Banana Chocolate Chip Bread

Banana Chocolate Chip Bread Recipe.

1/2 c. butter flavor shortening
1 c. white sugar
2 eggs
2 c. mashed bananas
1 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. soda
2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 TBS cinnamon
1 cup chocolate chips.

Cream shortening and sugar.  Add over-ripe bananas and eggs.  Add sifted flour, salt, and soda.  Add vanilla, cinnamon, and chocolate chips.  Bake at 350.  If you do a loaf, bake for 45 minutes.  If you do muffins the time will vary depending on your muffin tin - approx. 25 minutes.  When you insert a sharp knife and it comes out clean, it's done.

This is my Grand-mother's recipe.  Love it!  Enjoy!

Citrus......

 We have been enjoying the citrus these days.  It seems to be growing everywhere.  We decided to go ahead and buy and juicer and it has revolutionized our beverage life.  :)  Fresh squeezed orange juice - it's liquid health! 

 My little man and I were picking lemons in the backyard.  He kept picking up the ones that had fallen on the ground and studying them.  What a sweet boy!

Soft grass and popsicles

 I love this time of year in AZ!  It's just the right temperature.  Love my backyard and my cute little kiddos!

Breakfast ham cups.....

 You simply place a slice of ham in the bottom of a muffin tin to make a "cup."  Then you put a little bit of cheese in the bottom of the cup and cover with beaten egg.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.  It's that simple.  They feed a crowd quickly and they re-heat beautifully. 

No carbs, full of protien, and super yummy to boot!  You seriously can't beat that.  Oh and they are fast to make. 

Dear Children...

When I was young I had really big dreams.  I imagined packed houses on opening nights, my name on a billboard, penthouse apartment in NY, stuff like that.  By now I was supposed to be in a completely different place.  But this morning as I was patting the back of my 2 month old with one hand and pouring milk over cheerios with the other it struck me that I am in the right place.  You are worth it. I dedicate my life to you and your Dad.  Every load of laundry, every washed dish is part of my pledge to you and an expression of my love.  There aren't any applause now, there aren't glamorous costumes or lights, but there are other things.  There are sweet little hugs, kissing your chubby cheeks, and hearing you call for me in the night.  You will never know the girl I was, the girl who stood on a stage and that used to make me a little sad.  But now I realize that you will know the woman that I was always meant to be and that is the woman who is cheering you on. 
I love you. 
Mom.

Faux Fireplace love!

I have always wanted a big fireplace.  I live in Arizona so I don't really want the "fire" part, just the mantel really.  I love the idea of hanging stockings, beautiful mantel-scapes for every season, love love love!  Well, my home doesn't have a fireplace.  I thought about building one and was actually drawing up plans when I decided to look online and found a used one that was absolutely perfect.  Here's the process

Here's my handsome husband with the mantel after we first brought it home.  I loved the shape but not the coloring.

 

I cleaned it and then painted the base white.  Then I stained the top a dark walnut.

 

I cut a pallet in half for the hearth then sanded and stained it.  We attatched beadboard to the wall to fill in the empty fireplace and give some texture.

 

I love how it turned out!  I will post mantel-scapes for each new season.  Yay!

 



It's been a while....

I'm so crafty, I make people!

Yup, I've been away for a while now.  I was a little busy bringing this little guy into the world.  :)  I am so happy to show him off!

 

Roman

 

I love the name, I love the boy, I love the hair!  Yes, it's love.