people, places, things, and ideas …

Posted by Mal on Dec 6, 2013 in All Recipes | 1 comment

Still wondering why I didn’t buy this hat …

A fun list of people, places, things, and ideas that I feel the need to share.  now.
Enjoy!

Brené Brown.  I shouldn’t have to say anything more.  Read this.  Watch this.  And this.  And then get in the arena.

Speaking of TED talks…which we are – you would know this if you clicked one of the above links.  This poet is nothing short of amazing.  ( i wish i could memorize words like that…i have troubles with Happy Birthday and The Lord’s Prayer…and this is not a joke)

This blog.  Her honesty, rawness, humor (which at times, I doubt she is trying to be quote funny, however it always gets a burst of laughter from me), and her way with words.  It is one of my fav new blogs.  And if you have children…it’s a must read.

I want a Polaroid camera because of this lovely lady.  The photos are so darn dreamy – and I love her Etsy shop.  I own this print…puts and keeps life in perspective.  She spent Thanksgiving in a yurt.  I don’t know what a yurt exactly is…but she is knocking of a to-do list and I high five her.

This shirt.

This blog and the little notes.  I found it just today.  That is what is great about the Internet and blogs…always something new to discover. ALWAYS.

I signed up for this lottery.  So did my brother.  Fingers crossed one of us gets a spot…

This is still causing me stop and shake my head.  I am glad he is no longer unemployed, but still…

I would never blink again.  And that would be OK.  Splurge?!?

I had so much fun doing this.  Post coming soon.

I want to spend time here, I want to walk here (also an interesting conversation on parenting abroad), I dream of this place biweekly, at least.

She always has me thinking.  And I love these.

Joy is teaching Baking 101…ensuring successful baked goods this Christmas.

This coat was my best investment in years. YEARS.  The hood is a hoot.

What are you loving right now?  What is inspiring you?  Where are you visiting/dreaming of?  What can you not live without right this instance?  I’d love to know!

Hope your weekend looks a tad like Stan’s every day!

Love ya
mal

Molasses Cookies

Posted by Mal on Dec 4, 2013 in All Recipes | 3 comments

im baking cookies and then some more cookies and then perhaps some scones and
brownies?  brownies are always a good idea
im gonna cover the kitchen
and most likely myself and Stan
in flour.

there will be sugar on the floor.
of the brown and white variety
and butter on the fridge door handle.
vanilla extract stains will dot the counter tops
and rogue chocolate chips will find their way under the fridge
and stove….

cookie pans will liter the counters
and center island
as will the cooling racks.
the sink, will overflow with teaspoons, measuring cups, and stand mixer attachments.
cookbooks will be upstairs, downstairs…
and every where in between
open to the final chapter…

i will forever be grateful for 2 KitchenAid stand mixing bowls.
allows me to procrastinate
in the dishwashing department
and make a much larger mess than originally thought possible

this is my favorite season of the year.
the space of time that connects thanksgiving to
Christmas
a time of year where excessive baking is
expected and accepted
with open arms and mouths

even though i am contemplating not putting up a Christmas tree
again…
i am concerned about the resident cat
taking up residence in said tree
but maybe a small live table top tree
out of jumping/climbing/leaping range of Stan
i have yet to find such location
my penguin ornaments need a chance to wobble
in the glow of twinkle lights

while i think of a decent evergreen locale
cookies are baking…

my first cookie of the season
molasses.
they make me feel like the 87 year old that I am
at heart

peanut butter chocolate chip banana bread

Posted by Mal on Nov 15, 2013 in All Recipes | 4 comments

AHHH!!!!
I have done gone and did it again.

ok, ok, ok…the improper English and the horrid grammar is pretty par for me and my blog.  Or is it my blog and I?  I don’t know.  I have never known.  No matter the amount of teaching done by countless English teachers in my education or the hours spent banging my head against the kitchen table studying grammar, very little if any ( and I stress the words any and little) actually sank in and can be recalled.

Trust me, I have tried.  Like, really tried.  I like proper grammar…or, I like the idea of proper grammar…because I wouldn’t recognize it in broad daylight, that I know for sure, yo.

But besides absolutely bad grammar and the improper use of verbs and the creating of new words…
I have made banana bread…again.
I tried eating and thus, adoring banana bread…again.
I took one bite (that was heavily/heavenly slathered with peanut butter) and I simply could not muster another…again.

I left it on my favorite green saucer, wishing it were pumpkin bread or cranberry walnut, or pistachio pound…really anything besides banana.
It was Saturday morning, coffee was brewing, Jeff Corwin was on TV chasing sting rays in the Caribbean (I don’t have Cable), there was a definite chill in the air…
All fine scenarios in which to enjoy freshly baked bread…
I so wanted to like it.
But I just couldn’t.
I had oatmeal with cranberries and maple syrup instead.  It was ok.

However, don’t go thinking this banana bread isn’t the bomb diggity, because while I didn’t enjoy it, it was devoured one thick slice after another all weekend long and come Sunday evening, as the last light of the weekend was starting to dim… one lonely chocolate chipped studded slice remained.

So, I suppose this bread would be considered a victory in the kitchen…just a failure of my taste buds and olfactory senses.  Why does it have to smell so banana-ey

Like I have mentioned here before…I like bananas.  Just not banana things.

And bananas slathered in peanut butter = the best after school/work snack ever.  So it only makes sense that peanut butter should/would end up in a loaf of banana bread from time to time…And then why leave out chocolate in this shindig of a banana party… (I even tried digging just chocolate chips out of the bread, leaving empty chocolate coated craters behind – I am that person, I can not be trusted - and they even tasted like bananas…ACK!)

So…next up…well, there is this  coconut rum browned butter banana bread in the oven as I type…Not sure why there are sooo many bananas in my freezer….
Can’t say I never gave banana bread a chance…

Recipe Adapted from Brown Eyed Baker