Hole-y Banana Bread, Captain Obvious!
Another week begins! I can’t believe how quickly last week flew! How was your weekend?
We went for a walk and Snuff found her first fall leaf.
Then, a neighbor saw us walking down the sidewalk (I let Snuffy walk on the sidewalk like a “big girl” when we’re in our neighborhood) and gave Snuff a flower from her flower bed.
I checked the mail upon arriving back home and I found an early birthday “gift”
Nice but, I don’t usually buy salon products. Sweet of them to send it though. However, this is a reminder that my birthday is quickly approaching! What does that mean to you? NO MORE BLURRY PHONE PIX!!
Snuffy and I took a long overdue trip to Trader Joe’s. We went to Whole Foods and Wal-Mart (gasp!) as well. Some of you may know by now that I tend to shop at at least three stores for the best deals. Usually those three stores are Kroger, Whole Foods and Wal-Mart because they are all so near one another. But, on Saturday we were going to be right accross the street from Trader Joes’s. I got a coupon in the mail for a FREE pair of VS panties, no purchase required! Naturally, we had to go to VS. I also got fitted for a bra while I was there. Everyone should seriously get fitted. I have gone twice . The last time was right after I went back to school and I had lost a lil weight due to the new stressful schedule. This time I measured at at 32 instead of the 34 before and I went up a cup size. Amazing what ten pounds can do. I do look better with the ten pounds on. But, how did I go down in circumference and up in cup size? I don’t know, but, I’ll take it! I will probably continue to buy 34’s though just because I don’t like the tight feeling.
I didn’t snap pix of everything because much of it is redundant week to week. As you know from last week, I packed Snuffy’s lunch on the days when I knew the food would be processed to the extreme and full of unhappy meats. Well, I felt I may be taking it too far. I didn’t want to be a crazy, overprotective mama. So, I didn’t pack on Friday. Yup, I let her eat beef pot pie. The result? She apparently ate almost half the beef pot pie and she had …errrr…major tummy issues (you know what I mean) . So, now the overprotective mama is back. I will be packing for her almost everyday. So, we had to get some more Snuffy lunch goods! The toddler room has no fridge and no microwave. So, in order for Snuff to eat when the other kids eat, I have to make sure her food will keep well in her lunchbag with an ice pack. I also have to pack things that don’t have to be heated.
Snuffy eats string cheese (from happy cows 🙂 at least once everyday. In fact, “cheese” was one of her first words.
Trader Joe’s has these organic fruit cups for the same price I usually pay for the regular fruit cups at other stores! Today, I asked Snuff what she wanted for lunch and she grabbed one and said “fruit!”
Lara Bars for kids!!! They were way less than a buck each too! Uh Oh I’m starting the LARA habit early….
Normally, I just give Snuffy her Veggie Dogs plain with some fruit and Cheddar Bunnies. But, I thought for lunch she may want to have a bun like the other kids. Plus, since it IS a veggie dog and she has been known to steal veggie dogs straight out of the fridge, she could eat it without it being warmed…right?
When I saw these initially, I thought, “Those are definitly NOT real peas and they are probably full of preservatives, fillers and good marketing.” But, I was wrong
Nutrition Facts
INGREDIENTS: GREEN PEAS, CORN OIL, RICE, SALT, CALCIUM CARBONATE, ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C).
It’s not stellar but, it isn’t THAT bad. I think they’re pretty darn tasty too!
I’ve seen these around the blog world and the ingredient list is great! So, I thought if I heat one in a pan to crisp the edges, I could put it on a bun for Snuff’s lunch…I hate that they don’t have easy access to a microwave. I know they probably could microwave her food. But, I have this image of her sitting there, waiting, watching all the other kids chow down…
This was something that I had been meaning to pick up everytime I go to Trader Joe’s. I always forget! I can’t wait to try it!
Obviously, a Whole Foods find. I love that they have their own brand of organics. To clear up confusion, I don’t need EVERYTHING WE EAT to be organic. Most of what I buy is not organic. I do, however, need food to be free of “extras”. I prefer that foods be free of chemicals, preservatives, additives, unhappy animal meat (happy animals are sometimes okay), and non-food substances.
Anyway, the ravioli was inexpensive and Snuffy loves it!
Since Mallard was away all weekend, I wanted to bake him something to welcome him back home. It’s true, you know: the way to a man’s heart is most certainly through his stomach!
I settled on banana bread due to our over-abundance of over-ripe bananas.
I modified a recipe from my most used cookbook
I used these to modify
Banana Bread
Bake: 55 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour I used all whole wheat pastry flour
- 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 eggs, beaten I used cage free
- 1-1/2 cups mashed banana (5 medium)
- 1 cup sugar I used turbinado
- 1/2 cup cooking oil or melted butter or margarine I used melted Earth Balance
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts I omitted these for Mallard
- 1 recipe Streusel-Nut Topping (optional) I didn’t take them up on that option
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. I baked at 330 for 1 hour and 15 minutes 🙂 Grease bottom and 1/2 inch up the sides of one 9x5x3-inch or two 7-1/2×3-1/2×2-inch loaf pans; set aside. In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Make a well in center of flour mixture; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl combine eggs, banana, sugar, and oil. Add egg mixture all at once to flour mixture. Stir just until moistened (batter should be lumpy). Fold in nuts. Spoon batter into prepared pan(s). If desired, sprinkle Streusel Topping over batter.
3. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes for 9x5x3-inch pan or 40 to 45 minutes for 7-1/2×3-1/2×2-inch pans or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean (if necessary, cover loosely with foil the last 15 minutes of baking to prevent overbrowning). Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely on a wire rack. Wrap and store overnight before slicing.
4. Makes 1 loaf (16 slices)
5. Streusel-Nut Topping: In a small bowl combine 1/4 cup packed brown sugar and 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour. Using a pastry blender, cut in 2 tablespoons butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in 1/3 cup chopped walnuts.
So we started with our bananas
and we moved right along.
Everything was going well until I decided, after 25 minutes, that the bread was not cooling quickly enough for me. So, I ran a knife around the edge of the loaf and turned it upside down on a plate…rookie mistake. I know better than to rush things. I used to bake at least twice every week! But, for some reason I had to hurry things along.
What did I do? I scraped the piece from the loaf pan and replaced it on the inverted loaf. I let it cool. I sliced it .
Mallard still doesn’t know that I am a Banana Bread failure 🙂
I also made Snuff a Banana Bread Pudding by modifying the same recipe. Yes, we had LOTS of over-ripe bananas! We usually go through them like water but, for some reason, we just hadn’t been feelin’ them last week.
To modify the recipe to make Banana Bread Pudding, I lowered the flour to a cup of Whole Wheat Pastry Flour, I added 3/4 cup of unsweetened apple sauce and I cut back on the baking powder. I baked it at 300 until it was set…I’m sorry I don’t remember how long it took.
It was a hit!
Yes, she was covered in ‘nana stickiness after this and yes, she did get a bath immediately after her tasty treat 🙂
Today, I started with yoga as has become my favorite Sunday tradition. I love it. I feel so good after yoga. I have a long day of studying ahead! Mallard got back before I left for yoga and took over the parenting post. I have an Anatomy and Physiology exam coming up in two days!!! I have zero study time other than today!
*EDIT*
Shout out to my little sister, Jillian, who turns 16 in 16 minutes !!
(September 14)
Happy Birthday, Aunt Jilli!
Do you buy your hair products at a salon? I bought my flat iron from my salon but I haven’t bought other salon product since I moved so far away from my mom’s salon and I use mostly earth-friendly products.
If you are a label-reader, have you been surprised by the ingredients in any of your favorite foods?
What do you pack in your lunch? Spill it, ladies!! and err…I think I have one guy reader, so you spill it too! 😉
Show your body some love!
J
Whole Body Love 
I got that same VS coupon! I love those so much! But mine says it’s not valid until the 15th or something. What the heck??
And poor snuffy’s tummy 😦
And the bread looks yummy!!
http://ajangel25.wordpress.com
April (Foods of April)
September 13, 2009
Oh man I have so much to say!! First, thanks for your comment on my blog. It’s one of those subjects that I could talk about for hours, and obviously you are right there with me!
I agree, cooking is the way to a man’s heart, for sure, and that bread look awesome!
I am a label reader, and I was surprised (about three months ago) to find out that Fiber One, which I eat every morning, has aspartame in it!! I was sort of upset, but then I figured it was no big deal because I only eat about 1/2 cup per day, and it’s the only sweetener, besides Purevia and an occasional Splenda, that I consume.
As for salon products, YES, I buy them! Have you seen my hair? It’s out of control. I live off of Aveda hair products. Without them a an a giant ball of FRIZZ!
Gina
September 13, 2009
i do buy hair products!! im a product junky!!
any rice/wasabi pea/asian treat surprises me with their ingrediants!!
devan newman
September 13, 2009
These are camera phone pics?? I had no idea! No wonder you’ve been wanting a camera!
I’ve been fitted at VS before too and I totally agree – something every girl needs to do.
Is the replacement ratio for raw sugar:white sugar 1:1? So 1 cup of raw sugar = 1 cup of white sugar? I’ve got to make Maxine’s birthday cake this week and I want to replace white sugar with a better alternative.
I don’t use salon products, lately I’ve been buying earth friendly products too and get them in the natural food section at my grocery store!
Alison
September 14, 2009
I really don’t have a clue what the replacement ratio truly is…I just used 1:1 and it turned out most and delicious. I probably should have looked up the ratio before I began though! lol
WholeBodyLove
September 14, 2009
I think it’s totally fine that you pack a lunch for Snuffy. I am probably going to be the same when I have kids. Who knows what all those additives and crazy chemicals do to them.
I don’t buy salon products because I think they are way too expensive and not really that much better than regular store brands. Or maybe I’m just a cheapo and tell myself that. 🙂
Emily
September 14, 2009
mmm your b bread looks great! sorry about the little left on the pan but I think a fork will solve that. Just scoop with fork and place in mouth 🙂 love snuffys leaf!
julie
September 14, 2009
So many amazing TJ purchases…guess we had a similar weekend 🙂 Dr. Praeger’s burgers are delicious! I’m sort of addicted to those Snapea crisps too…I can polish off a whole bag pretty quickly.
I got fitted once and they told me I was a 32 but I still prefer 34s.
Allie (Live Laugh Eat)
September 14, 2009
Ow! Great buys at TJs and WFs. I love the good foods you buy for your baby! I have that same cook book and love it! The look of the nana bread isn’t what counts, the taste is, and I bet yours is fantastic! My sisters bday is today too!!
Erica
September 14, 2009
snuffy is too dang cute! yay for banana bread – i finished that other loaf and am now hankering for another!
Holly
September 14, 2009
I love that you pack lunch for your daughter. I send breakfast to day care for my kids. A lot of parents do at our day care. About half the parents send breakfast and the other half let their kids eat the white flour waffles and doughnuts (gag)!! Now I’m tempted to send lunch too. It’s such a good idea to send the same thing they have on the menu at the school! You’re a genius!!!!! 😀
-A
A
September 14, 2009
Yay yay yay it’s almost your birthday! I am a HUGE fan of birthdays. Can’t wait to read about how it went.
Haha, this may sound creepy but I am so jealous. I can’t wait to have a child and feed them all sorts of nutritious goodies.
I don’t pack my lunch because I will eat it right after I pack it but I love packing lunches in general! Haha. I usually just make sandwiches and fruit when I do make one.
Tiffany!
September 14, 2009
Ah yes, I do feel amazing after yoga 🙂
The banana bread looks really good! Haha, I do that quite frequently when I’m in a rush (99% of the time!)
I usually don’t buy salon products unless they’re on major sale at ulta, instead I get earth friends products like you do =)
I prefer my food without the extras you listed above, and from happy animals too. But sometimes, you don’t have control over everything, so I’m trying to let things go.
I have a hard time packing my lunch, but I usually do salads in tupperware or wraps. I’m thinking about trying green smoothies and sammies this year!
Happy birthday to your sis Jillian!
Maria
September 14, 2009
I buy salon products since I work at one so I get half off! Now I don’t know if I can ever go back!
Love your banana bread yum!
I have been paying attention to labels. It is very frustrating that everything is made with corn!
Missy (Missy Maintains)
September 15, 2009
sounds like you got some tasty goods:)
Bec
September 16, 2009
I see beauty runs in the family! your sis is GORGEOUS!
And haha, that is SO cool that you went up in cup size but not the circumcenter. I wish I had your luck. I’m like…AA? Is that even possible? Haha!
p.s. bread looks crazy good!
burpexcuzme
September 16, 2009
I love those jamfrakas! I don’t have kids, but I buy them for myself, they are such a great 110 calorie snack! And I also love Dr. Praeger Burgers, I always pick those up when I’m at TJ’s, I usually have to go 2 or 3 places to get all my groceries too, my husband thinks I’m crazy, he doesn’t get it.
I also cashed in my VS free panties this week, and I totally agree about the bra fitting, it’s a must!
amanda @ panda lunch
September 16, 2009
I bought some detoxifying shampoo once at the salon meant to wash pool chlorine out of my hair – but that’s it! It cost me almost $20 and scared me out of ever doing it again 😛
I’m all about the pitas for lunch 🙂 But I also like string cheese, fruit, nuts, bars. I can’t pack anything fancy for work because I never eat at the office, a lot of the time it’s in the car!
Susan
September 16, 2009
I’m just catching on the wonders of Trader Joe’s and now I can’t wait to look for that string cheese. woo-hoo!
Yum Yucky
September 16, 2009