Banana Bread

I've been very busy lately so when I realized I had to blog about a recipe this week, I didn't know when I would have the time to do it. But, as the bananas on my counter continued to ripen and get darker and darker, I knew I had to make banana bread. It's pretty quick and it's super tasty. I usually make a double batch, but since I only had 2 bananas, I only made 1 loaf.

My mom's banana bread recipe makes the BEST banana bread in the whole world! There are a lot of varieties of banana bread in existence and I dislike most of them (I know, I'm picky)! If it doesn't taste like what I'm used to (i.e. my mom's) then I probably won't like it. The problem with making this banana bread is that I want to eat it all! It's so good...I'm going to eat some right now!

Because we are so busy, Bill didn't help me by taking pictures this time - I took them myself. So, there are fewer pictures (I forgot to take some at each step) and they aren't as nice...but you get the idea, and the recipe is still super tasty!

The ingredients...missing the vanilla (I forgot to gather it for the picture).

Mash the bananas into an unappetizing pile of goo.

Blend the shortening and sugar, then add the other ingredients (according to the directions, of course).

Pour it all in a loaf pan and bake.

Delicious Banana Bread...hot out of the oven! It smells and tastes so good!

Banana Bread:

1/2 cup shortening (I use a combination of margarine and oil)
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup cold water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1-2 eggs
2-3 bananas, mashed
2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:
-Blend shortening and sugar together.
-In a separate bowl, mix water, salt and baking soda then add to sugar mixture.
-Stir in eggs and bananas.
-Add flour, cinnamon and vanilla.
-Pour into greased loaf or cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-55 minutes.

Dirty dishes - not too bad.

Banana Bread

Taste: 5 out of 5
Dirty Dishes: 5 out of 5
Time/Effort: 4 out of 5
TOTAL: 14 out of 15

Week 15

April 10
Here's a picture of me...again. I look happier in this one - probably because I just ate chocolate. And, I'm wearing my Reese's shirt.
April 11
Here's the email I received from the Secretary of State. After last week, when we had to decide who's jobs were "important" enough to keep working during a potential government shut down, I guess the Secretary wanted to remind us that we're ALL important. Even though she was willing to send us home with no money last week, this week she loves us all equally!
April 12
Here is my latest notepad...I have a lot of them (a slight addiction). This one makes me chuckle every time I say it out loud. "What to Doooooo" - like an owl! *chuckle*
April 13
Ubi was tired today. He was laying his head on our bed. So cute.
April 14
Banana bread! One of my favorites. I made two loaves, and it's good I did since we practically finished one by ourselves. We'll save the other loaf for next week, when our visitors arrive.
April 15
Here is my attempt to clean my desk. I'm actually making progress, although it doesn't really look like it. I want everything to be all cleaned up for our guests.
April 16
I worked on Easter Baskets. I bought all kinds of fun supplies (and candy) and put the beautiful baskets together. Bacon was "supervising" but she was not being very helpful!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all. I hope you all had a wonderful and delicious thanksgiving. Since most of my family is celebrating thanksgiving on a different day (yes, they have good reasons), I have to share my pictures of our feast today! We had 30 people for our big event and we had plenty of food...in fact, we had too much. But, that's expected on Thanksgiving! Of course, I ate way too much and I feel uncomfortably full, but it was totally worth it! I was only the co-host of this shindig, we had it at Bonnie's house, but I made a bunch of food. I was responsible for the ham, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, rolls, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, dressing, pumpkin pie, pecan pie and a pumpkin trifle. It was a lot of cooking - but it was fun and I enjoyed it. Here are some pictures of our delicious meal.

Our beautiful table

Ham

Sweet Potato Casserole

Green Bean Casserole

Fresh Baked Rolls (they were SO delicious)

Pumpkin Trifle (I've never made this before, but people liked it)

Pumpkin Pie (I had two pieces, they were small)

I am very thankful for the wonderful food we had today. I am also thankful for my family and friends - I am blessed to have each and every one of you in my life. I hope everyone remembers how much they have to be thankful for this year. Happy Thanksgiving!

And now...since it is technically tomorrow (yes, I stayed up late cleaning the kitchen), I can start the excitement. That's right, it is officially permissible to start preparing for (and celebrating) Christmas. I am now going to listen to my Christmas music and, this weekend, we are putting up our tree!!! I can't wait...I LOVE Christmas!

Cereal and Bread for Dinner

I wanted something sweet for dinner tonight - and I wanted something easy. I thought about having cereal for dinner - but since I don't have to actually make that, I had to think of something else. Obviously, I didn't look very far because I settled on Rice Cereal. A favorite childhood breakfast...yum! And, with a rice cooker, it was super easy. It was delicious and good...and sweet.

In addition to cereal for dinner tonight, I made bread. That's right - I used my new bread maker to make some dinner rolls. I'm supposed to make rolls for Thanksgiving and I wanted to practice. It was AMAZING! It was the first time I used my bread maker and I love it! I am going to make bread every day (well, maybe not every day - but often). The machine does all the work and I just rolled it and baked it. The smell of fresh baked bread is the smell of happiness! I can't wait to make more bread. I think our Thanksgiving bread will be great!