What's Up With 2016 and A Recipe For The Best Banana Nut Bread Ever

Like so many other people, I welcomed in the new year with a glass of champagne and high hopes that 2016 would be fabulous. Well, so far it's been quite the disaster.

From the dreaded middle of the night phone call from one of my kids, that ended up with a trip to the emergency room, to job losses and jobs not gotten, I have to ask myself what the heck is going on?

And there's the terrible flu that has hit all of my grandchildren and one my daughters so hard, the car that broke down, money that should have come but has not ... it's enough to make me crazy.

I know enough about life by now to know that the beginning of a new year doesn't really change anything. Nothing magical takes place just because it's January 1st. But of course, what choice do we have but to go forward, and have faith that things will get better.

And I know they will get better, and that maybe the things that have happened somehow needed to happen. I don't know why, I don't have the answers, but I can pull my family around me tighter, still be thankful for our many blessings, and keep strongly going forward.

So to help me cope with all this, I made banana bread. Yes, that might sound a little silly, but I never underestimate the power of a cup of tea and a little treat. Trust me, it can be a comfort when you feel that life is just dumping too much on you at one time.

This banana nut bread is really delicious. It's soft and moist, and smells amazing. And it's a great way to use up those bananas that have turned brown that nobody wants to eat. I always recommend wrapping it up tightly in tin foil so that it retains that moistness and great flavor.

It's always an option to double the recipe to make two loaves, giving the extra loaf to somebody you know that might be having a hard time. It's a sweet gesture that can make all the difference to someone who is feeling down.

Recipe for Banana Walnut Bread

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for preparing the pan
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 very ripe bananas, peeled and mashed with a fork (about 1 cup
• 1/2 cup toasted walnut pieces

 

Directions:

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Lightly grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan with baking spray or melted butter.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt, set aside. Whisk the eggs and vanilla together in a small bowl, set aside.

With a hand mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the egg mixture, beat another 1 minute. Add the bananas and mix just until incorporated.

With a spatula, add the flour and mix together. Fold in the walnuts. Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan and bake for 50-55 minutes.

Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer the loaf to a wire rack to finish cooling.

 

 

 

Easy Valentine's Day Cookies

Valentine's Day will be here before we know it, so I wanted to find some fun and easy cookie recipes. My family and I love celebrating the day with the kids, and themed treats are a big part of it.

I remember when I was young and Valentine's Day always seemed to me to be about romantic love. And of course romantic love is wonderful, but I really like how it has become more of a day about all kinds of love. No one is left out and everyone is made to feel special. That's the best kind of day for sure!

These cookies are some of the easiest I've ever made, and they taste so good. They are actually sort of like a cookie and donut combination. They are soft in the inside, and the glaze gives them a perfect sweetness.

This recipe makes 18 cookies but can easily be doubled. My granddaughter wants us to make them for her preschool Valentine's Day party, and I think that's a great idea!

Do make sure that the glaze is completely dry before you take them off the rack so that the sprinkles are set.

Recipe for Easy Valentine's Day Cookies

Ingredients:

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

For Glaze:

1 1/3 cups confectioners' sugar
4 tablespoons milk

sprinkles of choice for decoration

Directions:

 Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the butter, granulated sugar, vanilla, and eggs until blended. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt and mix until just combined.

With floured hands, roll rounded tablespoons of the dough into balls and place on parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing them 1 inch apart. Bake until puffed and the bottoms are pale golden, 7 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely.

Make the glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the confectioners’ sugar, and 4 tablespoons milk.

Dip the top of each cookie into the glaze and set on rack, sprinkle on decoration. Let cookies set until glaze is dry, about 20 minutes.

Makes 18 cookies.

Another great thing about this recipe besides it's great taste is how easily it can adapt to any holiday or season. Just change the color of the glaze with food coloring, and the sprinkles to match the occasion.

Ultimate Valentine's Day Round-Up

Love is in the air! Valentine's Day is around the corner and the Social Fabric Community has put together the Ultimate Valentine's Day Round-Up to help you prepare for the season of love. From tutorials to crafts to delicious recipes, we have something for everyone. We dare you not to fall in love with these ideas!

Craft/DIY/Tutorial:

Friendly Valentine Candy Jar - Creative Ramblings
Valentine Felt Envelopes - Good Morning Loretta
Valentine's Day Candy Filled Mason Jar - Savvy Saving Couple
Valentine's Day Love Bug Craft - Maryland Momma's Rambles
Last-Minute Quick, Cute Cut-Out Cards - Our Daily Craft
DIY Heart Shaped Massage Bars - Thriftanista in the City 
Valentine Memo Chalkboard - Southern Couture 
Valentine's Day Chalkboard Decoration - Pretty in Pigment
Flower Vase Craft - Polka Dotted Blue Jay 
No-Sew Ribbon Embellished Cocktail Napkins -  Atta Girl Says
Macaroni Art Lace Hearts - ABCs and Garden Peas
Cupid's Arrow Valentine's Day Favors - Home. Made. Interest.
Hand Lettered Valentine Notecards - One Artsy Mama
Instagram Magnetic Bookmarks - Happy Go Lucky Blog
Birdseed Heart Valentines - Made with Happy
Valentine's Day Burlap Wreath - The Farm Girl Gabs
Cute Flower Valentines for Kids - Love, Jaime
DIY Valentine Flower Corsage - Suburban Wife, City Life 
DIY Valentine's Snowglobes - Woods of Bell Trees
Valentine Envelop Chair Backers - 2Paws Designs
Reversible Valentine's Day/St. Patrick's Day Banner - Fearlessly Creative Mammas
Mini Bubblegum Machine Valentines - Bubbly Nature Creations
DIY Button Heart Picture Collage - Our Piece of Earth
Kids' Valentine's Day Gift with FREE Printable - A Cowboy's Life
 Easy Mesh and Ribbon Valentine's Day Wreath - My Pinterventures 
Snickerdoodle Sugar Scrub Recipe - Sunny Sweet Days
Valentine's Day Verse on Burlap - Life with Captain Fussybuckets
12 Days of Romance Scavenger Hunt - The Mama Zone
Candy Kiss Ring - So TIPical Me
Valentine's Day Hand Print Craft - As Cute as a Bug's Ear
How to Make a Valentine's Day Ribbon Banner - Aprons and Stilletos
Date Night with a Romantic Treasure Hunt - The TipToe Fairy
Chalkboard Gift Box - Organized Island
Easy Valentines Felt Pillow Cover - Creative Southern Home
Polar Fleece Ruffle Heart Wreath - Joy's Life
Making A Valentine's Day Rag Wreath with Fabric Scraps - Third Stop on the Right
Washi Tape Bubble Valentines - Moneywise Moms
Homemade Candles in 5 Easy Steps - Lemon Peony
DIY Felt Ornaments for Valentine's Day - 3 Little Greenwoods
Butterfly Valentine's Day Craft - Sarah in the Suburbs
Epsom Salt DIY Valentine Candles - A Day in the Motherhood
I "DOVE" You Printable with Candy - Newlywed Survival 
Rainbow Heart PomPom Garland - Cupcake Wishes & Birthday Wishes
Valentine's Day Printed Burlap Subway - Occasionally Crafty
Pom Pom Cupcakes Valentine Craft - Cute as a Fox
Valentine's Wooden Door Hanger - We Got the Funk 
Hearts Aplenty: Valentine's Day DIY Decor - Woman in Real Life
Love Letters Simple Valentine's Day Craft - Craving Some Creativity 
Valentine's Day Coffee Cup Sleeve - Craving Cynchronicity 
How to Make a Great Loves Print - My Sweet Sanity
Cross Stitch Heart Pillow - Cutesy Crafts
Free Valentine's Day Cards Kids Can Make - Happy and Blessed Home

 Recipe:

Valentine Cupcakes - Home Maid Simple 
Valentine's Day Cakes - Charleston Crafted
Red Velvet Pudding Cups - Mostly Homemade Mom
Blood Orange Panna Cotta - Mooshu Jenne
Candy Cane Chocolate Hearts - Drugstore Divas
Cranberry Bliss Bars - Swanky Recipes
Valentine Rice Crispy Treats - Midwestern Moms
Chocolate Valentine Sandies - Cindy's Recipes and Writings
M&M’s® Red Velvet Brownies - Julie is Coco and Cocoa
Nutella Filled Conversation Hearts - A Million Moments
Conversation Hearts Martini - JVKOM Chronicles
Valentine's Day S'mores Dip - Our Mini Family
M&M’s® Red Velvet Blondies - The NYC Talon
Valentine's Day Cheesecake Brownies - West of the Loop
Red Velvet Cheesecakes - Houseful of Nicholes
Chocolate Kiss Valentine's Day Cookies - Moscato Mom
Chocolate and Candy Valentine Popcorn - Made by a Princess
Easy Valentine's Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies - Janine Huldie
Strawberry Ice Cream Recipe - Scrappy Geek
Coeur a la Creme with Raspberry Sauce - Graceful Order
Love Dipped Wafers - Sparkles to Sprinkles
Valentine's Day Bento Lunch - Diana Rambles
"Blackened" Seafood Medley for a Low-Calorie Valentine's Dinner - Broken TeePee
Sweet Salty Fudge - Foody Schmoody Blog
Valentine's Day Covered Pretzels - Texas Type A Mom
Valentine's Popcorn - Mommy's Bundle
The Easiest Valentine's Day Fudge Recipe - Young at Heart Mommy
Valentine's Day Butter Cookies - Ilona's Passion
Valentine's Day Blondies - Saving You Dinero
Super Healthy Pomegranate-Cranberry-Almond Smoothie - Easy Cooking with Molly 
Brownie Cut-outs - Tramplingrose
Puppy Valentine's Day Cookies - Staying Close to Home
Valentine OREO Brownie Bar Recipe - As Mom Sees It
Strawberry-Vanilla Ice Cream Pie - Johanny's Kitchen
Strawberry Filled Chocolate Cake - Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
Chocolate Raspberry Truffles - Food Lovin Family
Honey Bee My Valentine Cakes - I Don't Have Time for That
Red Velvet Valentine's Day Parfaits - Living a Sunshine Life
Homemade Strawberry Syrup - Day by Day in Our World
Cranberry Hootycreek Cookies - Momma DJane
Red Velvet Donuts - Frugal Family Tree
Strawberry Mocha Granola - Strength & Sunshine
Red Velvet Mini Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting - Tales of a Ranting Ginger
Chocolate Shot Glasses - The Bewitchin' Kitchen
Chocolate Pretzel Kisses - Just 2 Sisters
Valentine's Candy Bark - Life with the Crust cut off
Chocolate Kiss Shooter! - Housewives of Frederick County
Super Simple Valentine's Day Candy Hearts - My Real Food Family
Easy Strawberry Crinkle Cookies - Meatloaf & Melodrama
3 Ingredient Strawberry Brownies - Fun Things to Do in Central Mass
Nutella Baked Brie - Basil and Bubbly 
Easy Cupid Crinkles - Creative Southern Home
Valentine's Day Edible Tic Tac Toe Game - A Frugal Friend
Valentine's Day Ombre Sweet Treat - Tastefully Frugal 
Party How to Throw a Budget Friendly Valentine's Day Party - Amber Nicole Blogs
Valentine's Day Party for Tweens - Soiree Event Design
Love is in the Air Valentine Table - Not Just a Mommy
Valentine's Day Tea Party - The Peanuts Gang

 Printables:

Easy Valentine's Printables - I am the Maven®
Printable Valentine's Day Lunch Box Notes and Coupons - Gluesticks Blog
"I Love You Like" Valentine's Free Printable - C'mon Get Crafty
4 Free Valentine's Day Coloring Pages - Saving More than Me
Valentine's Day Scavenger Hunt Clues - Mom on the Side
Valentine Gift for Kids {Free Printable} - Fun on a Dime
Crayon Valentines Printable - Mom's Messy Miracles
Tic Tac Toe XOXO Valentine with Free Printable - Housewife Eclectic
Valentine's Day Activities for Kids - Simple Living Mama
 2 Free Printable Valentines (Owls) - Altamonte Family
 Love is in the Air Valentine Card - Making of a Mom
 Matchstick Valentine Free Printable - Frenchie
 Valentine's Day Lunch Box Notes & Jokes - Coupons are Great
 I "Wheelie" Like You Car Valentine Printable - Artsy Momma

 Round-Up:

Valentine's Day Guide - The Ranting Latina! 
24 Frugal Valentine's Ideas - Real: The Kitchen and Beyond
7 Gift Ideas for Valentine's Day - Downshifting PRO
5 Perfect Valentine's Day Gifts for Bloggers - That Chic Mom
Top 5 Romantic Restaurants to Eat at in East Greenwhich, Rhode Island - Mama Luvs Books
Other War Room Movie Night - A Beautiful Exchange
Pairing Chocolate with Wine & Spirits - In Good Taste
Valentine's Day Make-up Tutorial - Glam Hungry Mom 
Valentine's Day Dinner at Home - Natasha Byrd

Can you feel the love tonight with all these great Valentine's Day inspired activities?

One Pot Cookbook Sweet Potato and Sausage Soup Recipe

If I could, and money were no object, I would totally buy all of my favorite cookbooks. My kids tell me that I can find all the recipes I want online, and that is true to some extent. But nothing takes the place of holding a beautiful book in your hands, and using it to cook from.

Part of wanting to share more ways to be frugal on the blog this year, I wanted to say that I didn't buy the Martha Stewart Living One Pot Cookbook, but borrowed it from the library. I love my local library and it really does save me from buying so many books that I want to read. Or if it's a cookbook, books that I want to make the inspiring recipes that are in them.

I definitely encourage you to visit the library, check out books, and also see what kinds of special programs they offer, usually from senior programs all the way to toddler story hour. The library is often overlooked as a great resource for saving money.

I really like the ease of one pot cooking, it makes everything so much simpler, and cleanup is a breeze. This book is filled with delicious recipes that you can make in your Dutch oven, slow cooker, skillet, stockpot, and pressure cooker.

I use my Dutch oven all the time, especially to make soups and stews. It's been very chilly and rainy this winter, so we have had a big pot of soup for dinner a couple of times a week. There is just something so comforting to me about making and having homemade soup on a cold night. And I love that most of the soup recipes that I make are usually enough to have a bowl left over for lunch the next day.

The combination of Italian sausage, sweet potatoes and kale might seem a little unusual but they all blended together deliciously in this recipe. I followed the recipe pretty closely, but changed the shell pasta to small elbows, and used a little extra olive oil instead of just one tablespoon.

But I guarantee this soup is a keeper, and one that I know I'll be making again soon. I added big pieces of hot corn bread with butter, and it made a great dinner for us all.


Recipe for Sweet Potato and Sausage Soup

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 large yellow onion, cut into 3/4 inch pieces
2 garlic cloves, minced
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
3/4 pound sweet or hot Italian sausage, casings removed
2 sweet potatoes (1 pound total), peeled and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 cups water
3/4 cup small pasta shells
4 cups coarsely chopped mixed leafy greens, such as kale and Swiss chard
freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, for serving

Directions:

In a stockpot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; cook until onion is translucent, about 6 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add sausage and cook, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 5 minutes.
Add sweet potatoes, broth, and water; bring to a boil. Add pasta and cook 3 minutes less than package directions recommend. Reduce to a simmer, add greens, and cook until pasta is tender and greens are wilted, 4 minutes.
Serve with Parmigiano-Reggiano.


Serves 6.

So look for Martha Stewart Living One Pot Cookbook at your local library. It's filled with so many great recipes, the ones that you will want to cook on your own cold night for a yummy, comfort food kind of dinner.

Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Seattle has been living up to it's rainy reputation for the last few days. I love living here, and I really do love the rain, but even I can get a little down when it just goes on for days.

But one thing that always makes me feel better is getting in the kitchen and baking up something for my family to enjoy. Cookies are always welcome, and when my grandchildren get home from a long day at school, it's always a nice surprise for them.

I love being a Nana who bakes treats, and hopefully that is something they will always remember about me.

My granddaughter Ashley is only four but she is already my baking buddy in the kitchen. When we get ready to bake something, she'll ask if we need brown sugar, baking powder, the spatula? She makes me laugh because she's already familiar with what we need for baking.

And Ashley did help me with this very easy and delicious recipe for these cookies. They are soft and chewy, and filled with milk chocolate and chopped walnuts. If you don't want nuts in your cookies, you can leave them out, but they do add so much flavor.

These are the perfect cookies for a milk and cookies kind of afterschool snack. But grownups love them too!!

Recipe for Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• ⅔ cup sugar
• 2 eggs, large
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1½ teaspoons baking soda
• 2¾ cups flour
• 11.5 ounces milk chocolate chips
• 1 cup walnuts, chopped

 

Directions:

 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Beat butter, brown sugar, and sugar with hand mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes until mixture is very fluffy and turns lighter in color
3. Beat in eggs, vanilla, and baking soda for 1 minute on low speed. Scrape the sides of bowl as needed.
4. Gradually mix in flour just until blended. Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts.
5. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto parchment lined baking sheet. Bake until golden around the edges - about 11 to 13 minutes.
6. Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Makes about 30 cookies.