Escape to Hawaii on a Thursday Night

Last night, I decided to make some banana bread to use up a bunch of overripe bananas.  While it was baking Michael ran to the store to pick up a video for us and a few grocery items.

The video he chose was Soul Surfer, based on the true story of a teenaged girl in Hawaii who was attacked by a shark while surfing and lived to tell about it.  It was a pretty enjoyable and inspiring story and movie.

He also picked us up some dark chocolate macadamia nuts (from Hawaii) as a treat to go with the movie.

And the banana bread that I made was a recipe called Hawaiian Banana Bread.

After the movie, we went to bed in our palm tree (Hawaiin themed set) sheets to the sweet sounds of a ukulele playing gently in the background (ok, I made up that part).

So not even planning to, we got to escape to Hawaii on a Thursday night.  Perhaps making up for the fact that we didn't get there for our 10 year anniversary as we had originally planned.

And for those of you that want to try a delicious treat from the islands, here is the recipe for my moist banana bread!  I made some changes this time which I will also include.

Hawaiian Banana Bread (or Pina Colada Bread)

Ingredients:

1. 2 cups sugar (half brown) (I used Turbinado or sugar in the raw instead of white)
2. 1 1/4 cup oil (I used applesauce instead).
3. 3 beaten eggs
4. 2 cups mashed banana (5 medium)

Blend these first 4 ingredients together in a large bowl.

In another bowl, mix together the following:

1. 3 cups flour (I used 1/2 whole wheat, 1/2 all purpose)
2. 1 tsp. soda
3. 1 tsp. salt
4. 1 tsp. cinnamon

 And the dry mixture gradually to the above.

Fold in a drained 8 oz. can of crushed pineapple and 3/4 cup of shredded coconut (this was a new addition and is optional).

Pour into 2 greased loaf pans.  Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or until tester toothpick poked in the middle comes out clean/dry.

Aloha and enjoy!

A Little "Healthish" Comfort Food for Fall

With a new month starting tomorrow, the air becoming crisper in the morning and at night and school being back in full swing, I can't help but get excited about our upcoming season.  One of my very favorites...Fall.  It is quite a welcome and refreshing break after such a long and sweltering summer.

I really appreciate living in a place now where I experience an actual change of seasons.  It's really gorgeous to see the leaves change colors and fall to the ground in their crunchy glory.  I love the smells of my favorite Amish Pumpkin bread and Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins baking in the oven, the warmth of hot coffee and the kid's cocoa in the morning, and the feel of the chill in the air.

At Lucas' request and to celebrate the coming of Fall, I made an easy, new and tasty recipe the other night.  And because I am a nice person, I am going to share it with you now.

Quick & Easy Italian Meatball Soup


Start to Finish: 25 minutes  Makes: 4 servings

Ingredients:

1. 1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes with onion and garlic, undrained
2. 1 14 oz. can reduced-sodium beef broth or 1 3/4 cups homemade beef broth
3. 1 1/2 cups water
4. 1/2 tsp. dried Italian seasoning, crushed
5. 1/2 of a 16 oz. package of Italian-style frozen cooked meatballs
6. 1 cup of frozen loose-pack mixed veggies (I probably doubled this and used three different kinds that included broccoli, peppers, corn, peas, zucchini, carrot coins, etc.).  Next time, I plan to add some fresh spinach at the end, too.
7. 1/2 cup of small dried pasta (such as ditalini, macaroni, or orzo)
8. 1 Tbsp, shredded or grated Parmesan (optional)
9. Fresh basil to taste (optional)

In a large saucepan, combine undrained tomatoes, broth, water and Italian seasoning.  Bring to a boil.  Add meatballs, frozen veggies and pasta.  Return to boiling; reduce heat.  Simmer, covered, about 10 minutes or until veggies and pasta are tender.  If desired, sprinkle each serving with Parmesan.

My whole family loved it which says a lot, as kids can often be hard to please.  Even picky Emily was telling me that I am the best cook in the world.

Next time, I will try to take a photo to include in the post.  The pasta sucked up all of the broth, so it looks kind of scary and unappetizing in the fridge now.  I suggest draining the broth out and storing it separately in your leftovers (if you have any).

Enjoy and happy almost Fall!!

It's Seriously Time for a Post

So, having taken more than 6 months off of blogging, I suppose that I should post something before my blog goes inactive and is shut down.  Would they actually do this I wonder?  Probably not, but as a rule follower, I am not going to take any chances.

What's new with me?  Well, I'll tell you...

• We had a seriously great summer which included 5 trips for me (Ohio, North Carolina, Nevada City, Pollock Pines, and San Francisco). 3 were me alone with family or friends, 1 was Michael and I and 1 was with the kids.  Last summer stunk.  I worked mostly full time and didn't have much fun.  This year more than made up for it.
• Michael turned 40!  And he is still cool and doesn't seem like an old dude yet, which is a relief since I am much, much younger;-). 
• We just celebrated 11 years of wedded bliss.  Ok, so it hasn't all been bliss, but it's been a pretty great but, wild ride.  In 11 years, we've "owned" 3 homes, lived in 2 states, lost a job and obtained a masters degree (him), and had 3 children (me).  We even trained for and ran a marathon together pre-kids.  This is what I accredit to giving me arthritis (knees), but was entirely worth it.
• I have 2 kids in school now.  Lucas started 1st grade and Emily started Kindergarten.  They are loving it, but tired as they adjust to the new schedule.  Emily especially as she was accustomed to napping everyday and is in school now at nap time.  The other day, I told her that it was an early school day and we were going to come home and nap.  I expected that she would fight that, but instead said, "Good!  I've been so tired." 
• I am about to officially become a "soccer mom."  I signed Lucas up for a city "Kidz Love Soccer" program.  It is more of a class to teach them drills and how to play than an actual team.  It will let us test the waters of the sport before we commit to spending several days a week on it.  So really I will be more of a poser soccer mom than an actual one, but maybe someday...
• I still do childcare part-time and work part-time at our church.  I'm also trying to figure out a way that I can volunteer in both kid's classrooms (but need to find a solution for what to do with Clara).
• I am eager for the weather to cool off and fall to begin.  I can't wait to see the leaves change, eat all things pumpkin and wear long sleeves again.
• I started up a women's group this Spring.  It's a group of women whose husbands are all in a men's group together.  It has been fun to have this social outlet and time out with girls!  Looking forward to starting up again in the fall.  With the busy summer, we had taken time off.
• I am starting up a new exercise regime.  Mike and I are doing some kind of workout together a couple/few days a week and I am starting to run in the morning with a friend one morning and walk one evening per week.

I am sure that there is more, but my husband is ready to have a wine on the porch date with me.  No, not whine on the porch.

Here's to hoping that I won't let 6+ months slip away without another blog.  I need to practice if I ever want to write that book with "pages that sparkle."  That is my new goal after reading The Brothers K, the book I just finished.  One of the reviewers described it as such and I thought, I want to do that.  I want to write something that makes people imagine and weep and somehow changes their lives (for the better).  Maybe someday...