Bittersweet and the little soap company

that's bananas!

The brown spotted bananas were almost screaming banana bread to me last night. It's soul satisfying to make something so yummy out of something that would ordinarily be sent to the garbage. 

I have the best recipe! One that was given to me some 30 plus years ago by an elderly friend. I believe the secret ingredients are fresh lemon juice and vinegar. I always have a bottle of vinegar around, always. A staple that performs numerous duties and an easy transformation tool that turns plain old milk into buttermilk with the addition of a couple of Tablespoons of the puckering ingredient.  I love the toss away mini bread pans. Perfect for gift giving. I order them  here. My favorite on-line bakery shop.

I believe I've shared this recipe a few years ago. I guess not because I could not find it. I also thought it was in my cookbook, nope. How could I have possibly left it out?

Miss Emily's Banana Bread

2 cups sugar

2 large eggs or 3 small ones

1 cup milk with 2 Tablespoons of vinegar added

1/8 cup of fresh lemon juice

2 teaspoons each of baking soda and baking powder

4 Tablespoons of melted butter

4 large bananas or 5 small ones

5 cups flour

Dash of salt

Nuts or raisins if desired

Directions: Don't freak! Measure all ingredients into large bowl making sure flour is the last ingredient added minus nuts or raisins. Those should be added after the flour is added. Beat with mixer on low until combined and mixed completely.

Bake @ 350• for 1 hour

Note: I used small bread pans so I baked for only 50 minutes or so. Check with toothpick. When inserted make sure it comes out clean.

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one)

 

an oldie but a goodie...

Chocolate crinkle cookies have been around for a long time. Even though Christmas is over I'm having lingering sweet thoughts about this simple little chocolate cookie.

After making a fresh batch of liniment and face creme I'm making a couple dozen or so of the crinkles.

Baking seems to evoke a warm toasty atmosphere throughout the winter months.

So lets stoke the wood stove and bake some of those cocoa delights!

Most of the chocolate crinkle recipes are the same. I'm using this one.

Enjoy caring and sharing winter day.

Warmly,

Jill (two hugs are better than one)

 

a cookie with soul...

I baked all day yesterday! Our home was filled with delightful home-baked smells like cinnamon and toasted pecans.  A switch from the homes usual aroma of patchouli and lavender. After making the holiday goodies I hurried to get the morsels into tins and platters so that I could begin delivering them to friends and neighbors. 

While mixing up the shortbread dough I always experience the same soulful warm feeling. I can't really explain those feelings. I'm pondering why those feelings occur. Possibly because of the simplicity and the number of ingredients needed to make Scottish shortbread. Or could it be the mere name itself, "shortbread." The delicacy of the rich buttery dough. The sprinkling of the sugar before popping the scalloped shaped cookie in the oven. The pretty decorative molded shapes and designs used to create an even more beautiful snow dusted cookie.  

Thoughts of how this "plain Jane" cookie transforms herself into a holiday princess.

Continuing those thoughts when I think of the sod lined roofed kitchens and the mountainous highlands surrounding the cozy Scottish cottages.  The Scottish home maker probably had some of the same feelings I have when I prepare shortbread. I'm sure her wee ones anxiously awaited the special treat. I can envision little fingers reaching for the cookie fresh and warm from the old stone hearth.

Those are some of my personal shortbread feelings.

Enjoy a caring and sharing Christmas.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than none)  

 

Sunday Christmas Baking...

My kitchen resembles a bakery cook-off this morning. I found this wonderful cooking blog and I'm digging the recipes. I just finished a batch of Davids Almond Butter-crunch Toffee, yummy! I toasted the almonds and walnuts as instructed in the recipe. David has some really good recipes on his blog. 

If you have never made candy before, I would encourage you to give it a try. It's really easy. All you need is a good candy thermometer and follow recipe directions.

Working on an impromptu cookie menu this Sunday, and gifting them to family and friends this evening.

My last minute cookie list consist of, Chocolate-Almond Butter-crunch Toffee, Coconut Macaroons, MJ's Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, and Petite Cinnamon Rolls.

  Have I tickled your sweet tooth?

Enjoy caring and sharing holidays.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two holiday hugs are better than one)

French Bistro Kitchen

I am giving my kitchen a makeover. It is truly overdue!

Although I didn't take before pictures, let me fill you in on what was before. Imagine lots of cows and chickens on the walls....?? YUK. I was so tired of chickens and cows. I ripped that wallpaper off as quickly as you can say "Now you see it, now you don't".

This a picture of the new look. Trying to achieve a "French Bistro Look". Pale soft yellow on the walls, white lace curtains that drape to the floor, black and white toppers over the lace and red accents throughout. I covered the little lamp with the same black and white checked fabric and put little fringe around the bottom, ooh, la, la..........

I wanted to share this little corner of my kitchen....

Happily, Jill oo