Too Ripe Bananas...



I am not a fan of eating ripe bananas unless they are the base for some type of bread.

My kids eat a lot of fruits and vegetables.  However, sometimes they eat the apples, oranges, watermelon and mangoes before the bananas and we wind up with a few overripe ones that linger in the fruit bowl.  When this happens, I usually decide to make banana bread, but with a little twist.  It is always more fun to add in some other interesting fruit or vegetable to create a moist and tasty treat for the family.  One of my favorites, is zucchini.  I ADORE this time of year, when the zucchinis and tomatoes are coming in faster than you can consume them.  The kids get a kick out of "mushing" the bananas and mixing the ingredients together and it is a wonderful exercise for all involved:  It teaches the kids to follow directions and it gives me the opportunity to practice my patience.   

I found this easy and delicious recipe on line at www.atasteofhome.com.  I added a bit more flour, cut down on the sugar, used a dash of Kahlua instead of the banana extract (I already had the Kahlua and didn't want to waste money, gas or time to go to the store), and substituted dried dates instead of the walnuts (I try to use recipes that I can have the kids take to school for a healthy snack).  Try it out and experiment with the ingredients to make some great goodies for your family and you!  The 3 loaves we made this afternoon were gone before 10PM tonight so I guess we will have to make more tomorrow.  Have fun and enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 1 cup mashed ripe bananas
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1/2 teaspoon banana extract
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup shredded zucchini
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

• In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients. In a small bowl, beat the egg, bananas, oil and extracts. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in zucchini and walnuts.
• Transfer to three 5-3/4-in. x 3-in. x 2-in. loaf pans coated with cooking spray. Bake at 325° for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. Yield: 3 mini loaves (6 slices each).

Racing wildly...

"The grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for."

Allan K. Chalmers

I loved this picture of the nuns riding tricycles and smiling happily into the camera--it reminded me of a recent adventure with my sons.

While my daughter slept, the boys and I had tricycle races down the hill at our farm. We laughed and whooped loudly as we raced down the hill and then turned and ran back up again to see if we could go further and faster each time.

I had the grand idea of bungee-cording the bikes together and then speeding down the hill like a run-away train, but when we tried it, it didn't work out quite as I planned.

I think I forgot to calculate the extra weight of my youngest on the seat with me and the pressure of flying over large rocks as we sped into the little gully at the way bottom of the hill. Unfortunately, for our fun, the front tire went flying out under us as we rolled into a pile.

Still laughing and feeling grateful that no one was hurt, we climbed up the hill, carrying the pieces of our trike train behind us. My eldest talked about it all afternoon--how great it was and that we should create a track and find a stronger tricycle. It was memorable for such a simple act.

We are working on a butterfly project today--what are you doing?

I hope whatever it is, that it makes you laugh and creates a memory about which you can tell a marvelous story. Do something you LOVE and let your dreams spiral out of that passion and joy--racing wildly ahead of you and with an abandonment that you see in the young and young at heart.

The Trike Train

Here is the Trike Train Engine I broke this week.    RIP, old motorcycle.  Dang--that thing was a LOT of fun!  I think my grandfather brought it home from a job in Milwaukee at least 16 years ago.  My sitting bones don't fit inside the Tonka Dump Trucks the kids use to race downhill so I will have to either fix this oldie but goodie, lose a heck of a lot of weight or find another abandonded toy somewhere.  I LOVE this picture because you can see the Fred Flinstone car in the background that we also use for racing down the hill--my best friend passed it along to us after her boys outgrew it and now my kids are STILL ramming around in it.  It is so much more fun playing with donated toys or ones you get from St. Vinnies for $1.99!  Not only is it easy on your wallet, but it also means no more PACKAGING that has to be recycled or end up in a landfill somewhere.  Save planetary resources--buy used!