Peanut Butter-Banana Bread (with a slight twist)

Morning y'all!

Hope you're having a good week. Yesterday was my 25th birthday! Even though I had class and other grown-up things to do (drug tests/background checks for rotations), I enjoyed myself this past weekend and the festivities will continue throughout this week/weekend - can't wait!

So what did I do last weekend? Saturday involved this - thick snowflakes falling, coffee mugs, blankets, couches, and Chicago Fire. My Nannie, Mom and I sat on the couch all day and watched the whole season and it was fabulous. I had seen them all but they hadn't, so I had to stick around to make sure they didn't doze off during all the good parts. Seriously though - it's an awesome show . . . get on it!

All of a sudden it was mid afternoon and I had gotten the itch to make something. Didn't want things to be too involved, so I grabbed my Aida Mollenkamp book and began to browse. I've made some things from her book before (Meatballs), so I knew she wouldn't let me down. I stumbled upon her Peanut Butter-Banana Bread Recipe and was certain that I had all the ingredients that I needed. Well I didn't. I had everything but the unsalted butter. I have read her book cover to cover, so I should have known that deviating too far from the recipe may result in some changes. The bread was still a success!

Peanut Butter-Banana Bread (adapted from Aida Mollenkamp's Keys To The Kitchen)

What You'll Need

• 4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted (plus more for greasing your pan)
• 1 & 2/3 C unbleached, all-purpose flour
• 1 & 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 & 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1 & 1/4 tsp ground allspice
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 & 1/2 C packed light brown sugar
• 1 & 1/4 C mashed ripe bananas (about 3 bananas)
• 2/3 C natural crunchy peanut butter
• 2 large eggs
• 1 & 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

How To Make It

• Heat your oven to 350F and arrange rack in the middle.
• Grease AND flour your loaf pan (9x5in) - Aida didn't say to do this, but my crust was just a tad tough and my mom seemed to think that this would have rectified that issue.
• Whisk together your dry ingredients - flour, baking powder, salt, allspice, and baking soda - set aside.
• In a stand mixer with a paddle, beat your sugar, bananas, peanut butter, and melted butter on medium speed until combined.
• Add your eggs and vanilla until just blended.
• On low speed, add your flour mixture to your banana mixture just until incorporated.
• Pour your batter into your greased/floured loaf pan and bake until knife/wooden pick comes out clean with a few crumbs, 55-70 minutes.
• Remove from oven and allow to cool in pan for five minutes, then remove from pan and allow to cool on rack.

How was my bread different? I chose to use a half and half mixture of natural creamy peanut butter and sunflower butter. You can sub the peanut butter for any nut butter of your choosing. Definitely make sure your bananas are ripe, and definitely use unsalted butter - don't try to cut corners by omitting the salt in your flour mixture and using salted butter. You can also add nuts to your batter or on top of your bread before baking. I added walnuts to the top of mine, but may I suggest this? Watch your bread for the first 10-20 minutes - allow it to rise and then cover with foil so your nuts/top of your bread don't get too done. 

Overall, this bread was delicious and something I'll definitely make again. I served mine warm with a touch of butter and it was yum! It lasted maybe a day or two around the house, so I must have done something right!

Enjoy!

-Sue

Merry CHRISTmas and A Time-Well-Spent New Year!

Well, she's over. Another Christmas has come and gone. Just like that. For me, Christmas isn't about the gifts (and it never should be). I love Christmas because I can do. I can make and do for others. I can have coffee in the early morning by the glow of my tree with my momma. I can eat brunch on Christmas day with my family . . . in my pajamas. 

People ask me every year, "Are you ready for Christmas?" and I'm always like . . . "Yeah." I actually had a conversation with my mom right before Christmas about this because I don't always understand why people are so stressed, even the days leading up to Christmas. We had similar logic, in that so many people still have small children and are trying to meet the typical Christmas demands that seem expected of them as parents. Though I'm an only child, I didn't have huge Christmases growing up. My parents did what they could, but they also constantly reiterated the true meaning of Christmas to me.

I think that's why I harp on the small moments of Christmas and why I soak them up like a sponge - like time together, time spent laboring over cake pops with my momma (haha mom!), or the moment when the Christmas passage from Luke is read aloud during Christmas Eve service, and no matter what, my mom and I always glance at each other mouthing the verses. O - and time spent playing Taboo with my funny hilariously crazy family - I suppose I'll count that too haha!

Despite the awful Sandy Hook losses right before Christmas, I feel it may have triggered a nerve in many families this year. The nerve of - slowing down, savoring moments, remembering what this time of year is all about, and appreciating it as if it won't come around again next year. The nerve of doing, rather than bustling about, breezing in and out of Christmas parties, or forgetting the small moments at each party or get-together.

As the New Year approaches, many resolutions are made and broken. Tonight, as we count down and hurry our way into the coming year, consider making a resolution of time. Not necessarily being on time (because I never am), but making the best of your time. Spend it the best way you know how. Savor every moment, with every person, don't rush it, but reflect on your time and never take it for granted. 

-Sue

Bloody Marys and Storm Parties

Happy Friday everybody! I'm officially on vacay! Five days of silence, relaxation, sun, chocolate chip coffee cake, bloody marys (I swear by this stuff), and nothing work related. Woop woop.

It's neva too early for bloody marys.

I was supposed to be in Savannah, GA for my vacay with one of my roommates from WVU and her man but life happens, so we had to postpone :(

Instead, I'm down in Cape Hatteras, NC with my momma, daddy, and some wonderful family friends. Even though some storms are passing over us right now, there's nothing more enjoyable than having lots nothing to do and great people to share it with. The current plan is a storm party with drinks in our jammies and either tenderloin or a shrimp boil for dinner. Yum-MO!

Let the games begin!

-Suze

Tree Cleanup, Fireworks, and Concerts

Here's a little tree cleanup update. For the most part, the tree is gone and all that's left is sawdust, sweat, and sadness. Sadness because that tree provided shade for the majority of the backside of our home. O well, what can you do? Better than a tree sitting in the kitchen right? 

Just a heads up, if you're looking for a highly stimulating, photo heavy post, this ain't it. I promise a craft/DIY print post next to get your craft juices flowing.

The morning after the storm around 6AM.

From the two pictures below, you can see all the trees that surround our property that are apart of our property. I wasn't joking in that text message about being a tad freaked out!

From the inside of the house looking out.

Couple days after when cleanup arrived.

The gentleman helping us here - there are no words to explain him other than . . . crazy. It was pure entertainment with a chain saw to say the least.

Brush pile #1 - just limbs and leaves.

These pictures show ya' just how much ground was uprooted and how wide it was - a toothpick really. O wait, it was 85 inches around!

Whew! We certainly had an exciting and tiring start to the fourth of the July holiday. Speaking of which, on the 3rd I went downtown with friends, had a few brews and fried pickles at Station 2, then watched fireworks over the city like usual.

On the 4th, I put on my most patriotic dress, cooked out on the grill, then went with a friend from WVU/hometown to Fort Lee to watch Justin Moore perform and watch their fireworks show. I must say, the concert and fireworks at Fort Lee were spectacular! Totally worth the wait trying to leave base after all the festivities had died down. No matter how old you are, I don't think I'll ever get too old for fireworks.

-Suze

Storm Warning

Hope everyone's weekend was a bit quieter than mine. The East Coast got turned upside down due to a line of wind storms that originated in the Midwest early on Friday. Honestly I had no idea storms were headed our way, but did have a bit of a storm warning from friends via Facebook. Many of my friends from college still live in West Virginia and they were posting pictures of the damage in their areas. Little did I know it was approaching Virginia. The next storm warning came from a friend that I work with, warning me of a wind storm with a history of winds at 100mph. 

Then it hit.

My family lives in a long rancher style house on about six acres, and we have trees surrounding our house. We have truly been blessed to have never had a tree fall on our house, given that we have been through many hurricanes over the years. We have had plenty in the yard, across the driveway, etc., but never on the house. Like I said. So blessed. 

As you can see, I was beginning to get a little worried that my house would become a tree-house in a matter of minutes. Earlier in the week, my dad had been working on something on the front of our house and needed ladders to do so. I got out of bed, walked to the living room, and stood in front our bay windows to see the storm howl. I heard something on my way into the living room and assumed that it was the ladders being blown over (they had). I walked over to another window to look out at our garage and all I could see were leaves. Blowing. Leaves blowing in front of a window that doesn't have a tree close by. I proceeded to the kitchen, flipped on the back light to see our deck, and there she was.

The next morning.

That afternoon.

Some progress.

Thankfully, the deck took a majority of the hit. I say thankfully because a deck is far easier to replace than brick, sheetrock, etc. We did have two large holes in the roof, but again. Much easier to fix. My parents' insurance will cover tree removal, deck repairs, and the home repairs.

I'm shocked that we never lost power. I guess it was God's way of saying, "Ya' know, you've lost power for two weeks too many times, how about I give you a new learning experience? How about a tree instead? I'll keep your power on." Such a funny sense of humor He has. We are SO fortunate to have power though because in addition to the storms, there's been a heat melting wave that's also hit the East Coast. It's not the heat that kills us, it's the dang humidity. Virginia summers. DREAD them. 

Aside from the storm/tree/heat drama, I have three days off including the fourth. Woop-woop! I had planned to go to the beach and hang with my roommate and friend, but would have felt bad bailing on my family. Ya know because there's a large monstrous tree on their house? With that being said, let the crafting, baking, and cookouts begin.

Here's some sketches I've been working on for a nursery wall art painting sesh.

I'll be back soon with storm picture progress, and hopefully yummy and pretty creations.

-Suze