Eggless Banana Muffins with dates

Its been almost three weeks I touched my Laptop!!, I cooked and baked, missed posting for so many things I wanted to participate , I am late in posting these Banana muffins for the Baking Eggless group even though I made it long back, I worked long and hard and restrained myself by not touching the comp for all these days thinking I will get obsessed with my blogging and forget what I really have to do, well , want to know what I was doing ?.
I  have been seriously Gardening :)), Next to cooking and Blogging I have this immense pleasure in Gardening from my childhood I just can't resist it, I became so obsessed with Gardening that I wouldn't leave it for anything.., that's because the British Summer was (was ????) here, yes, I mean was because, it has suddenly disappeared from last 5 days its been raining ever since :( , If I hadn't taken that opportunity I would have missed me planting all those wonderful plants and would have regretted so very badly.

When summer sets people here wouldn't waste their time like the ones who love gardening, going outdoors, camping and the best of all barbequing, As the days are getting longer and nights are shorter, and time doesn't seem to start or end to me, as you look through the window the sun kisses you and makes you smile at half 4 in the morning, check your watch and think of lying back on bed, but my instinct tells me wake up and have a nice cup of tea and start your gardening before the sun scorches your skin and the temperature is soaring up to 27 - 28 degrees, Early morning you can hear the chirping of the birds, I can even see woodpecker sometimes, my next door neighbour updates with me lot of other birds with their sounds, I have 2 bird houses and my son has made a bird house too for his DT, all of them are hanging in my Garden.
All the trees are blooming with lush green leaves, beautiful spring flowers blossoming every where, I can hear the shouting and screaming of kids in the big park in front of my house, with joy and happiness. Every other person in the neighbour hood are happy sorting out their gardens, green bins are full.  Every other person and children are dressed up in summer cloths and walking in flip-tops slippers, I too wear my sandals and enjoy seeing my toes painted with toe rings high lighting and walking around people asking me where did I buy them :), I wear my beautiful multi coloured selwars and chudidars and I love it when people say my dresses are gorgeous :)), Now, that's why I love summer, waiting for 6 long months for this weather.
One more thing about summer is eating lots of fresh fruits and salads, I love munching on them, going up and down, Oh! what a bliss to enjoy all this lovely treat, right out of the fridge, Eating Ice Creams, Kulfis and lollipops etc.,
The cool breeze in the evening and the light which doesn't go down until 9 to half 9 makes you forget any  sense with time, My kids come out and tell me, mum its 9 O'clock, hope you have cooked us something, that's when I scrub my hands and run to make something for them.
Kids are really not into enjoying the summer right now, as they have their exams till July which is stressing them out. The whole of Jubilee weekend I was busy at home with my one sis visiting me as she is going back tomorrow, the other one with her family with the lil one around and I had frineds over the sun and Bank holiday monday.., so all my hols were completely engaged planning to post it before June 3rd never happened.

But, all these lovely things I have described have come  into a halt from past 5 days raining and then, cold wind blowing and making us wear our jumpers back on again, which I had totally discarded when the summer had set in. Fingers crossed hoping we will eventually get our wonderful summer again...
Update: I started writing this post 2 days back, had to stop midway as the winds and rains are mind blowing :), I mean they are literally troubling me, with 70 - 80 MPH winds my hanging tomato baskets ripped off and fell, my grow bags are flying, I am so upset all my hard work is being wasted with weeds coming up again and destroying my lil plants which are yet to come up.., I am totally upset.
Getting back to this recipe I do bake a lot of muffins as they are easy to make and not to worry about the heavy decorating ( with full fat ) over the top like the cup cakes, even though kids would love it, right now they devoured on 2 boxes of Doughnuts with various fillings and decorations from past two days which lil sis brought as a Gift, which would Amma would never make as she always opts for healthy options...., This is after quite a long time I have baked with APF only after a very long time.., just because I had some guests around.

EGGLESS BANANA MUFFINS WITH DATES
Recipe Source : All recipes
Makes 12 Muffins

INGREDIENTS:
1 and 1/2 Cup All Purpose Flour ( I used 200 grms )
3 tbsp Butter
100 grms Sugar
3 tbsp Condensed milk
1 and  1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Vanilla Essence
1/4 Cup Milk
100 grms Dates (pureed)
3 tbsp Hot water
3 tbsp Milk Choco chips



METHOD:
Preheat the over to Gas Mark 4** (see notes) / 175 d C / 350 degrees F ( for a moderate oven )
Line 12 muffins cases
First of all mash your dates with your hands a wee bit and dip them in hot water until needed.
Next cream butter and sugar together with condensed milk in a large bowl.
sift the flour with soda, Baking powder and keep it ready.
Blend peeled and chopped Bananas and  soaked dates first then add milk and blend them all together until smooth.
(don't drink it off smells so nice, make extra and your Banana and dates smoothie is ready along side while making these muffins :) )
Pour this mixture into the Large bowl with creamed mixture and thoroughly mix them together then add essence, give a whisk then start adding the flour and gently incorporate them well together add milk Choco chips and gently mix them again
Pour this batter equally among the 12 lined muffin cases and bake for 25 - 30 minutes ** (see notes) or until a skewer inserted comes out clean
Remove the Muffin tray on to a wiring rack, let it rest for 5 minutes, remove the cases from the tin on to the wiring rack, allow it cool and serve

Notes:
** I used Gas Mark 3 as my oven gets too hot and I usually bake in a little lower temperature
** Baking timings may vary between ovens so check your oven temperature as this will be just a guide line, as mine took a little longer as I baked in a lower temperature. just after 20 - 25 minutes insert a toothpick to find out how much extra time you would need to bake it, if it is still soft in the center leave it for an other 5 to 7 minutes and it will be done.

Enjoy baking these Muffins if you are a Banana lover, just like my eldest who loves them...
Thanks Gayatri once again for this wonderful challenge looking forward to do the next time with you, hopefully on time... :) Check out the other bloggers who enjoyed this challenge like me here as she has already done the round-up here, if you are keen on joining this eggless group write to her.