Banana Bread Redux

Banana bread is fast becoming a favorite easy recipe because, Yes we have some bananas and overripe ones too in the F&P kitchen. And, just like meatloaf recipes, there are lots of banana bread recipes. A couple of weeks ago, I posted a "quick and easy" banana bread recipe, but Grenville, the F&P official taste tester, thought it needed to be moister, so here's an updated recipe. This one includes some things the earlier one didn't include: baking soda, yogurt (plain), and oil. If you don't like nuts, then skip them.

One more thing, we had LOTS of ripe bananas (6), so this doubled recipe makes 2 loaves. One to give away and one to keep because we had to taste sample one - it passed!

Banana Bread Redux (makes 2 loaves)
5-6 ripe bananas, well mashed
2 eggs, well beaten
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 C canola oil
2 C flour
1 1/4 C sugar
2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

1 C plain low-fat yogurt

OPTIONAL: 1 C chopped nuts - any type: walnuts, pecans (your choice)

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease 2 loaf pans (8 ½ x 4 ½ x 2 ½ in.). Mash bananas, then add eggs, vanilla, oil and sugar. Stir together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg. Add banana mixture - then add nuts and blend. Divide batter between loaf pans. Bake for 1 hour. Remove and cool on rack.

Spring is Sprung Forward!

Funny how you never know how many clocks are in your house (and cars) until they all had to be reset to spring forward last night.

But, here's an easier and prettier way to know that SPRING is here...the crocus (crocuses, croci?) is in bloom!

Reflections..NOT on Life

Finally, it's sunny out today, but not for long. In the past 10 minutes, the skies have clouded over and the rumblings have started. Thunderstorms are on the way - AGAIN. The overnight rains included a couple of thunderstorms with some really loud claps and not the applause ones. Last night's downpours added to already waterlogged front and back yards, as we saw on a morning walk around the neighborhood. The F&P backyard is very soggy and it will be awhile before spring planting starts. Speaking of gardens, here's a neighbor's that's all underwater, but the reflections were pretty nice. Other backyards were turned into waterfront scenes which are scenic, but not for the homeowners.

This picture was taken just down the street near this sign... Ya think?

Sunny Day in the Neighborhood

It was only a brief appearance, but still the sun came out for awhile today and so did some clearing. There were actually patches of blue sky.

Grenville posted photos from our waterlogged backyard earlier, but we weren't the only ones to get saturated with this latest round of downpours. Several folks in our neighborhood can now boast about having waterfront property -not sure they would consider this a "plus." As Grenville posted earlier, the past 48 hours have brought a LOT of rain here with more showers forecast for later this afternoon and evening. So when the sun made its brief appearance today, that's when I grabbed my camera and walked around the neighborhood to capture these images.

Rain, Rain, go away,

come back in August when we really need you.......

OK OK OK so the poetry was not up to my usual low standard. It is not easy. BUT that is just the kind of day it is here. Since this started on Thursday night we have had 2.21 inches of rain (now 2.24). This is on top of the 40 or so inches we have had this winter. On the bright side I have a new Johnny's seed catolog with lots of info, the rest of the tomatoes are popping up, and I have a good book for later. AND the princess has decreed that all subjects should stay in their jammies or sweats today and eat chili soup later on. The question of the day is: how deep do tomatoe plant roots go? If left alone after planting will they stretch down to the water table which is usually about 2-3 feet below surface?

How 'bout some feedback..... (rain is up to 2.40" now)

The Sweet and Sour of life

SOOOO guess what the weather is????? Hey, you guessed it on the first try... RAIN. And the same for tomorrow and the next day and .... well you get the picture. Oh yea, yesterday was RAIN also (must have clouded my mind or been in a fog.)

Yesterday the Princess let me in the kitchen and I got to cook dinner. I had found a recipe on the Old Farmers Almanac site for Sweet and Sour Pork that used Maple Syrup, one of my favorites. The problem was that I didn't have the Country Style ribs it called for, only pork loin. And I didn't want to make this for 12 folks, just us two. So some re-engineering was called for. If you would like the original go to http://www.almanac.com/ and look in the recipe section for Sweet and Sour Pork.

Here is my version. This will feed 4 normal folks (we have left overs for tonight) and 2 very hungry folks.

Grenville's Sweet &Sour Pork Chops

4- Center cut (boneless) pork chops

3 Tbls. flour

1/4 cup each of chopped celery, green pepper, and red onion.

Small can of crushed pineapple (do not drain)

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/8 cup each of vinegar(i like balsamic) and soy sauce

Brown the chops in a medium chef's pan (you can add a little olive oil if you like). Remove the chops but save the drippings.

Combine the flour with enough water to make a nice thin paste. Add this to the drippings and make a medium rue.

Put the chops back in the pan. Add all of the remaining ingredients. Mix them around so the chops are covered in juices.

Simmer for 45- 60 minutes until the pork is done to your liking. I like mine moist and a little pink.

Serve this over a nice bed of rice of your choice. I did some brown rice but wild and long grain will also do. I served this with some reheated Oven Roasted Veggies and fresh steamed asparagus.

Going Bananas and Nuts

There they were just sitting in the fruit bowl – 3 slightly overripe bananas and I could almost taste them in a freshly baked loaf of bread. But, Grenville had just used the remaining milk on his cereal, so I had to find a recipe which did not use milk...here it is from The Fannie Farmer Cookbook.

Banana Nut Bread
3 ripe bananas, well mashed
2 eggs, well beaten
2 C flour
¾ C sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
½ C chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a loaf pan (8 ½ x 4 ½ x 2 ½ in.). Mix bananas and eggs together in large bowl Stir in flour, sugar, salt and baking soda. Add walnuts and blend. Add batter to pan and bake for 1 hour. Remove and cool on rack.

F&P variation: Reduced sugar and added ½ C of homemade applesauce, also ½ tsp vanilla flavoring, and ¼ tsp cinnamon and nutmeg.

Delicious served warm or cooled with a cold glass of milk. (And the F&P kitchen smelled wonderful while it was baking)

FARM NEWS

Today's big farm news is that the TOMATOES ARE UP!!!!!! Out of the 12 we are starting about 6 are up so far. There will be 6 each of Margarita Plums, Celebrity and Rutgers plants. Last year we learned that this is all we really need for fresh fruit during the season and plenty for canning. We also learned to give them a lot of room. Tomatoes like any other plants, like to breather fresh air. By leaving enough space in between the buildup of oxygen is reduced and the flow of CO2 is increased. The final step is keeping them evenly moist which sounds much easier than it really is. Not wet and never dried out. This year we will more drip irrigation and paper mulch then ever before. This should allow us to grow much healthier fruits with less weeding and an easier time harvesting.


Since it is Sunday, it is Safari Day. We are heading up to Pokomoke Md to Lowes and Tractor Supply with a stop along the way to see some friends. Tomorrow (since it is too wet to work here) will be a work day with VA Dept. of Conservation & Recreation helping to plant 2400 Wax Myrtle (Morella cerifera) shrubs at the Magothy Bay Preserve.

Picture of that to come.

Rainy Day Italian Beef and Vegetable Stew

Like Grenville said earlier, it's been a damp, chilly and rainy day -perfect for crock pot stew - and a great way to use some of the frozen veggies from last season’s garden.

1 lb stew meat
8 oz red potatoes, cut up
3 C water or 2 cans reduced sodium beef broth
1 (14 ½ oz) can of diced tomatoes, undrained
1 14 oz can beef broth
2 carrots, sliced
1/2 C onion, roughly chopped
1 C dried great Northern beans - or your choice
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 ½ tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
1 ½ tsp fresh or dried rosemary
basil, oregano, garlic seasonings to taste
1 tsp rubbed sage

F&P additions: cut up frozen zucchini, green beans, and turnips, canned mushrooms.

Here's the easy step-by-step instructions: Combine ingredients in 5-quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on low 8- 10 hrs. Sprinkle each serving with Parmesan cheese. (See, easy

I'm Dreaming of a SLUSSSSHHHHYYYY Wednesday

And that is just what we have here today. Rain to the north, snow to the south, and slush in the middle. So what's wrong, meteorologically speaking, with this picture????

Beatrice and I have decided that this will be a snuggly day with some hot chocolate, banana bread, and left over stew. We may even watch a movie,,,,, right in the middle of the day even.