[Elise] _______ Bread

So, today I didn't have enough time to get to the grocery store, nor have I gotten my sister's zucchini bread recipe yet, so for my _____ bread, in the Halloween spirt, I made pumpkin bread. I found a simple recipe that worked with my sparse pantry. Instead of walnuts, like the recipe suggested, I used 3/4 c dried currants. The recipe also called for 3 small (3x7") loaf pans, so I used one 10" circular pan.

(Instead of grocery shopping, I explored an abandoned cemetery in the woods with some friends)

Because it was big and round, it was just begging to be frosted with cream cheese frosting. I whipped some up with a recipe from the Joy of Cooking, which went just perfectly.

Because the recipe only called for cinnamon and nutmeg, the currants and frosting added just enough to make the bread interesting. Perfect to curl up with to watch The Night of The Living Dead with.

Happy Halloween!

[Inez] ______ bread

Remember how we said we were going to make the same thing from our respective kitchens once a month? This month it's _____ bread. I made banana bread, and Elise is going to make zucchini bread. I'm sorry to say that the pictures aren't very beautiful because it gets dark so freaking early, but I assure you, it is delicious.

My favorite banana bread recipe -- in fact, the only banana bread recipe I use since discovering it -- is from Sundays at Moosewood. Of course, it includes the essentials to any good food item, butter and sugar.

But what I really like about it is that it calls for lime and ginger. Just a little bit, just enough to add a little complexity to the flavor.

I also usually add chocolate chips because really, what can't be improved upon by adding just a little bit of chocolate? The key though is to add just a little bit of chocolate. Too many chips and you lose the banana flavor.

Remember when we made beans and I told you to add more salt than you thought you should add? Okay, well when making banana bread, add fewer chocolate chips than you think you should add. It will make for a more well-balanced deliciousness.

*edit to include recipe -- thank you Sundays at Moosewood!*

Preheat oven to 350F. Butter a loaf pan.

• 3/4 c brown sugar
• 1/2 c butter, soft
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 cup mashed bananas (3 bananas)
• 3 T milk or yogurt
• 1 T lime juice
• 1/2 t salt
• 1/2 t ground ginger
• 2 c flour
• 1 t baking powder
• (chocolate chips)

Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl. Stir in eggs, bananas, milk/yogurt, and lime juice. Add salt and ginger and mix well.

Sift flour and baking powder together in separate bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until smooth. Pour batter into pan and bake for one hour, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Note: the recipe calls for coconut (no thank you) and also includes a rum-lime-sugar glaze (unnecessary). I, obviously, have opted not to include these elements. (/edit)

Oh yeah, and also I went to a thrift store (Georgia Thrift, for those of you who know DC) and I found some awesome deals on sweaters. I'm particularly excited about this one:

I know it looks like junk but it's actually merino wool and angora and cashmere! Triple score!

[Elise] Happy Birthday Inez