Jacked Up Banana Bread

courtesy of Smitten Kitchen

This afternoon I almost tossed three overripe bananas into the trash while doing a quick kitchen clean up before our holiday travels.  Instead I opted to try out a new recipe and bake with the little lady.  She is quickly learning the art of measuring, scooping, pouring, and stirring.   The combination of spices creates a tantalizing aroma while the bread bakes, filling the kitchen with the comforting scents of butter, cinnamon and banana.

Ingredients:

3 to 4 ripe bananas, mashed

1/3 cup melted salted butter

3/4 to 1 cup light brown sugar (depending on the level of sweetness you prefer)

1 egg, beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 Tablespoon bourbon (optional; we opted out.)

1 teaspoon baking soda

pinch of salt (or two if you have little hands helping you)

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

pinch of ground cloves

1 1/2 cup of flour

handful of chocolate chips (if you prefer it extra sweet like your sous chef)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  With a wooden spoon, mix melted butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl.  Mix in the sugar, egg, vanilla and bourbon, then the spices.  Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in.  Add the flour last and mix.   Pour the mixture into a buttered 4x8 inch loaf pan.  Bake for 50 minutes to one hour, or until a tester comes out clean.  Cool on a rack.  Slice, serve and enjoy!

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words - ready for something



So she says...

While I attend my Thursday morning Bible study, the little lady attends "Little Lambs" or as she affectionately calls it her "Mary Had A Little Lamb" class. This past week, the children prepared and shared a birthday cake for Jesus.  After picking up my little lamb, she had this to say, "Mom. (excited pause) Today we ate a birthday cake for Jesus.  He was not there, though.  He is pretend.  But, he helps our bodies, so we make good choices."  Her theology, a work in progress.

While testing out a new banana bread recipe this week (my mother was unavailable to take our phone call requesting her tried and true recipe), the little lady was eager to help.  As we poured each ingredient into our large mixing bowl, we took a moment to smell each one.  With each stir, the little lady's enthusiasm grew and finally she announced, "Oh. My. Goodness.  This smells delicious.  Mommy, you make the best recipes. Ever."  A moment so heartwarming and perfect in its delivery.

Since the little man turned two, he and the little lady have been playing together in fun and new ways as they share space, toys, and ideas.  However, he is still a boy, and boys do not always play the same way little girls do.  In response to one of his poor choice moments, the little lady had this advice to offer him. "Joey, it really hurts my feelings when you yell and spit.  You should not do that.  You should say you're sorry, Joe.  Joe...(as she follows him down the hallway)  Joe...you should probably say you're sorry. (Still following)   "Shawshey,"  he replied (And, does so every time).  She is not one to let an incident pass, is always up for a good lecture, and deeply appreciates hearing the words, "I'm sorry."

On her first cold of the season - "Mommy, I can't eat breakfast today because I have a bad cold.  I don't have a "bless you"  I just have a cough."

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words - girl after my own heart



Parent/Teacher Conferences

For six years I conducted parent/teacher conferences prior to becoming a stay-at-home mama.   As a teacher, I looked forward to each conference as it was concentrated time with parents, focusing on their child's individual needs, strengths, and accomplishments.  Monday afternoon, I attended my first parent/teacher conference as a parent.  To say that I was anticipating my thirty minute conference with Ms. Cheryl Clark would be an understatement.  I was chomping at the bit to hear all Ms. Clark would reveal about our little lady.  I could not help but smile and chuckle as she detailed our little lady's social, emotional, physical and cognitive growth thus far.  As I listened to her account of the little lady's behavior within the classroom and overall description of her budding personality I realized our little apple does not fall far from the tree.  To be honest, it is hard to tell who she is more like these days, her ol' man or mama.  Perhaps, she is the perfect hybrid apple.

The Honeycrisp - a hybrid of the Macoun and Honeygold apples.  Sweet perfection. 

A few highlights from my conference with Cheryl Clark.

(As an aside, all of the children in her class refer to the teacher as "Cheryl" except our little lady who insists on calling her "Ms. Clark." The teacher finds this quite endearing.)

- "C demonstrates confidence in meeting her own needs. She verbally asserts needs and desires."

(No shock there!)

- "C manages separations without distress and engages trusted adults. She manages classroom rules, routines and transitions."

(She has been ready and willing to leave my side since she began walking at the age of 10 months.)

- "One day a friend scraped his knees on the way to school. He cried and C stood nearby me (the teacher) as I tried to comfort our friend. C looked concern; she shows great empathy."

(One of the qualities I appreciate most in our little lady.)

- "C seeks adult help to resolve social problems."

(I can see her marching right up to her teachers determined to seek and obtain justice.)

- "C has a sense of humor. One day C said, 'Hey, I have a joke.' She worked hard to tell me and I worked hard to follow it. She then said, 'I have another joke.'

(Determined to get a laugh.  If you know her father, this might not come as a surprise to you.)

- "C uses creativity and imagination during play and routine tasks."

(She currently enjoys playing "teacher" and reads aloud to willing classmates...be still my heart!)

- "C recalls familiar people, places, objects and actions from the past. She examines with attention to detail. On two occasions, C noticed no schedule cards for the gym or the playground and wanted to know why not."

(Her memory is a steel trap.  If it is spoken, she will remember it.)

 

Our little lady is a piece of work. 

It fills my heart with deep joy (and pride) to be known as "Charlotte's Mommy."

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words - discovery



PW's Chicken Spaghetti

When I skimmed the list of ingredients in this spaghetti recipe, I knew that it would be a hit with the husband.  After starting a (tiny) fire in my kitchen due to an uncooked noodle catching fire, and knocking over a kitchen plant in the process of putting out said fire (What can I say?  It was one of those days.), he and I were able to enjoy this delicious and comforting dish as we sat on the couch in peace.  Served with a side of roasted asparagus, the meal was a satisfying way to end our day.

courtesy of The Pioneer Woman as seen in Scholastic Parent & Child

Ingredients:

2 bone-in chicken breast

1 lb thin spaghetti, broken into 2 inch pieces (I used whole wheat angle hair pasta.)

one 4-oz jar diced pimientos, drained (My new favorite ingredient.)

1 small onion, chopped

1/4 cup finely diced green bell pepper

2 cans cream of mushroom soup (May I suggest cream of mushroom w/ roasted garlic?)

2 1/2 cups grated Cheddar cheese (I used shredded sharp Cheddar.)

1 tsp seasoned salt, such as Lawry's

1 can chicken stock or broth

freshly ground black pepper and salt to taste

1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper to taste

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Place chicken breast on a baking sheet and rub with olive oil, salt and pepper.  Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

3. Remove chicken from oven and allow to cool before shredding or cutting into bite-sized chunks.

4. Drain pimientos and dice veggies.

5. Mix together diced veggies, cream of mushroom soup, pimiento, chicken and two cups of cheese.  Add the seasonings.

6.  Meanwhile, bring a salted pot of water to boil and cook noodles until al dente.  Drain and add to mixture.

7. Add the chicken broth, stirring until incorporated.  Taste to check seasonings, adding more if desired.

8. Pour the mixture into a large, greased baking pan and top with remaining cheese.  Bake for 35-45 minutes until bubbly.

Serves 6-8

Yummy!