What's Cookin': Banana Nut Bread

Banana bread is one of my favorite "dessert" breads. It's sweet, but not overly so. And it's a wonderful way to use up those last few bananas from the bunch that we never seem to eat in time.

This is a great breakfast bread too. Slightly toasted with a bit of cream cheese spread on top, and paired with a cup of good black tea. Simply delicious.

If you have almost-gone bananas but don't feel like using them up yet you can store them in the freezer. Just peel them and put them in a bag, then pop them in the freezer. They'll be a little watery when they defrost but since they are going in bread it won't matter!

This recipe is from my Betty Crocker cookbook and I have not deviated it from it all (aside from using vanilla yogurt as substitute for buttermilk sometimes. It's delicious that way). It's just plain ol' good the way it is.

And Ben will eat. Which is always a plus.

Banana Nut Bread - Makes 2 loaves
1 1/4 C sugar
1/2 C butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 1/2 C mashed bananas (about 3)
1/2 C buttermilk or vanilla yogurt
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 C flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 C chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease two 8x4 inch loaf pans.

In a large bowl or mixer mix together butter and sugar until well blended. Stir in eggs and mix. Stir in bananas, buttermilk and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Stir in the flour, baking soda and salt until just moistened, then stir in the nuts. Divide batter evenly between pans.

Bake for about an hour, or until they pass the toothpick test. Cool for 10 minutes, then turn out and cool completely before slicing.

This post is linked up to :: Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty & Bedlam

Happy Eating,
Meg

365 Project :: Day 8

I was taking pictures of yarn colors for my Etsy and thought this was a cool shot.

I believe that 3 of my 365 Project pictures so far of are yarn. Maybe I need to change it up a little.

Just a little obsessed,
Meg

365 Project :: Day 7

Pizza.

It's what's for dinner.

Tada! Etsy Shop Launch

It's officially here! Today, I am launching my Etsy shop: Little Bit of Knittery.
bitofknittery.etsy.com

For now I am just offering things that are made to order. Meaning that I will make them after someone orders them. Hopefully I will be able to list Ready to Ship items soon.

I'm so excited about this. I'm hoping to expand my list of items in the future. I have lots of ideas and designs floating around in my head.

I'm also planning on offering patterns here on the blog, both for free and for sale. 

Thank you all for your support and kind words. It means a lot to me.

Love ya all,
Meg

Nerves

I've been a basket case lately. I haven't been sleeping well, and I spend a lot of time in my head sort of freaking out.

I'm nervous.

I'm starting a business, and it's a little nerve-wracking. The funny thing is I've done this before.

I started my own web design business at 18. But it didn't involve tangible products, I didn't have to worry about sales tax or anything fancy, and I ended it a year later to get married and have babies. (A much better job in my opinion.)

However, even having been through it before, this time it seems... harder.

Maybe because I'm attempting to sell a part of myself. Uhh.. That didn't come out right. I'm trying to sell something I love so much and put so much time into.

My knitting. My soul, almost.

I'm nervous that no body will like my stuff.

That nobody will buy my stuff.

I'm nervous people will buy my stuff, but something will happen - like a freak postal error - the first time out and doom me forever.

I'm nervous about getting things done, and schedules, and running a successful online business.

I'm going crazy.

I've told Ben all this and he says to just give it some time. Let it build. Get my name out there. And I know he's right. It's just... hard.

I know if nothing else I'll be good at the bookkeeping!

I've got my FBN statement, and my Seller's Permit came today. I'm official now.

Now I just have to suck it up and do it. I'm hoping to launch my shop soon... Stay tuned.

And wish me luck!

A little shaky,
Meg