Simply XSBaggage

Banana Bread, Belts and Benjamin Button

I spent most of Saturday making new Belts to put up in the shop. I hadn't made any in awhile and it was fun making something besides purses and pouches. 

Something else I haven't done in awhile is make banana bread. I can eat bananas when they're pretty ripe, but when they get to the point of being 'slimy' when you peel them, it's definitely time to make bread.

I use the recipe from my favorite, most used cookbook (as you can see from the stained and torn cover) The Overlake School Cookbook. Mine is copyright 1984, the listing on Amazon is copyrighted 1993 and I don't know if it will have the same recipe in it. So I thought I'd share it with you.

******************************

Banana Bread

2 ripe bananas

1 1/2 cups sugar (I use a little less than a cup)

2 eggs

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 3/4 cups flour (I used wheat flour)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon buttermilk (you can substitute regular milk and add a little lemon juice, this is what I do)

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In large mixing bowl, mash bananas. Beat in sugar, eggs, and oil. Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix into batter with remaining ingredients.

Pour into greased, 9X5-inch, loaf pan. Bake 1 hour and 20-30 minutes, until golden brown and top splits. Cool on rack 20 minutes before removing from pan.

***************************

I actually make two smaller loaves with this recipe, reducing the baking time to about 50 minutes. And you can easily double it and make 3 nice sized loaves. 

This makes a nice, pound cake-like loaf that's still moist. And it's so easy to make there's no way you can 'goof'. 

After I took my banana bread out of the oven, I picked up my [very pregnant] Daughter-in-law and we went out to lunch. Sort of a last effort at some 'girly-time' before she's completely surrounded by boys. We also caught a movie in the afternoon, 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'. We both enjoyed it, Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt played incredible parts. I did have to chuckle at a statement in a review I was reading about the movie this morning, 

"For the most part, unfortunately, it’s little more than a nearly three-hour reminder that we begin and end our lives in diapers." 

um, okay.

New for Thursday

Good Morning! How's this for a bright and shiny face?

That's Isaac, my sweet Grandson. He's so fun, and growing and changing by the day. And he's the happiest baby ever! Okay, enough gushing, on to business.

More new fabrics arrived:

And I got busy:


I've listed these over on my website, XSBaggage & Co.. You can just click on the website name and go on over to have a look! I love how these turned out, and I decided to list the Handbag, matching Checkbook Cover, and matching Key Fob all together as a set.

I'm going to be spending more time getting my website up to speed as far as new products, as I've sort of neglected it and used Etsy for my new listings. I love Etsy, but my own site gives me more flexibility. For now, I'll be using both sites, but listing different products on each. So keep watching for more new, fun stuff!

Friday, already?

Whoa, the week zips by sometimes! I've been so busy playing with my new fabrics this week that I seem to have lost track of time. I love what I'm doing so much, and I get completely engrossed in things I'm working on.

Seriously, I come up to my studio in the morning with my cup of coffee, and the next thing I know, I hear Dr. K coming in the back door from work! I have a slight moment of panic: yikes, I don't know what we're having for dinner, the thought hasn't crossed my mind all day. Thankfully, he is completely laid back about this. We usually just 'wing it', as in cook up some hamburger and veggies, or go get sandwiches or chili from the sandwich shop across the street, or have cheese and crackers.

And when I do take the time to cook dinner, he is sooo appreciative. I'm thankful that he understands that right now I'm working long hours to make my business successful. He has been there and he 'gets it'.

Over at Etsy, Ashabee's Creatiions was nice enough to include one of my Reversible Belts in her Treasury list:

It features some beautfiul works, all in warm calico colors! And you should check out her shop as well. Even though it's now officially Spring, we still have some brisk days. I think her beautiful Neckwarmers would be perfect for keeping warm without the bulk of a heavy scarf.

Have a great weekend!