18

My Kyra. So lovely--inside and out. Witty. Fun. Tougher than she realizes. Already plotting her course, her heart leaving our nest to live out her very own God-adventure. My girl with the hippie heart, Birkenstocks, and dreams of living a life to bless others. My goodness--how I love you, Bitty.  Happy 18th birthday!

 

When Life Gives You Brown Bananas

One of the 5,214,697 ways that South Texas differs from Montana is the rate at which fruit ripens as it sits in my fruit bowl. I find myself with many, many overripe, brown bananas. I don't think we've made it through an entire bunch yet without at least a couple of them ending up in the freezer.  What to do with a bunch of brown bananas???  Make banana bread, of course!

For all of you who may actually be experiencing fall temperatures (it was in the 90's in Houston today) and for my Montana friends who are under a winter storm warning, here is our family's favorite banana bread recipe.  Happy Baking!!!!

Banana Nut Bread

Cream together:
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar (I usually add less than this.)

Blend in:
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups mashed banana

Mix in separate bowl:
2 cups flour
1 heaping tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt

Add flour mixture to banana mixture alternately with 1/2 cup buttermilk.
Optional: 1 cup chopped pecans

Bake in 2 greased and floured loaf pans.
325 degrees for 1 1/4-1 1/2 hrs.

Turmeric

(image via Pinterest, unable to find original post)

A natural antioxidant and powerful anti-inflammatory, turmeric (circumin) is getting a lot of press in holistic circles at the moment.  After taking it for a time, I can attest to it's healing properties.  It has definitely helped me with a health issue.  Though I originally took a turmeric tincture, I now just include it in my diet.  In case any of you are interested, I thought I'd share a couple of easy ways to incorporate more turmeric into what you eat.

If you are someone who believes in eating pastured, local eggs, a great way to eat turmeric is to sprinkle it on your eggs. It adds a yummy, subtle flavor and it's a lovely yellow color. :)  (Beware--it REALLY stains clothing!)   A second easy way to eat tumeric is to add it to your green smoothies.  Since turmeric is a fat soluble nutrient, be sure to include a healthy oil like coconut or hemp.

 Spicy, flavorful, and fragrant, Middle Eastern and African cuisine is an absolute favorite around our house.  Nothing smells more amazing than a simmering curry or tagine.  Oh my goodness gracious. Not only does it smell and taste fantastic, it's also full of herbs and spices that can help improve health.  Sounds like a win-win situation to me. So make a trip to your local Hallal market.  If that's not an option, many supermarkets are stocking a bigger variety of interesting spices nowadays.  I'll share with you one of my family's favorite dishes and a great spice rub for roasting chicken.  Enjoy!

Beef Kofta Curry

Meatballs:

1 lb ground beef

3 T finely chopped onion

1 T fresh cilantro, chopped

1 T plain greek yogurt

4 T flour

2 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp garam masala

1 tsp ground turmeric

1 tsp ground coriander

1 fresh green chili (seeded and finely chopped)

2 garlic cloves, crushed

¼ tsp black mustard seeds

1 egg

Salt and pepper

For the curry sauce:

2 T butter

1 onion, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, crushed

3 T curry powder

4 green cardamom pods (you can take these out after it is finished cooking. Pretty nasty to bite into!)

2 ½ cups hot beef stock

1 T tomato paste

2 T plain greek yogurt

1 T fresh cilantro, chopped.

Put beef in large bowl, add remaining meatball ingredients and mix well with your hands. Roll into small balls and put aside on a floured plate.

To make curry sauce, heat butter over medium heat. Fry onion/garlic about 10 minutes or until soft.

Reduce heat and add curry powder and cardamom pods. Cook for a few minutes, stirring well.

Slowly stir in stock and then add paste, yogurt and cilantro. Stir well.

Simmer for 10 minutes.  Add meatballs a few at a time, allow to cook briefly and then add a few more, until all of them are in the pan. Simmer, uncovered, for about 20 minutes, until meatballs are cooked through.  Avoid stirring, but gently move meatballs around. The curry should thicken slightly, but you can add a bit more stock or some water if it gets too dry.

Serve hot with rice.

                                      East African Spice Rub for Roast Chicken

Mix together:
2 Tablespoons soft butter
3 crushed garlic cloves
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp dried thyme
1 Tablespoon chopped fresh coriander (cilantro)
4 Tablespoons thick coconut milk
4 Tablespoons dry sherry
1 tsp tomato paste
1/2 tsp salt
Sprinkling of chili powder


Recipes from The African and Middle Eastern Cookbook  by Josephine Bacon and Jenni Fleetwood

Treasure

One of my best friends just found out she is pregnant with twins and is now so sick she can't get off the couch.  She already has 2 little ones to care for. Oh how I remember those days.  When I had my Maddy, Shelby was only 4 years old, Kyra merely 2. ( My goodness--what were we thinking???  Obviously, thinking wasn't at the top of our priority list. ;) ) Definitely a crazy few years.  I recall not being able to get off the couch myself when I was pregnant with Maddy, and I have a very vivid memory of these 2 tiny faces staring at me as I was lying there trying not to lose my lunch.
Shelby looked at me, shook his little head and said, "Mommy, are you EVER going to get off the couch?"  To which I replied, after I had started sobbing, "Nooooo, I don't think so!"
Oh for Pete's sake.
Thankfully, we survived. Maddy was born, and now my cute little munchkins are so grown up.

To all of you who are parenting little ones, navigating your way through pregnancies and piles of diapers--hang in there. These days, full of things that seem so never ending and exhausting, are fleeting.   There are many things I wish I'd done differently, you'll someday feel the same.  While it would be nice if each kid popped out with his/her own manual, this isn't how it goes and so we will all make mistakes. It's life.

Here are a few things I've learned over the years...

~Hug your kids...a lot!  Hug them, kiss them, squeeze them tightly.  Stop whatever you are doing and take time to let them sit in your lap. Tell them you love them, even if they they roll their eyes and say, "I know, Mom. Geez!"

~Let them be goofy.

 

~And be goofy with them.

 

 ~Let them sleep outside on the trampoline...making a big mess with every single blanket, pillow and sleeping bag you own. When you hear them at 2am, running around the backyard, just be thankful and try to go back to sleep.

~Let them play outside and get dirty.  After that...let them bring home bugs and sticks and rocks and dandelions. When they offer you the gift of a gravel rock that they painted, accept it with a smile.

~Let them paint the graffiti on the wall, play dress up, and make a mess baking cupcakes.

~Love them enough to let them go through the tough things, and be thankful for every single day that you are blessed to be with them. 

~Play ball, build a snowman, cherish the laughter, and play in the yard.

      

~Coach that team.

~Love every handmade birthday card and Christmas gift. Put those sweet little drawings and paintings on the fridge.

~Love them for who they are, each so different from the other, with special talents and gifts.

~Laugh.  Laugh.  Laugh.