Sunday, January 23, 2011

Sour Cream Banana Bread

I baked tonight. :)



Sour Cream Banana Bread
Ingredients:
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup mashed banana
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup sour cream

Directions:
  1. Grease 1 large loaf pan.
  2. Cream butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla.
  3. Stir in baking soda and salt, then add flour.
  4. Add bananas, sour cream, then chocolate chips.
  5. Mix well.
  6. Bake at 350 F for 1 hour
    (I actually baked at 350 for an hour, then turned the oven to 325 and kept it in an extra 15 minutes or so because it was nice and dark around the edges, but the center wasn't quite done).




My conclusion: yum-tastic. It doesn't have as much of a sour cream taste as I was hoping, but it's still lightens the taste of the banana bread and makes it not quite as heavy as most traditional banana breads.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

In the colors

I've heard this song about a gazillion times previously, but today the lyrics really hit me. I think part of it is that it's the end of a whole long year, with a new one setting sail slowly through the winter. Most people had pretty average years, but I know some amazing friends who had a rough year for some pretty big reasons. This song is my dedication to you guys -- sometimes there's not always something easy to say to make the bad go away, and sometimes that hurt lingers for a long time, but no matter what, whenever you're feeling down and out, I will be there in whatever ways I can be.





When your whole world is shaken from all the risks we have taken
Dance with me, dance with me into the colors of the dusk

When you have awoken from all the dreams broken
Come and dance with me, dance with me into the colors of the dusk
Dance with me in the colors of the dusk

The paths we're walking on, they crumble behind us
But if we leave now, they will never find us
And if this crazy world spins itself down to dust, I want to be with you in the colors

When you again start hoping with your arms wide open
Come on, dance with me, dance with me into the colors of the dusk
And all will be right, dancing like water with the light
Dance with me, won't you dance with me into the colors of the dusk?



Happy 2011, friends and family. I hope this year brings joy within every movement and every song.