home and I got to work. I only had a few basic ingredients in my apartment and I ended up with pancakes for breakfast. In bed. Not bad. But not good enough for those three extra bananas that were left. And so this banana cake happened. Sweet, but not overly sweet like the stuff from the store, kind of earthy from the spelt flour and with a delicate crumb. I hope you enjoy this banana bread as much as we did.

This recipe was adapted from the new book by The happy pear, the recipe calls for a flax egg, but I didn't have any in my kitchen in Berlin so I left it out.
I also didn't have baking soda so I used one extra teaspoon of baking soda instead

Nectarine upside-down banana cake

3 regular sized, very ripe bananas
1/2 cup + 2 tbsp brown rice/agave syrup
1/2 cup (coconut) oil
1/3 cup plant milk - I used oat

2 1/2 cups flour - I used a mix of whole and light spelt
3 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt

2 nectarines, sliced
extra coconut oil for brushing the pan

Preheat the oven to 180ºC. In a large mixing bowl, mash the bananas, add the melted coconut oil, syrup and plant milk. Mix well. Add all of the dry ingredients and mix well. Brush a baking tin with coconut oil, add sliced nectarines and cover with the cake bater. Even out into the corners and bake for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.