Banana Bread with Dark Chocolate Chunks and Forgiving My Apartment

by Krista | Feb 26, 2010 | Fabulous Friday

So last night I found out that…nope, let me back track.

2 years ago I moved into my fabulous country apartment that I love so much. Second floor, lots of windows, big open rooms, enormous kitchen, a wooden deck overlooking trees and fields. I fell in love at first sight. 🙂

A few months after moving in I started to get sick. Really, really sick. For the last year and a half I’ve been to numerous doctors, all of them running myriad tests before sitting me down gently and saying those oh-so-encouraging words: “We have no idea how to help you.”

Fast forward to this week. New doctor, same result, but instead of giving up she asked me what I thought it might be. I suggested that perhaps there was something in my apartment making me sick, perhaps I was allergic to mold. Well, turns out I was right. I am allergic to mold and the apartment building is apparently riddled with the stuff and as of last night I have to move. Ack!

My first response was to immediately think of everything that had to be done, which, of course, completely overwhelmed me and made me want to find a soft spot to hide with a blanket over my head. So I did what I always do when I’m similarly bamboozled: I cook. 🙂

I popped in a Hercule Poirot mystery cd, collected bananas, a treasured bar of Scharffenberger dark chocolate, and other assorted ingredients, and mixed up enough batter for two loaves of whole wheat banana bread. Within thirty minutes my Evil, Naughty, Moldy Apartment smelled perfectly heavenly, and I forgave her for all the misery she’s caused me. 🙂

Then I scoured Craig’s List and have a few options that I’ll be checking out today. Phew! 

So in the spirit of “when one door closes, another one opens” I will share with you some of my favorite Italian door photos. 🙂 I will not, however, be sharing a photo of the banana bread because, in all the kafuffle, I neglected to take one. Grrr. 🙂

Banana Bread with Dark Chocolate Chunks
(Adapted from King Arthur Flour Whole Grain Baking)

Ingredients:

1/2 stick unsalted butter (I used salted. Next time I’m using oil and apple sauce for moisture)
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe banana (about 3)
1/4 cup honey (I used agave syrup)
2 large eggs
2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (I used ground almonds)
I added 1/4 cup desiccated coconut and 1 bar dark chocolate, chopped

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease two 9 x 5-inch loaf pans.
2. Beat together butter, sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla in a medium bowl until smooth. Add the banana, honey, and eggs, beating until smooth. Add the flour and nuts, stirring until smooth.
3. Spoon batter into prepared pans and let rest at room temperature, uncovered, for ten minutes.
4. Bake the bread for 40 minutes then lay a piece of foil gently across the top, and bake until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, about 10-15 minutes more.
5. Remove bread from oven and allow to cool 10 minutes before turning it out of the pan onto a rack to cool completely.

Potatoes, Olympics and Dear Friends

by Krista | Feb 19, 2010 | Fabulous Friday

The dishwasher is humming and the dryer is tumbling and I just spilled my tea and got olive oil in my eye and all in all it’s been a pretty good evening. 🙂

I’ve been trying hard all week to look on the bright side, find things to be grateful for, soldier on through awful pain and one disaster after another, and tonight I crashed, an absolute puddle of tears and stress. I rang Mums and she commiserated beautifully, as only mothers can, while I snuffled and gulped. I felt so much better. Amazing what a good weep and an understanding listener will do for a girl. 🙂

I took some pain pills, got in my pjs, eased down onto the couch, and rested a while, pondering what to do about the laundry, dishes and projects that have stacked up while I’ve been recuperating from ye ol’ car accident. Then I remembered a mantra from one of my old teachers: “Do the next thing.” That’s all. Simple and tangible. I could do that!

So, after the Advil kicked in I did a load of laundry, then rested. Popped in Hercule Poirot dramatized cds (known to our family as “Poy-rot” :-)) and loaded the dishwasher, then rested. It worked like a charm. 🙂 I felt stress melt away as I saw clear counters and knew I’d have clean clothes in the morning.

Pondering what “soft” food to make for dinner, I turned to my comfort food favorite, potatoes. I fried them up with onions and a bit of farmer’s sausage and ohhh, they were so lovely. 🙂

Now I’m sitting back, restful in body and spirit, looking forward to a good weekend. 🙂

Months ago I made plans with a gang of dear friends to go to the Olympics just across the border.

When the accident happened I thought for sure I’d have to miss it and was sorely disappointed. But my friend Trish called tonight and said if all I can do is sit on a bench in the Olympic Village and soak up atmosphere, she’ll sit right there with me so I won’t be alone. Now I’m all teary again. Friends sure are lovely. Our friend Viss also badly injured her back, but she just wrote that she’s going to try to make it too – yay!!

So if you happen to be in the Olympic Village on Saturday and see three girls sitting on a bench just looking around and grinning like fools, come on over and say hello. 🙂

Looking Forward

by Krista | Feb 12, 2010 | Fabulous Friday

Last Friday I wrote about planning one thing every week to look forward to, and this week I had a doozy! 🙂 I kept catching myself grinning at work, while puttering away at my chores or out on my walk, simply because today I get to head down south to spend a whole weekend with one of my very besties – Trish!! Her hubby is such a luv, totally cool with us having an utterly girlie weekend of movies, reading, eating whatever suits our fancy, and of course, talking our heads off. 🙂 I can’t wait!! 🙂

My contribution to our feasting is, of course, dessert! 🙂 Inspired by finding my missing old-fashioned jelly molds (yay!), I experimented with another gelatin creation.

Since the latte version was such a hit last week, I had to try it again, this time layered with creamy blackberry. Mmm. It was great using my coppery molds for the first time, and I think the results are so fun – like something out of Dr. Seuss or Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. 🙂 I thought I got all the gelatin dissolved, but when the finished product shlooped out of the pan (yes, it did make that sound :-)), I realized I did not. It looks like I added toasted coconut to the bottom of the mold. 🙂 We’ll just pretend I meant it to look like that. 🙂

Fake toasted coconut or not, I love the flavors of this dessert. Made with half water and half fat-free evaporated milk, the texture is smooth and creamy, the flavors rich but not too sweet. Yum! 🙂

Last night I thought I was having company, but work intervened at the last moment and they weren’t able to come. Sadness. 🙁 On the bright side, I have a beautifully set table and heaps of fab leftovers so I won’t have to cook for days. HUZZAH! 🙂

I started with Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Toasted Pine Nuts. Ever since seeing them on Kevin’s blog the other day, I simply had to try them. So I popped in the next dvd in the Churchill’s Bodyguard series and set to work. 🙂

Ooeee – how I love the caramelized sprouts drenched in the zingy dressing and sprinkled with beautifully browned nuts. Delish. 🙂

I also made one of my favorite salads – green bean with feta and basil. Mums found the recipe years ago and every time I see bundles of fresh green beans I want to make it. The beans are lightly steamed until they’re bright green, immediately dunked in ice water until cool, then drained, dried and mixed with feta cheese, basil and a dijon vinaigrette. Mmm – such perky flavors!

I served both dishes with fresh kalamata olive bread from the bakery, warmed in the oven and dipped in fruity olive oil. Delectable! 🙂

Now I must go pack: flannel pjs and woolly socks, too-tall-stack-of-books-to-read, ipod with old time radio mysteries for the drive down, yup! I’m ready to go! 🙂

Happy Weekend, dear ones! 🙂

Mum’s Green Bean Salad with Feta and Basil

Ingredients:

3 pounds green beans, trimmed
1 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
3 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
3/4 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
1 4-oz package Feta cheese, crumbled or grated
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, cut in ribbons

Directions:

• Place beans in steamer basket over boiling water. Cover and steam 4 minutes or until crisp tender. Plunge in ice water. Drain.
• Whisk together Dijon mustard and next four ingredients in large bowl. 
• Add beans, feta and basil. Toss gently to coat.

Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Toasted Pine Nuts
(From Closet Cooking)

Ingredients:

2 pounds brussels sprouts (trimmed and halved)
1 tablespoon olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup balsamic vinaigrette
1/4 cup pine nuts slices (toasted)
1/4 cup parmigiano reggiano (grated, optional)

Directions:

1. Toss the brussels sprouts in the oil along with the salt and pepper.
2. Arrange the brussels sprouts in a single layer on a baking sheet.
3. Roast in a preheated 400F oven until they start to caramelize, flipping them once in between, about 30 minutes.
4. Toss the brussels sprouts in the balsamic vinaigrette along with the pine nuts and garnish with the parmigiano reggiano.

Latte Gelatin – posted here🙂

Blackberry Gelatin

Ingredients:

1 box blackberry Jell-O
1 cup boiling water
1 can evaporated milk

Directions:

1. Pour Jell-O mix in bowl, add boiling water and stir until granules are dissolved. Let sit until lukewarm.
2. Add evaporated milk and stir until incorporated. 
3. Pour into mold and chill for 2 hours. 

Reflecting and Other Happy Things

by Krista | Feb 5, 2010 | Fabulous Friday

Waaaaay back in December 2009 I read a New Year post by the lovely El over at Fresh New England. She was reflecting on things she’d learned over the last year. Reading through her list I felt alternately teary, affirmed and cheered. When I shared it with a couple of friends I was visiting with online, I had to chuckle because all three of us immediately printed out the list and propped it up on our desks. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked at it over the past month and or two.

It’s such a simple list, and maybe that’s where the magic lies.

For me, being in a cult for seven years left deep scars and a mind chock full of false guilt, fear, and a habit of always thinking the worst of myself. Reading #1 on her list startled me:

1. Never, ever put yourself down. Ever. And don’t let anyone else do it either.

I thought, “Can I really do that? Am I ALLOWED to do that?” Turns out I can, and I am. 🙂 I’ve spent the last while discovering the joy of being kind, gentle and patient with myself. The cult taught me that I should die to myself, crucify myself, suppress myself in favor of what my authorities told me was right and acceptable. They told me there was nothing good in me, credited others with any right I did do, and taught me to always look for ways to give up my rights and die to my dreams, hopes and expectations. They warned that any other behavior would result in me becoming prideful, self-centered and arrogant.

The opposite has happened.

I have never felt so gracious, loving and accepting of others. It has freed me up to see us as we ARE, in all our lovely frailty and strength, beauty and ugliness, wisdom and silliness. I’m no longer afraid or ashamed of myself. When I do something wrong or foolish, I don’t berate myself or wallow in self-loathing, I simply acknowledge it, apologize if necessary, and press on with hope, joy and greater understanding.When someone praises me for something, I can now say THANK YOU with a free and happy heart instead of looking for ways to put myself down or deflect the praise to someone else. I can listen to the hopes and dreams of my dear ones and support them fully, even if I don’t understand or agree, simply because we are all on a journey and have the right to try new things, make whopping mistakes, and putter along as best we can.

I hardly got past #1 when #2 popped up:

2. Every week, plan at least one activity that you’ll look forward to.

I LOVE this! 🙂 I’ve always tried to do at least one happy thing a day, but I love the notion of PLANNING jolly things, giving myself something to anticipate, especially when times are rough.

I’m poor as a churchmouse these days, maybe worse :-), but that hasn’t stopped me from planning at least one happy thing a week. Sometimes it’s very, very simple (and cheap!): looking through old Victoria magazines, setting aside two hours to talk with a dear friend, or having a slumber party with my goddaughters and letting them plaster my face with make-up and tell me I’m “so beautiful, honey dear”. 🙂

Sometimes it’s just Danish pastries on a Saturday morning while having coffee with my parents and grandies.

Or making scones slathered with lemon curd and piled with Devonshire cream and fresh berries for tea and a good ol’ chin wag with a friend.

One day my friend Stacey and I decided we HAD to see snow (she was visiting from Texas, so this was important!). We got in my car and drove up into the mountains and it started snowing!! We cheered and hollered and got soaked and loved every minute of it.

This weekend I get to watch Foyle’s War with my pals, Toby and Mike, have my goddaughters and their parents/my friends over for Sunday dinner, and watch the Super Bowl with friends at my folks’ house. So much happiness in one little weekend. 🙂

I’m sure El had no idea the impact her simple list would have, but it watered good changes in this girl’s heart and brought much, much joy. 🙂

So, dear ones, what happy thing are you going to do this weekend?

L’Chaim!

by Krista | Jan 15, 2010 | Fabulous Friday

Wind is gusting, rain is pattering against my window and cars are shushing past on wet roads. It’s a quiet, peaceful morning and I’m so grateful for the respite after this wonderful, but draining week. Much soul-searching has been done and now it’s time to rest, be thankful, and celebrate life. 🙂

I’m going to wear my favorite slippers…

…snuggle under cozy quilts…

…watch old movies…

…start new books…

…nibble chocolate…

…listen to happy music…

…write letters on monogrammed cards…

…dream of pretty places…

…and count my blessings.

I wish you a weekend of peace and happiness, dear ones. Thank you for making my world beautiful. 🙂