"A good thing to do before you're 30."

So, the man's birthday is coming up in a few weeks-- a rather monumental one, at that! He claims that it isn't a big deal, but he's set out to accomplish some things before the big day... and apparently one of those things is baking.
Inspired by some near rotten bananas, he got it in his head to make a homemade loaf of bread.

He asked lots of questions, but I decided to clear out of the kitchen to embark on a exercise-on-demand yoga adventure and let him do it all by himself. He found a recipe online ("Look, it has four stars!" he said), and both of us were impressed with the results.

Here's his recipe:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter

3/4 cups white sugar

1 tablespoon molasses

2 eggs, beaten

2 1/3 cups mashed overripe bananas

-Preheat oven to 350

-Grease a 9x5 loaf pan

-In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. In a seperate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir in banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.

-Bake in preheated oven for 50 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.

I try to stay pretty anonymous, but can't resist posting this proud man picture.

(awesome t-shirt by solid gold hubcaps)

home group bake-off!

Just because I need a challenge, I think I'm going to try to bake weekly, specifically for our Wednesday home group! I think I'm going to try to acquire a cookbook that I can cook through, but this week I did a cheater recipe from the Pioneer Woman's blog for a quick and easy apple tart.

And it was quick! And easy! I don't suppose I would very often make my own pastry shell, so I don't feel too bad about it.

Kind of pretty, too.

This week was the first week of "fall," after all. Tell that to the 98-degree weather we had today! I will still pretend it is the start of fall though and drink tea, wear sweaters, and bake things with apples and cinnamon.

dessert on wheels

Oh gosh, what can't they put in a van? First came ice cream trucks and roach coaches, then taco trucks, and now the current Korean BBQ craze, next, cupcakes?

Yes, Sprinkles Cupcakes got their own van.

I say, good for them.

Now I'm having an angry cupcake craving. The lemon ones were the best. No, the chocolate peanut butter. No wait, the special fall pumpkin ones. Gr.

paris sweets

Mmm, creme brulee and a glass of wine. What more could one want from a last minute trip to Paris? I'll have to try this at home because alcohol and a blow torch sounds fun.

Spiced 'n' Candied Orange Slices

Ok, I know this isn't baking, but it is such a wonderful addition to a dessert that I had to post it... The man even said it could be a dessert on its own-- well, with some ice cream, perhaps.

Spiced 'n' Candied Orange Slices

Just sauteed with some honey, fresh ground cloves, and a cinnamon stick.

Took a bit of the burger smell away from the house.

dough joke

Ahem, ahem.

So, a couple of months ago, a loaf of bread was spotted walking down the street.

Since then, the punchline has been forgotten.

Just a pinch of rosemary and an overnight starter.

lemon cakes with basil lemon syrup

What happens when I hear there's a birthday to celebrate.
So pretty. Here's the recipe. Very, very lemony but in a nice, refreshing way (so I hear). My first dessert with basil!