Baking Spree


Last week for Thanksgiving I did more baking in a weekend than I’ve done in the last couple of months, yesterday I realized I wasn’t done. I enjoyed the apple crumble and apple pies but something else had to be done. I had some bananas that I should’ve eaten and didn’t that were… let’s say very ripe. I decided to do a banana bread for my husband to take to work to share in his team room. I personally am not a fan of banana bread and I didn’t want him eating 3/4 of it alone again. I forgot to take a picture of it but here is the recipe:

Banana Bread

Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour (I did 1 cup all purpose white and 1 cup whole wheat)

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup butter

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 eggs, beaten

2 1/3 cups mashed overripe bananas

Method:

Preheat oven 350°F. I didn’t write it down but mix all dry ingredients then add the wet ingredients one by one.

Bake for 60-65 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes.

**~~**~~**

After doing this for the hubs, I still had this little urge to bake some more. I thought about the applesauce muffins I used to do regularly that were also a quick option for breakfast. Unfortunately, I was out of applesauce so when my husband wanted to stop at the supermarket for some stuff I grabbed a 6 pack one time. I didn’t want to do my regular muffins though, I wanted to make them a little healthier. I also had some flax seed in the cupboard that I’ve been trying to figure out what to put it in so that I actually consumed it instead of having it for decoration. The recipe is as follows:

Whole Wheat Applesauce Flax Seed Muffins

Ingredients:

2 cups whole wheat flour

3/4 cup (brown) sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

3/4 cup flax seed

1/4 tsp salt

1 egg

1 cup applesauce

1/2 cup butter

Method:

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease or line 12 cup muffin pan.
  2. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk to blend.
  3. Add the egg, applesauce and melted butter. Spoon into the prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. 18-20 minutes (I usually do about 25 minutes for a golden brown color). Cool for 10 minutes and then remove muffins to cool completely.

I took two for my pregnant friend and she called me raving about them. I enjoy them toasted and she said she was about to warm up the other one, and add some ham :D. She said she felt like she was eating something that was healthy but it tasted good so she definitely enjoyed it *yay*. Give them a try!

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Thanksgiving


This year we had Thanksgiving lunch at a workmate of my husband. It was very nice! I also made my first apple pies – two not even one! I was nervous as I’d never done a pie before and I’m not one to go out and buy when I could try making it. I did a pastry about two weekends ago for some meat pies but that was different to this. I had to roll out the dough to fit a pan, make a top layer as well as seal the edge and make it a little pretty. I woke up early in case there were any mishaps and then I baked at their house while we sat and ate lunch. It came out lovely and everyone enjoyed it so I guess I did ok and I can do it again :).

While I’m very thankful for the meal I had yesterday and meeting new very friendly people, I’m also very thankful for life and those I consider to be my support circle. I’m thankful because it has only gotten better with time so far. I didn’t have people like this three years ago and every year our list of friends/acquaintances is growing and with people whom we like to spend time with.

I’m not American and I’m just getting familiar with this holiday and it’s traditions, so I’d like to commend those who actually spend time with family and be thankful for all that they have. I was super annoyed on WEDNESDAY when I saw pictures of people lining up outside of stores for Black Friday sales. The commercial aspect of holidays is getting out of hand and the true meaning is being diminished every year. Kudos to those of you who know when and where.

Well that was my two cents on Thanksgiving (2012).

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Top pic: unbaked pies
Bottom pic: baked and ready to eat!

xx

Bainbridge Island


I need to write this post before I forget the little details so much that I’m starting it while under the hair dryer at the hairdresser!

Yesterday my good friend Alicia played host with me and took my parents and myself on the ferry across to Bainbridge Island. It was a lovely day! We had burgers/ sandwiches for lunch at Cafe Nola and then decided to check out the shops along the main street to help walk off the food ;).

Checking out the shops meant that all the ladies left with a pair of shoes that we got with some major discounts because they were on sale (I got 2)!! It was fun to explore the shops in this quaint town with some very unique items. Definitely not the average shopping experience you’d get across the water but also very nice. Every store we went to had pleasant staff and in at least two stores we were all having a laugh with the staff.

My sweet tooth got the best of me after shopping so we went to Blackbird Bakery where I got ONE cookie that I kept kicking myself over for not buying more. You know when you don’t buy a lot of something you’ve never tasted before and don’t want to buy more in case it tastes bad? It was the best triple chocolate cookie that I had EVER tasted. Ever!! White chocolate, milk chocolate and semi-sweet chocolate. I’m still kicking myself that I didn’t get more but it’s enough to get me to go back.

I left home in a rush and had picked up my shades but then left them on the bed. I get headaches if I squint too much so I decided to pick up a cheap fun pair while there. And this is what my mum and I left with…

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Sexy huh? 😀

Here is a view from the ferry just after we left Seattle.

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I’ll try to add more posts soon but I hope you liked this one! And if you are in Seattle check out Bainbridge island! It’s only $7 per passenger and you won’t need a car over there but we took a car over and it was $39.40 for the car and 4 passengers. There are plenty activities but we just wanted to check out the town and have lunch.

Until next time!

xx