Banana cake

Prep time: 10 minutes. Cook time: 25 to 30 minutes (depending on your rice cooker). Rest time: 10 minutes.

The five or less things: Two ripe bananas. Yellow with brown spots. The brown spots are not a mistake. They are a sign of ripeness. Ripe bananas are sweet. Green bananas are not ready. They will taste like regret. One box of yellow or white cake mix, 15 ounces / 425 grams. Any brand. The cake does not care. It is not a snob. Two eggs. Or whatever the box says. Read the back of the box. The box knows best. Half a cup / 1.25 dl of vegetable oil. The box tells you what to do. Do it. It is not a recommendation. It is the law. One cup / 2.5 dl of water. Or whatever the box says. The box is the boss. A squirt of oil spray. Coat the pot with oil. Do not skip this. The cake will stick and you will be pissed off. Stuck cake is a disaster.

Directions:

1. Mash the bananas in a bowl with a fork. Leave some chunks. Chunks are texture. Texture is interesting. Smooth is boring.
2. Spray the pot with oil. Cover the bottom and the sides. The cake will try to stick. Show it who is in charge.
3. Mix the cake mix, eggs, oil, water, and bananas according to the box. Stir until smooth. Lumps are fine. They will cook out. Do not overmix. Overmixing makes cake tough. Tough cake is not the goal.
4. Transfer the batter to the prepared pot. Smooth it out a little. Perfection is overrated. It just needs to get hot.
5. Shut the lid. Start the cycle. The rice cooker is finally getting to live its best life. Cake is a good life.
6. After it beeps, let it sit covered for 10 minutes. The heat is still working its magic. Do not open it early. The cake is not ready to face the world yet.
7. Open the lid. The cake should be golden brown and springy to the touch. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean. If it comes out wet, close the lid and let it sit for 5 more minutes.
8. Let the cake rest in the pot for 10 minutes. Then turn it out onto a plate. Run a knife around the edges if it tries to hold on.
9. Slice and serve. Top with cream cheese frosting, whipped cream, or more banana slices if you have them. The toppings make it better. The cake is good on its own.

Note: This is banana cake. It is moist, sweet, and full of banana flavor. It tastes like banana bread. But it is cake. Banana bread is for breakfast. Banana cake is for dessert. Add walnuts for crunch. Add chocolate chips for richness. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to three days.