I'm not really sure why I thought it would be fun to reveal my family's fantasy with chips; but here it is! For some reason, right now we've got an exceptional number of bags of chips in the pantry - all different types! Brian and I love chips and since all of them seem to be removing the trans fats, we'll keep crunching!
In a quick afternoon - well, not as quick as I would have liked - I cranked out this cute little 3-tiered skirt for Ellie Bell with some duckie fabric that mom got last year. I plan to make a few more and maybe some for baby sister to wear next year. I also hope to recruit one of my friends with applique capabilities to applique some shirts to go with them. PS - no, I don't think the shirt she has on matches or the shoes; but she still looks cute nonetheless.
By the end of day three, I was ready to give up! Ellie was just not having it on this particular day and I felt hopeless for the sweet girl trying to teach her. I've got new respect for anyone who teaches little youngins something they've never tried. It takes a lot of patience and that's something God's still developing in me! I just expect it to happen and there's so much skill involved and practice and guess what?! They won't master everything we try to teach them and I need to be okay with that. Okay, so anyways, we went to my friend's house to swim after lessons that day and here's what happened. Please excuse the talking - I thought the camera wasn't picking up on it - but it exposes my impatience and maybe that was good for me to hear!
I do now! I don't know about you; but every woman has to have a tried and true banana bread recipe and now I do. I don't know if there is one in my family; but it's never been passed down to me if so! The recipe below produced the most moist (is that how you say that) banana bread I've ever had. I omitted the nuts because I don't always like nuts in my bread and added golden raisins. For those ladies who have been in my small group for the last year and a half, you've got this recipe in the Feeding the Flock cookbook that Mama Marilyn gave us - thanks Mama!
Ingredients:
1 c white sugar 1 1/2 c all-purpose flour
1/2 c brown sugar 1 tsp baking powder
1/2 c oil (not olive) Dash salt
2 eggs 1 1/2 c ripe bananas (3 large, mashed)
4 Tbsp sour cream 1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda 1 c chopped pecans (optional - I substituted golden raisins)
1 Tbsp vinegar
In a large bowl, mix the first 4 ingredients. Combine soda and vinegar, then add sour cream. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt; add to batter. Work fast now! Add the mashed bananas, vanilla and nuts. Pour into a greased and floured bread pan or an 8x8x2 pan or 2 medium bread pans or 4 small loaf pans (how's that for selection!). Bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes - my oven took longer so I covered it with foil so the top wouldn't burn while continuing to cook on the inside. Test the middle of the bread with a toothpick to see if done. Once done, let cook in pan on a wire rack for 10-20 minutes, then turn over and let it fall out.
Mmm...so good!
PS - let's all say a prayer for all those poor people fleeing and losing their homes in Iowa and other midwestern states due to the flooding. How desperate they must feel!
