Sunday, October 10, 2010

Finishing Touches, and Some Yummers;)

The witch quilt wallhanging is officially done;)  Yay!!  I added a label at the encouragement of Love....
I used a leftover scrap of fabric that I dyed years ago..thank goodness for those little gems;)

And the Hubby insisted the spider needed little beady red eyes....

Ta! Da!  Done;)

I went to bed Friday night dreaming of what I should do next...I woke up to housework on the brain!!  So, as traditional (if you can call it that), after I get a project done, I tend to go about the house and catch up on things that were neglected during my inspirational frenzy...toilet cleaning, laundry, dusting, etc.  I was going through the pantry when I found a half bag of chocolate chips and some trail mix.  I threw them in this...

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Recipe as follows:

1 Cup packed Brown Sugar, dark
7 TB Olive or Grapeseed Oil
2 LG Eggs
1 1/3 Cup Mashed Super Ripe Bananas
1 Cup Regular Oats (Not Quick Oats!!)
1/2 Cup Soymilk, or Whole Milk
2 Cups All Purpose Flour
1 TB Baking Powder
1/2 Tsp Baking Soda
1/2 Tsp Salt
1/2 Tsp Cinnamon
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract (real is better)
1 Cup Dark Chocolate Chips
1 Cup Trail Mix or Any Sort of Nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Put all ingrediants into large bowl.  Mix until well blended, but not longer than that as it tends to make the bread tough.  Grease large loaf pan with butter.  Cook for approximately 45 minutes, or until knife inserted into center comes out clean.  Let cool on rack.

I've been making variations on this recipe for years now.  I love it.  This loaf is going in the freezer for later this season.  I would have some now, but I'm trying to keep the calorie intake under control.

Not only did I wake up to housework on the brain yesterday, I had Christmas tunes going through my head!!!  What in the world???  The Hubby and I haven't "celebrated" Christmas in years.  We just got tired of how it has changed into such a commercial venue.  I think that Christmas should be a time of reflection and gratitude, not a day of how much did you spend on me expectations. 
I'm considering making stuff for people this year that I know will appreciate some homemade, handmade goods.  I'm not going to the store to purchase anything other than supplies to make stuff.  I think I might be more interested in the holiday this year because of the grandbaby, who knows;)

But in the mean time, I have a few more goodies I need to put together for my mom's birthday package.
Enjoy the day, and Happy Quilting!!

6 comments:

Katie said...

Cute label! The bread looks great - I'll keep that recipe in mind. And I know exactly what you mean about not feeling like celebrating. Though Christmas is usually one I participate in (with 5 nieces and 2 nephews all within an hour drive, it's hard not to), but most other holidays I let go. This year, I have an incredible urge to decorate the heck out of my house for Halloween...but I know if I do, there's a relatively good chance I'll get burned out after the decorating and the decorations could stay up until Easter!

Marsha B said...

The quilt label is great, love the art work. It is much more interesting than a list of facts. The red spider eyes are a perfect finishing touch. Your recipe sounds so good, I have some bananas that are a little past the eating stage but perfect for banana bread.

Since my kids are all out of the house, Christmas isn't what it used to be for me either. I send them each a check and try to make something special for everyone. Gotta start on Christmas ideas soon!

---"Love" said...

That cute label makes your witch quilt even more fun; it is perfect!Someone down the years will be glad to know who made it.
The bread looks delicious; I make something similar quite often because I buy bananas, and then don't eat them, so....I make bread.
My family that's left is very small in number, but my friends are many, so as long as I'm able, I'll be going all out for Christmas! I don't buy expensive or many gifts, but I do make about 50 pounds of sugar into candy during December, and have lots of parties, and no one leaves my home without a Christmas can of candy! We have a barrel of fun, even with no little ones! (Santa came one year!) At every party, I read the Christmas story from Luke Chapter 2, no matter what! That's what it is all about! ---"Love"

canuckquilter said...

No, really, these recipes have to stop! I already made a batch of the decadent cookies Katie posted about Friday, and now this banana bread is inspiring. You have more willpower than me, mine wouldn't make it to the freezer...

Your hubby was right, the red beady eyes are just right.

Christmas in our family is more about traditions and family than the gifts. We do have gift giving, but we're trying very hard to teach the kids that something small that you really think is perfect for a loved one, or that you made with that person in mind, is far more meaningful than something splashy. What I look forward to is trimming the tree all together, and cooking up all those special treats and dishes that go way back...

Liriopia said...

I agree, Christmas is just too commercialized anymore. I find it more and more difficult to buy gifts. And how many toys does one child need! As you can tell, I am still working this out. With reference to the bread, I love banana/walnut bread and make it quite often. Here's a little hint, freeze the bananas! When time to make the bread, let them thaw and they will slip out of their skins, all mushy and just the right consistency for the bread. You won't even need to mash them. Put them right into the bowl with all the other ingredients and just mix. The bananas will just break up and mix in with everything else. Love your quilt label. It would make a really good wall hanging all by itself.

Liri

Beth said...

Your label is so cute, those spider eyes are perfect.
Your banana bread looks mouth-watering good. I would never get it to the freezer either.
I understand the whole Christmas thing. It is really not about the gifts, but starting soon all those TV ads will be on. (Who has money for diamonds? Or huge flatscreens?) Good thing we can all do our holiday the way we want.