This time of year I always seem to get bit by the baking bug. I'm sure it's the same for lots of folks. What with the holidays right around the corner and a chill in the air it's time to dust off my baking skills (which are negligible) and fire up the oven. I've been craving banana bread. Not to mention I've got a bunch of bananas in the freezer I'd like to use up. I've been experimenting for years with different banana bread recipes, trying to find "The One". While there are hundreds of recipes out there I finally settled on the one I'm going to share with you today. I've made this one several times over the past couple of years and it makes a couple of wonderful loaves of yummyness.
Banana Bread
3 1/2 cups of All-Purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 sticks butter ( or sub 1 cup of shortening if you'd rather)
4 eggs
2 1/2 cups of very ripe mashed bananas
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla
Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease two 9x5 loaf pans.
In a big bowl beat the butter and gradually add your sugar. Add eggs and beat well. Stir in mashed banana's and vanilla.
In another bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Blend into the banana batter. If you want to add nuts, now is the time. Divide the batter between the two greased pans.
Pop it into the hot oven. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until a toothpick stuck in the center of the loaves comes out clean.
Here's where I like to start a pot of coffee and pour me a cup. Cut a slice of banana bread and enjoy it with a hot cup of coffee just to make sure it's done. Cut another slice to double check for quality control. Then and only then consider maybe... just maybe... sharing with the rest of the family.
I've seen around the blogosphere that some folks are doing this 30 Days of Thanksgiving. Or something like that. Am I the only one who would start doing this and a few days later think "Oh man.... I need to catch up on that" . Only to find yourself thinking it of it again while you are stuffing the Thanksgiving turkey? That's me.
I don't say it nearly enough but one of the things I'm thankful for are you guys. It amazes me that there are so many wonderful folks all around the country that stop by here. I'd like to say thanks to you guys who have recently hit that button up there. And an even bigger thanks for those of you who have been along for the ride for awhile. I didn't know what I was doing back then and I sure don't know what I'm doing now. So I just want to say thanks for taking the time out of your busy day to stop by!
I'd like to take a moment to say thank you to Sue over at The Little Acre That Could for having me as a guest over at her Food Storage Fridays yesterday. She did me a huge favor and dusted off and older post of mine and polished it up till it was all bright and shiny!!! I had the honor of being her first guest "poster" (?) on her excellent Series. So ya'll go check out The Little Acre That Could and be sure to say hello to Sue for me ok? And be sure to check out her bi-monthly series. You just might learn something new!
Are you adjusting to the time change yet? Yeah? Me either. The hardest part for me has to be the shortening of the days as Fall moves right along. I keep running out of daylight. No worries though, most any of the critters are quite happy to remind me that the sun's going down and there's no dinner in their respective bowl, feeder, etc.
It's supposed to be beautiful here for the next several days. A bit windy but then it's Fall. I wonder when I'll actually stop thinking like a transplanted Texan and stop saying things like "I can't believe I'm wearing layers this time of year". Or "Wow, it's so pretty" while watching the leaves turn red, orange, yellow. Sometimes I hope that I never really get *used* to it. That each season will continue to be a new and exciting thing.
As I sit here with my 3rd cup of coffee and my trusty pen and to-do list I'm almost ready to start the day. Almost. LOL My list of to-do things is taking on a slightly different Fall type slant. I'm still adjusting to NOT going out in the garden first thing after the dew dries. I look forward to some time to do some crocheting and a bit of knitting. Easy stuff of course. I've got some yarn found cheap at a garage sale I can use. I've started a lapgan with bits and pieces of leftover yarn. Yarn isn't very high on the list when your budget is as tight as it is around here. I might actually pick up some double pointed needles though and try those socks that a reader suggested. Of course that would mean a trip to town AND a stop at a big box store. (Two of my most favorite things to do. NOT!!!)
I had another "procedure" on my back this week and I admit I do feel better. Although my back issues are genetic and I know things will eventually and progressively get worse, I'm finding some welcome relief for now. Just another thing I'm thankful for this month.
Today's agenda includes bread baking day, a couple of loads of laundry, (I'm going to take advantage of this beautiful sunshine and wind to dry them) I've got a roast in the crock-pot so dinner will be easy peasy, go pull up some of the death by frost plants and haul them to the compost bins, start "winterizing" the outdoor kitchen stuff, (which really just means I need to get things picked up and put away) maybe make some cookies and get my "yarn fix" in. Much more than that probably wont be done around here today!
Do you remember last month when Mars DVD player took a dump? We ordered one from Ebay and it came in two weeks later. Hooked that baby up and it worked exactly 5 times and died. Sent back and waited almost two weeks for a replacement. This one didn't work AT ALL. So back it went and finally just this week, they kindly gave me a refund but would not reimburse my shipping. *sigh* Another DVD player from another company has been ordered. Due to arrive in the next few days. It seems silly for me to keep Netflix active but each time I think we will be back to watching our nightly movie, well...
I'm still waiting.........
The TSA shooting last week is still in the news and very much on my mind. I know a bunch of you will probably see what I'm thinking. I also know there will be those who will call folks like me a twisted conspiracy theorist. (again) At this stage in the game I don't think it matters much to me. Call me what you will. I'll still get up in the morning and go do my chores and do all the other mundane things that life requires of folks. A theory is a theory, a fact is a fact.
But you just watch what is about to unfold. Because of that TSA shooting they will start clamoring to be armed. It's bad enough they are already moving out of the "airport" realm and out on our streets. Of course they want guns. Maybe some of those BILLION bullets that the DHS purchased will help out the TSA.
Do you remember this? Cause I sure do. It rings in my ear each time I hear of all the alphabet agencies stepping up and stomping our personal liberties all in the name of safety.
In July of 2008, presidential candidate Barack Hussein Obama stated that Americans could no longer “…continue to rely on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives we’ve set. We’ve got to have a civilian national security force that’s just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded.”
Let me just repeat that last line... We’ve got to have a civilian national security force that’s just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded.”
I'm pretty sure we are well on the way.
And if that's not enough to send me over the edge
... Check this one out and consider the consequences.
Let that sink in for just a minute...
