Banana Bread

What do you do with your over ripe bananas? Normally bananas get eaten pretty quickly at our house, but every once in a while we have a few that sit around and get overly ripe. When that happens, I like to make up a batch of banana bread.  Here's a great recipe that you might like to try.

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated white sugar
1 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
3 ripe large bananas, mashed well
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans
3/4 cup dark chocolate chips 

Method:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour the bottom and sides of a 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan and set aside. In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In another bowl combine the mashed bananas, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla and then add the banana mixture to the dry ingredients, stirring as little as possible.  Lightly fold in the nuts and chocolate just until combined and the batter is thick and chunky. (Do not over mix the batter, you do not want it smooth. Over mixing the batter will yield tough, rubbery bread.)

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until bread is golden brown and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 60 minutes. Place on a wire rack to cool and then remove the bread from the pan. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Makes 1 – 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf of banana bread

When I was making this loaf I didn't have dark chocolate chips on hand so I threw in some white chocolate instead and I really like the taste that it gave the bread.  You could mix up the types of nuts also, maybe use walnuts instead.

If you try the recipe, let me know what you think.  Happy baking!!

Thank You Veterans

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in the First World War, then known as "the Great War."

In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"

November 11th became a legal federal holiday in the United States in 1938 —a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." On June 1, 1954, in the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became Veterans Day, a holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars.

So, today, on this Veteran's Day, take the time to thank a veteran for serving our country and protecting our freedoms.  

Life With A Toddler

I had great plans of sharing some of my Fall decorations with you, but as many of you know, I have a toddler grandson living with me, so even the best laid plans and all that jazz, yada yada yada.

While sitting in my room the other evening, I hear a big crash, several thuds, and a squeal (of delight) from my grandson.  I jump up to see what had happened as I hear my son scolding him.  No blood curdling screams so I figure the child is alright, therefore the crash has to be something that I am not going to be too happy about.

As I enter the dining room, I see my son on the floor starting to pick up my tablecloth.  Hmm, seems like that was on top of the table earlier, how ever did it get in the floor?  I stomped my foot, hands on hips, and asked my grandson, "What did you do?"  He giggled.  My son said, "It's not funny, you messed up Nanny's table." My grandson says "Uh-oh" as my son brings up one of my favorite bowls from the floor. It has broken into several pieces.  I sighed and said, "I'll get the broom."

That bowl had been sitting in the middle of my dining room table and was holding several gourds, pussy willows, and pheasant feathers.  I was quite proud of it, but my grandson envisioned a different layout apparently, because when I came back with the broom, he had been helping his dad pick up the mess and had created his own masterpiece with the gourds.

Later in the evening, I heard his dad scolding him yet again.  I ventured into the room to see what debacle had taken place this time and discovered that he had de-flowered a good portion of my mum that I had placed in a basket, along with a pumpkin and a few styrofoam pumpkins that I had picked up that afternoon. He had gotten the pumpkin out of the basket, rolled it aside and had proceeded to eat the styrofoam ones. Apparently the kid's a weirdo, what can I say?

With my Fall decorations dwindling fast, I thought about sharing my lovely basket full of fruit that I had placed on the island in the kitchen.  Imagine my surprise when I discovered a little munchkin had nibbled on said fruit and placed it back into the basket.

So, there you have it, my Fall decorations.  Given the fact that I am living with a Tasmanian Devil, you will forgive me if my Christmas decorations do not make an appearance this year.  Although, you know this Nanny can't deny him the fun of terrorizing the whole house.  Bless his heart.

Artsy Birthday

We just celebrated my granddaughter's 4th birthday and I thought I would share some of the details with you.  She wanted to have an art party which made for a very colorful event.  You can see last years, Hungry Caterpillar party here.  

I made her a rainbow cake and cupcakes.  We set the cupcakes on paint palettes and placed sprinkles in the trays which allowed the children to decorate their own cupcakes. I also made "paintbrushes" by taking pretzel sticks and dipping them in chocolate.  To stick with the painting theme, we dropped by our local Lowes and picked up various paint chips and created holders for our napkins and eating utensils, then we used the left over paint chips for decorating the tables.

We got the acrylic paint and the pinata from Walmart as well as the tableware.

We picked the canvas' up at Michael's and I ordered the aprons, paint brushes, and palettes from Oriental Trading. We let the children take all of these home with them, as well as watercolor paint sets for thank you gifts.  

Everyone seemed to have a really good time, especially the birthday girl!

Daily Outfits

Some days you just want to have longer hair, thats why I love having extensions, they give me the best of both worlds.  I also love this top, it has a wonderful asymmetrical neckline with lots of draping down the front.  Its very easy to dress up or down.  Here I paired it with my denim capris and my polka dot wedges.

I adore this vintage skirt!  You have seen me wear it a couple times now and Im sure you will see it again in the future.  I paired it with a peacock blue satin shirt and my mustard yellow sandals.

Isnt this purple top fun?  I love the detailing.  I added a navy skirt, my Aigner pumps, and a darling clutch purse that I picked up at TJ Maxx last year.

Our last outfit shows me wearing a gray satin blouse that I got at Dress Barn a couple years ago that I paired with my navy pants and gray oxford shoes.  My hair was having a crazy frizzy day - see I do have bad hair days too!