Tag Archives: banana

Bananas & Lady Bugs

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Today was all about the banana. I’ve had banana bread on my mind for a while now – so today, I set out to make banana bread muffins. Jenna’s post early in the morning only inspired me further.

I broke out my mom’s recipe (I think from her grandmother)…

Can you tell this one has been around for a while? hah

And some perfectly freckled bananas:

And got to mixing! Seeecret family recipe  (it’s probably a fairly standard BB recipe) – This one is pretty similar…I feel lame for not posting the recipe, but mi madre is protective of ‘em and I respect that.

I decided to mix some chopped up Endangered Species Dark Hazelnut Toffee Chocolate into the second half of the mix.

After 20 minutes in the oven, they were puffed up and golden…and just asking to be eaten.

I ventured outside to try and get some great lighting…and a little friend found me.

Landed right on my shoulder/back...she was ready for her closeup.

Lady bugs love banana bread, too! 

Well, the muffins were great. Score one for the lucky lady bug.

Here’s to hoping some of that luck rubs off with other endeavors in my life. :)

 

B.A.N.A.N.A.S.

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There’s just something about being in the kitchen you grew up in that makes you want to roll up your sleeves and get messy!

Now, there’s clearly nothing wrong with my own teeny kitchen, I’ve dedicated a blog to it….

….but sometimes, it’s the kitchen that you remember baking Toll House chocolate chip cookies in, and sitting in front of the oven – watching them rise, and speaking to your reflection like you are Julia Child with a television audience….(I never said that I was a normal child…) that inspires you to break out the flour and sugar.

Today I woke up craving banana bread like crazy (the shizz is bananas – b.a.n.a.n.a.s.).

Only problem was that we didn’t have any bananas – let alone any of the overly ripe variety.

Madre to the rescue and within an hour we had not overly ripe, but still mashable bananas in the kitchen.

…Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong were there, too. It was quiiiite the party.

I honestly cannot remember my mother’s recipe off the top of my head (and I’m not 100% sure she’d like me sharing it, either), but it’s similar to Martha’s. We use oil instead of butter, though.

Regardless, I think Martha would approve: This banana bread -  It’s a very good thing.

After mashing bananas, beating eggs, and folding in flour, etc….into the loaf pan it goes!

Oh…and with a sprinkling of a packet’s worth of raw sugar on top – it adds the perfect crunch. Plus…I just love raw sugar.


50 minutes later – the smells of childhood were wafting through the house.

My favorite part of banana bread is the crust – and how, especially with the raw sugar, when it is wrapped up for safekeeping (aka: Keep Jil out of the banana bread) eventually it becomes a little sticky, and creates this awesome contrast to the fluffy inside. That description isn’t even doing it justice. This is definitely bread that gets better as it sits though!

Plus, I love the speckled nature of banana bread.

The specks look almost purple in the photos! They’re still fairly light – though I’m sure they’ll get darker as it sits, and the bananas oxidize even more.

I love being home. Warm fuzzy feelings and full bellies. It doesn’t get much better than that!

  • Where do you get your cooking inspiration?
  • Are there certain places that you cook certain ways? I know that I rarely bake in my apartment, but at my mom’s I love to break out dessert recipes!

Food & Fashion. Is there anything better?

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Hello lovelies!! I hope everyone had an amazing Monday!! Rarely can I say that I truly enjoy a Monday (that isn’t during a vacation…haha), but today was an exception.It was absolutely stunning out. It was one of those days that makes you think that winter might actually be over…however, I don’t trust New England weather that much…sooo I’m not holding my breath for this weather to continue – however, I am enjoying it to the fullest!!

Last night was the Academy Awards!! Who watched?! I really enjoyed the show…I was especially happy for Sandra Bullock…she is truly an amazing, humble person (well, from what I hear).

I watched all of the red carpet pre-shows – E!’s was by far my favorite…ABC’s…was awkward. Their interviewers were … awkward….especially Kathy Ireland. People are commenting on her being drunk or on some sort of drug…but honestly, I think it was that she was nervous and that she was completely inexperienced at what she was doing…I think she scared some of the people she interviewed. Kudos for the try, though – I know I probably would not have fared much better.

I love, love, love the fashion, makeup, etc…and these are a few of my faves:

[source for all photos]

I know it's easy for a guy to put on a tux...but he's just so darn beautiful I couldn't resist.

White is hard to pull off, and Meryl looks beautiful and poised...as always.

I absolutely adore Kate, and I think she looked beautiful.

On to my eats! Even though today was beautiful, it didn’t make it much easier to get out of bed after staying up to watch the show. I crawllllled out of bed and made myself a nice hot cup of coffee. :)

My first couple of classes went by without a hitch, and I enjoyed these suckers during a small break.

I walked home (soaking up the sun!) and once back at my apartment threw open allll of the windows. I love how alive the city becomes on gorgeous days like this.

I enjoyed some string cheese, a banana and White Chocolate Wonderful for an afternoon snack/lunch deal.Delicious.

And I sat down and began to tackle my color-coded to-do list.

And dinner came a little early. Hungry.Hungry.(Hippos).

On the menu…none other than my torilla pizza. I know, I know – I’m sorry to keep repeating it, but it’s just so darn good…I CRAVE it!

Tonight – I hope to get most of my French study guide finished – just so that I can really buckle down tomorrow afternoon because I’ve got a couple of meetings throughout the day. Fancy-schmancy. haha

I hope you all are fabulous!!!!

  • Did you have a favorite moment or fashion or ANYTHING from the Oscars??

Mine was definitely Sandy winning – she wholeheartedly deserved that, in my opinion.OH!! AND Neil Patrick Harris at the beginning – I love him, too and that was fabbbulous!!

Love.Love.Love.

Buhbye Stress

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Hello, hello beauties!! Happy Wednesday! The week is halfway over — celebraaation! :)

Today was a really good day (even though it was grossly dreary! come back sun!!) – I got back my French quiz that I took after my lovely early morning, fire-alarm wake up call. Aced it! Hooooray! haha I was, honestly, worried about that one, and she mentioned how poorly some people did on Monday so that made me worry even more. Phew. Stress 1: fini!

Stress 2: journalism midterm. I think I did great on it – and it was allll short answer. That was all done by early afternoon so Stress 2 – byebye!

Obvs, my day began with a leftover latte (caramel flavahhed).

In the 2nd hour of my French lab, I munched on a Caramel Nut Brownie LUNA Bar. This is one of my favorites, too! I just keep discovering more flavors I love. Props to LUNA.

When I got home I munched on some new TJ’s dried apricots (they are much more photogenic than the last ones I had!), a cheese stick and then a banana. A fruit and cheese plate of sorts…minus the plate.

That kept me full most of the afternoon where I just sort of lounged. The grey skies made that reeeeaaaalllly easy. haha :)

Dinner…a familiar player: Tortilla Pizza! I used a new tortilla - Trader Jose’s Handmade 100% Whole Wheat Flour Tortillas. I love them for pizzas! They crisp up really well!! Mine got a little dark, but it was perfect.

On a somber note – I just want to acknowledge the tragic death of Chelsea King, in California. My prayers are certainly with her family – and it’s just a startling reminder that we ALL need to be careful when running, walking or generally being out and about on our own. For those who might not know of the story, Chelsea is a 17 y/o girl from San Diego who went running in a park in her town, and then went missing. Today officials uncovered what they believe to be her body. For the entire story, click here.

I know a lot of women run solo, and this story is just so heartbreaking and disgusting. My heart goes out to her family.

It’s not about being paranoid, but it’s about being aware.

Love.love.love. to all of you!! <3 <3

Wintery Mix

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Ahh, it was a rainy one today — and it’ll stay rainy for the rest of the week. Oy! haha I wore my rain boots and felt like a damn fool all day. haha

Last night, I fell asleep SO early. I might have actually been asleep before 11…but then I woke up a 3am…and I’m exhausted and it’s 6:30!! Gah! I can’t say why I haven’t been sleeping soundly – but pretty sure the winter blues has a lot of to with my lethargy. haha Winter needs to peaaaace out!

My morning started with a strong coffee…and then another coffee at about 11. Much needed.

After trudgin’ back through the rain after classes, I grabbed a banana and cracked open a new jar of PB&Co’s White Chocolate Wonderful. YUM. This was my first forray into the world of WCW…yummmm.

I munched on dried apricots through the afternoon. I don’t normally buy dried fruit from Whole Foods - but these suckers were on sale. Yum. Don’t you just love a bargain?? Oh..well, that’s the Christmas Tree Shoppe jingle…but it works.

I was going to make sweet potato fries for dinner…but when I sliced up the tater…well, it didn’t look quite right. The understudy quickly stepped in: Quesadilla. Yumm. It’s been a while since I’ve made a quesadilla…fresh veggies, cheese, and saucy goodness.

Dessert…microwave brownie!! :)

Happy that the week is more than halfway over!! Man…the semester is almost halfway over, too! When did that happen? haha

Well – I’m tired so I think I’m just going to relax for the evening – maybe if I get a 2nd wind I’ll get some stuff accomplished. :)

Hope you all are doing fabulously!!!