A Few of My Favorite Things

Here are some of my favorite things from the past couple of months (in no particular order):

- Banana Bread (recipe at the end of post)
- Brussels Sprouts (as I am writing this I had no idea they are called Brussels
Sprouts, not just Brussel Sprouts)
- White Russians
- Stuff White People Like website (it's scary how many are true for me but I am ok
laughing at myself unlike some of us)
- Atomic Ranch houses (especially when they are furnished with modern furniture, this
is the house I want to buy next)


Banana Bread Recipe

Ingredients:

* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 cup butter
* 3/4 cup brown sugar
* 2 eggs, beaten
* 2 1/3 cups mashed overripe bananas, I usually don't have enough so I use
applesauce to make up the difference
* my sister adds some chocolate chips too


Directions:


1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.

2. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.

3. Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.


Here is how I prepare Brussel Sprouts in case you want to be brave and try them:

- cut Brussel sprouts in half, long way
- sautee in pan with olive oil and chopped garlic flat side down until that side turns brown, then flip, squeeze a wedge of lemon on them and cook a couple of minutes more
- when they are done cooking add pepper, chopped pecans and some crumbled gorgonzola cheese, yum