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

Birthday Pie - Proper Pie Co.

Last Sunday was my momma's birthday and I had quite the idea planned.

When I got to town last Friday, my dad told me he would be gone for the weekend hunting with friends. All I heard was, "You and your mom should veg and be lazy." Soooo we did. My mom made it home and we vegged by the glow the Christmas tree. We watched all of our guilty pleasures (reality TV) and ate pizza. 'Twas was so nice. 

Saturday morning, we I slept in, woke up, had coffee, and started helping my mom make cake pops for a Christmas party we had planned to attend that evening (more to come about these). In passing, I mentioned this new pie joint that had opened downtown and kinda explained what kinds of stuff they had. She said she hadn't heard of it, so I didn't really mention anything else about it . . .

Until Sunday afternoon. When I showed up at the house. With eight different kinds of pie for her to feast on for her birthday! 

So what's this place that serves only pie? It's Proper Pie Co. in Church Hill. Their Facebook gives you a daily run-down on their selection, their Yelp reviews sing their praises much like myself, and Richmond BizSense has a thing or two to say about them (the owners) as well. rvanews had a little somethin' somethin' too - can you say food cart?? 

If you're looking for a homey place where you can get hot, meaty (or not) delicious pies, or a slice of {pie} heaven for a mid-sunday-afternoon-just-because, then look no farther. Proper Pie Co. is your place. O - and their company logo is pretty much the peaches to my cream too. Love. It. 

Alright. Enough talking. Here's some pie for ya. {Happy Birthday Momma}

I have to tell on myself a little bit here. Once she realized she had about eight different kinds of pie to feast on, there was no "gently taking everything out of the packages." With that being said, I just took everything out as I grabbed it from the bag, not paying attention to the fact that I had the savory pies laying upside down! Silly me. For that reason, the pictures won't be nearly as pretty as these - that and we had to get a few tastes in before I could take any pictures, thus why they're half eaten. HA!

 

Spinach, Blue Cheese, and Mushroom

 Steak and Cheese

Chicken and Kumara

-Not pictured . . . Sausage Roll. Which. Was. Phenomenal.-


Blueberry and Apple (momma's fave)

Pear Almond (my fave)

Banana Coconut Cream (so light, so much like a fancy banana pudding)

Lemon Meringue

 

So tell me, would you like eight kinds of pie on your birthday?

-Sue

Put It In The Book

I had the whole weekend off this past weekend, and I completely enjoyed it with my whole being. I'll share it with you via some Instagram pics.

Saturday morning my friend and I went to the South of the James Farmer's Market in Forest Hill Park to stock up on veggies/fruits for the week. She and I had never been to this particular one, but it proved to be a weekly trip for us. That morning I made my coffee at home a little strong and decided not to finish it. Besides, I knew Blanchard's would be at the market, but didn't know Crossroads would be. Upon arriving we went straight to the Crossroads truck, and I got an iced caramel latte that was delish! Then we headed over to Wild Heaven Farm's booth (they have goat's milk soap) and I picked up a large bar (only $4.50) of the scent, Mint In The Morning (I'm hoping it will clear up this summer cold I seem to have developed overnight).

Next, we attacked our veggie/fruit lists. I snagged a zucchini, yellow squash, large tomato, big ginormous cucumber, eggplant, two banana peppers, pint of blueberries, large bag of spinach, and half a bunch of kale for about $19. Not too shabby. My friend wasn't far behind in money spent, as she was buying for she and her daughter.

We finished up there and headed for the Body Worlds Exhibit at the Science Museum of Virginia. I have missed this exhibit in Pittsburgh and in San Juan, Puerto Rico, so I was determined to go when I heard it was in Richmond. I almost think it was a blessing in disguise though because I know so much more now about the human body (thanks to pharmacy school), that I had far more appreciation for the exhibit and what they had on display.

My friend had an eyebrow appointment in Carytown after, so I tagged along. Then we grabbed lunch at New York Deli. I ordered a four cheese omelet (just wanted three of the four cheeses) with tomatoes and jalapeños, but sadly received just a three cheese omelet. She ordered an omelet also, and had no complaints. In normal fashion we decided it would be a shame to pass up Carytown Cupcakes, as we were just a few blocks from their new location. After brunch we walked to the new cupcake shop where I had one of their weekly flavors, a gluten-free Georgia Peach cupcake, and my friend had their Red Velvet. Too yummy!

I headed home for a nap, but my mom had other plans. She wanted me to tag along to the paint store with her. So I did. I killed two birds with one stone though because I went next door to our grocery to grab a few things to make two dishes I had planned to make on Sunday. By the time we left it was late afternoon and my mom was craving something sweet. I had already had my cupcake a few hours before remember? Well I caved because they had my favorite flavor of fro-yo, Taro. I usually go to Sweet Frog in Carytown because they have the Taro flavor and their texture of fro-yo is better, but my mom likes Sweet Spoons.

Sunday was going to be my sleep in, bake, cook day. Wrong. My mom woke me at 6:45am trying to find something to do in Richmond for the day with my Nannie. Well, we didn't find anything and I was left sitting up at 7:15am like a crazy person. So I jumped on my baking first. I decided to make this Chocolate Hazelnut Cherry Tart. If you don't have time to invest, this is not the dessert for you. It's very labor intensive in terms of making the tart's crust. After that, it's easy peasy lemon squeezy. You'll probably need one of these also (if you don't already have one).

After making and tasting the final product, I decided that I would go a different route when rolling out the crust for next time, and I would also add a few drops of cherry liqueur or a cherry oil to the ganache before spreading it in the tart shell. It just needed that extra kick of cherry flavor.

Lastly, I cooked. I cooked probably one of the best meals I've ever made. I made this chick's Spicy Thai Noodle dish that she adapted from one of her friend's recipes, but I changed the sauce quite a bit. Essentially, I boiled and drained my linguine noodles, cut up two carrots, one zucchini, one yellow squash, and a bunch of green onions and set aside.

Then I made the sauce. The best sauce ever. I'm convinced it would taste good on anything. Really. I used 1/2 cup Sesame Oil, 1/4 cup Sunflower Oil, and 1 1/2 tbsp of red pepper flakes in a pan over medium heat for about 2 minutes (careful not to burn the pepper flakes). This will infuse your oil, but probably not enough. Separate the oil from the pepper flakes and place in bowl. Add 6 tbsp of honey and 6 tbsp of low sodium soy sauce to the reserved oil. Add two cloves of garlic, minced and about an 1/8 to 1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper. Mix thoroughly and dump over noodles. Next add a tbsp of unsalted butter and a whole clove of garlic to a pan over medium heat. Let the garlic sit in the pan for a few, then take out so it doesn't become bitter. Add your veggies and cook (while tossing occasionally) for about 7 minutes. Dump over pasta and enjoy. (This picture doesn't do this dish justice. At all.) You will have quite a bit of oil in the bottom of your pasta dish, so I recommend not dumping it all in and using it for other things throughout the week such as a marinade, etc.

My mom has this book that she puts everything delicious she has made/adapted over the years. Well she came in from running errands and tried my dish. She was like, "Oh my goodness. That's addicting. You need to put that in the book."

I did just that.

-Suze

Orange Ya' Glad?

I know, I know. Orange ya' glad? Super fifth grade but you will be glad that I posted these gems.

Back in March during Spring Break (for me), my momma officially became addicted . . . to Pinterest. So hard out in the streets these days! I could hear her pin something in the other room and then say mmmmm. Then pin something again, and then say MMMMM even louder.

I decided on my off day (should have been studying Cardio) to stalk her Pinterest boards and make her a little something. She pinned these Orange Muffins and I thought why not? As you can see from the post here and the one I am currently sharing, Annie's Eats is spot on with her recipes. It's also one of my Daily Fuel vices. What can I say? These are good things people!

So after enjoying sushi with a good friend, I went to the store for the few things I needed and got down to making these beauties.

See? Orange ya' glad?

-Suze

Want Some Jimmies On That?

My birthday was back in February and I had quite a lot going on during that time: DDM Block II, two roommates' birthdays, etc. It was just mentally taxing. With that being said, I partied it up in Virginia Beach for my birthday, rather than make the trek to Richmond.

I made a smart choice. I basically got two celebrations. I must remember this for future birthdays!

The weekend after my birthday I went to the 804 for some lovin' and boy did I get it! My momma used to make cakes (birthday, wedding, anniversary, etc.) when I was younger, therefore I always had the creme de la creme birthday cakes growing up. This year she decided to go a different route and I didn't hate it!

Forever it seems, I have enjoyed those pasty, white, simple carb, high calorie, high fat, high sugar, DELICIOUS cookies (that I refer to as crack cookies) that Walmart sells year round with different frostings and decor. Know what I'm talking 'bout? I thought so. They are so awful and wonderful at the same time.

In fact, I have received them in place of Valentine's Day candy from boyfriends and I usually consume them in one sitting with milk. Lots of milk. Hey, no judging! I know you've done it too. Part of the process is overcoming the denial of it all.

They are actually called Lofthouse cookies, and my momma being the saint that she is made 'em for me. She used this recipe for Lofthouse cookies but tweaked it a little bit and of course added lots of love. I am convinced they got me through the following week of studying. Otherwise, I might not be sharing this with you now!

Now for the jimmies. While at WVU I had to take a speech class. Not because I have an issue with talking in front of people, but as a requirement. We allllll know that speaking isn't something I fear.

My professor would always bring up different words and ask the students in her class to say what they learned that it was called/named growing up. Examples would be shopping cart/buggy, toboggan/beanie, remote/clicker, vacuum/sweeper, and in another case sprinkles or jimmies?! I refuse to call them jimmies, but apparently they are not to be confused with sprinkles that adorn sundaes, cookies, brownies and more. I think it's a northern thang. Won't hold it against ya' though.

With that being said, my momma topped these cookies off with jimmies sprinkles and they were just divine.

Enjoy!

-Suze

Quit Horsin' Around

Mother's Day was a few days ago and rather than purchase the ingredients to make my momma, nannie, and aunt a Hummingbird Cake days before, I decided to go to the store at 6:30am on Sunday to get what I needed.

 

No, I had not had my perfected cup of coffee yet.

 

Our neighbors have a few horses and the sun in the morning always looks superb in that direction. I took the picture of the little gem below on my way back in (however this was shot under the overhang of the barn). They also have a ton of alpacas. I'm not brave enough to face those little things. Yet. They're odd to me. Momma thinks they're cute.

I am here to report that, that cake is . . . gone. Definitely try it out. However, I would recommend adding the 1/3 c of walnuts to the batter and baking them in, rather than just on top. Soak and toss them in flour before adding to the batter so that they don't sink to the top (because it's a bunt cake pan) of the cake.

While my cake was baking, my parents went to church and my dad advised insisted that I go take pictures of the random patches of Mountain Laurel that we have growing along our wood line at the back of our property. I have a couple of those for ya' too.

All in all it was a great day with the prettiest women I know!

-Suze