Dearest Dreams Coming True

Remember when I was so sad? Well, I'm happy again. Enjoying the sun shining on my face, the gray sky full of snowflakes, the smell of spring in the damp, warmish air, opening the windows for the first time in 2009 to let fresh air into the house (only momentarily), eating cereal out of my favorite Pottery Barn bowl, coffee from my favorite polka dot cup, collecting sticks and branches for the dog to chase and chew, watching Riley run like the wind back to the house where G has just driven the truck. Little things. Happy things. It feels good. Real good.

I now have more fabric. More blues and more browny greens. More squares and more circles. I made a huge error in cutting up the half yards of focus fabrics. I could have used them for the borders if I had left half uncut. But I didn't so later when I am finished with squares and circles I will have to go searching for a border fabric. I intend to search here at home and not in the stores. I noticed the strips I cut yesterday were not "exactly" perfectly cut. That's because I am sloppy and the ruler slides. Which means I will have to be patient and fix the problems when I do the quarter inch seams. Doing things right the first time is easier.

I now have all the fabrics I used for the French Hens (not chickens!) quilt. It took some digging but I found them. I pinned the new squares on the padded board which is leaning against the Hens. It was, then, that I realized I needed the rest of the fabrics for the new quilt. It was my intuitive mind sending a message. I like when that happens. Or else, the first time I went looking for the Hen remainders, I only found half.

My neighbor asked me yesterday evening if I would be interested in a joint garage sale in May or June. I said yes. So now my sorting will have more purpose.

Tomorrow I am having lunch with two members of the Frayed Edges. We'll be discussing library book sales and not fiber art but I am pretty excited about seeing the two of them. Now would be a great time to use my "linking" skills but I didn't plan ahead.

I haven't had to go to the grocery store. Still plenty of stuff to eat in the pantry and fridge. I may be able to wait until Thursday (a whole week) before picking up supplies for G's breakfasts. I would encourage you to try this yourselves. Use what you have stored in the freezer and pantry and don't go shopping for a week. No stockpiling. Just decide to do it without planning ahead. And, if you need 1 to 3 items, like milk, eggs, butter, go ahead. But only three. And the three items should be necessary ingredients for recipes. As an example: If I had dead bananas in the fridge and wanted to make banana bread but didn't have an egg or enough flour, then I would buy some. Or better yet, ask my neighbor for some.

Right now I have two leftover flour tortillas in the fridge and I am trying to think of something to make that would use them. A sandwich wrap? I also have a 1/2 cup of baked beans, some sour cream and a jar of of pickled jalapenos. And, of course, the three dead bananas in the fridge which will be turned into incredible banana bread this afternoon.

Incredible Banana Bread 350 degree oven, greased 9" loaf pan (I spray with Pam)

4 Tablespoons of butter, room temp or softened in micro
1/2 cup sugar
3 dead bananas, peeled and mashed
1 egg (I use egg beaters in everything)
1/4 cup milk
1/3 cup of ONE of these items, not all. Yogurt, cottage cheese, sour cream

If you don't have any of these items, use 1/4 cup milk plus 1/3 cup milk and add a teaspoon of vinegar. Let sit till curdled. About 5 minutes. Half and half and whipping cream can also be used. No milk? Use an additional 1/4 cup yogurt, sour cream or cottage cheese. Or use liquid coffee creamer. I have used "bad" sour cream in the bread and it was still incredibly good.

2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
mix all the dry stuff together and stir.

Cream all the butter, sugar, egg and milk. I use an electric hand mixer. Add bananas and sour cream (or one of the others) Mix well.

Now mix all the wet and dry together and then : (Add the optional 2/3 cup raisins or chopped walnuts. I add walnuts. But if you feel crazy and wild: add chocolate chips.) and scoop into the loaf pan and place in the preheated oven. Bake for one hour. Let cool for 10 minutes on a rack before tipping out of the loaf pan.

I wrap in foil when completely cool (after I have sliced one of the crispy ends off and eaten it alongside a cup of tea). Best kept in the fridge so it doesn't develop "banana bread blue spots". I know there are fans of banana bread mold, but I'm not one of them.

This is the very best banana bread you will ever make. My gift to you today.