Fruity

Imagine this is taken with a decent camera and has a glow of ambient light in an inviting kitchen!

This is the banana bread from Deceptively Delicious.  I make it with the extra banana (no califlower) and it tastes great. Most quick bread has WAY too much sugar and oil and this is a great substitute!

nonstick cooking spray

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 ts baking soda

1/4 ts baking powder

1/2 ts sea salt

1/2 ts ground cinnamon (I add some allspice and nutmeg too)

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 lg egg whites

3 ripe bananas -- pureed (1 1/2 cup)

1/2 cup cauliflower flowerets -- pureed (I add extra banana)

1 ts vanilla extract


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9x5" loaf pan, or 2 mini pans, with cooking spray.
In a bowl, mix the flours with the baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, Mix the sugar and oil with a wooden spoon until well combined. Add the egg whites, pureed banana and cauliflower, and vanilla. Add the flour mixture and mix just until combined.
Pour the batter into prepared pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 55-60 minutes for a large loaf and 25-30 for 2 mini pans. Let cool on a rack for 5 minutes and then turn out onto a wire rack to cool before serving.


What is about putting food into jars that has campitvated me as of late?  I went a little jam crazy this year...
So here is the fruit of my labors!

Blu-Raspberry Jam

Ginger Peach

I also made Spicy Boysenberry which is my fave.  I love how in my mind I am putting up all this healthy fruit for my family when in reality it is pretty jars of fruit flavored sugar.  There is something so intoxicating about rolling waves of fruity lava boiling in my pots.  Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble!

Julie & Julia & Jessica

So, I FINALLY saw Julie and Julia and L-O-V-E-D it!!!!!! Super loved it in fact. I was even smiling the next morning when I woke up. I think I will have to go see it again before it leaves the theatre.  Such an affirming tale of following your passions and being a great companion.  Loved it!

I got out my copy of the Mastering the Art of French Cooking and chided myself for never, ever making a single thing out of it! Yes, I was totally intimidated.  I think I will start with the hollandaise they featured in the movie-did that look amazing or what?! I remember her talking once about how ridiculous it was to buy mayo at the store when you can make a superior one "effortlessly" in your own kitchen! 

It has finally cooled down in this forsaken town. This is my take on a Finnish Soup recipe given to me by a friend.

Yes, I loved seeing the girls use their Le Creuset!

Jessica’s Finnish Salmon Soup

1 box fish stock

1 box chicken stock

1 onion chopped

1 large sweet potato, chopped

1lb of salmon

Handful of shrimp

1 cup frozen peas

Dash (or more) lemon juice

Dill taste

Handful Green onions

1 cup or more Half and Half (if desired)

Get stock to a boil and add onions and potatoes and cook till tender. (could sauté onions before adding stock if desired) Add salmon, shrimp and peas and simmer until done. Add other seasonings and viola! This tastes great with or without the cream- the seafood stock makes it really flavorful and satisfying.

Avec Half and Half

Although I don't plan on any aspics, (chilled meat molds anyone?) I can't wait to see what I can drum up this fall out of Julia's creations.

Home Alone

Both the boys running into CCDC-late I might add!

Today was the first day of Pre-school for Evan AND Gavin. That's right, the last day of school last year I broke down signed Gavin up as he was tearing up the directors office!  She saw the desperation in my eyes and said,"we will take good care of him".

He slept in his backpack the first day Ian went to school!

Gavin has been so excited for school. He was telling everyone about his lunchbox and scooby snacks in his pack pack.  Today he did great and ran right in and out the door to the playground.

And then there is sweet Evan!

For some reason, Evan loves strangers. Asks the bagboy if he can have hug.  BUT he has a hard time warming up to his teachers.  When we met the teacher last week he was being a pill but I hoped today would go smoother. 

I first had to explain the giant bendy burn on his chin from a freak smore accident this weekend while we were camping. Then came Evan's intro to the class: "You need to put on your nametag" "no". "How about on your back?" "no".... I told the teacher good luck and ran out!

And then I went to the store-ALONE. I looked at all the color protecting shampoo and decided on a new one to try.  I got everything on my list! I even tried on a shirt and bought it too!

This morning Ian asked my why I was so excited that everyone was going to school today.  I just looked at him and said,"Because you are going to have so much fun today!"

Boys of Summer!

Last Day of First Grade

I can't believe summer is over! I admit, there have been a few (ok a lot) times where I felt like I couldn't take another day of the constant Feed Me, He Hit Me, I Wanna Watch ----, I'ts too Hot Outside. But, now that freedom is looming for all of us, I think back over the summer and we have had a lot of fun and I have embraced the fact these boys are not mine for very long. *sigh*

The boys got to go to the beach for the first time when we went to visit the Blad Fam in Huntington Beach.

And Legoland!!!

...and we swung by Disneyland since we were in the area!

But, I still love the simple pleasures of the summertime like Family Night Smores in the back yard.

"Creative" art projects

Mangy outfits and sugar, sugar, sugar!

It's gonna be a great year!

Blad is Back Baby!!!

SO, I have been neglectful to put it... mildly. I have had thoughts and experiences but have abandoned my poor blog as my insane life has marched on. BUT! No more! With new photo software in hand I pledge to do better! (The comment on my last post from Carrie was too much!)

What have I been up to you ask?????

Canning Peaches! Is that sick or what?

Thanks to friend Nicole, I have learned the whiles of the Texas Peach. Her husband grew up basically on a farm in Idaho with his 11 brothers and sisters, eating fresh EVERYTHING and helping can the summer sweetness for the coming winter. What I love about Nic is that there is no compromising for quality!! Hence, a 3 hour journey (total there and back) to Corsicana to buy the BEST peaches from a wonderful family at Cooper Farms.

I had some of these last year and the juice was literally running down our arms. I had to beat the boys off them from eating them all the first day. This time we had a box to enjoy and pigged out and then went to work!





Now I certainly am not doing the kind of damage that serious canners do. Without the availability of an overflow of fruit, I don't have the urge to preserve those folks do. However, I was so inspired after reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. The whole idea of truly enjoying what is in season and then storing the surplus for when it is not was a revelation to me! Now, if I could only get that surplus-stay tuned for a lamenting about my organic garden foray this summer. I do love the idea of having control over what we eat and the quality is SO much better.

My foodie friend Amy is always saying she was born in the wrong time period. I tell her no way in you-know-where. But I understand what she means. It really was so enjoyable to be reflective and work with my hands and produce something. Minus the long skirt, lack of air conditioning and skin care products.

My Beauties

Here they are in all their glory! I am so pumped that all the lids are silver this year. They looked sell-able! Let's see, gas, effort, materials, love in every bite...50 bucks a jar!!

Any takers?

It's a good thing you are cute!!

I thought it would be fun to share a few if the finer moments of life with my almost 2 year old cutie pie Gavin!

Yes that is the Costco size honey. This happened in the minute and a half it took to

walk my friend to the door! (You can't tell but half of it has been dumped out and gently rubbed into his hair.)








Gavin has been practicing his gang signs and getting pointers from our #1 trouble maker Evan.

Gavin is also an avid gardener!



The laundry room is Gavin's refuge when the stormy skies open above him and he is unable to get a grip on reality.

I see this poor little face and really feel for what he must be feeling when he can't communicate with us. I often make this face when I have been dealing with tantrums all day!!

However, most of the time I have these beautiful faces to look into and I feel so blessed for my 3 little men!

Leaves of Change

It finally feels like Fall around here. Ian has a ritual every year where he digs in the garage for a rake and makes himself a pile of leaves to crash into! He really works up a sweat raking the entire yard for a pitiful pile to enjoy. I got the little rake out for #2 and#3 to join in the fun.

Who knew yard work could be so fun?

Sweet little Ian. I love reliving through him the simple pleasures in life!