Monday, February 27, 2012

Claude and the delicious square of banana bread!


When on vacation earlier this month, Pete and I had the most amazing breakfast at The Loft. This is one of the restaurants at the Montage hotel in Laguna Beach (picture of our view to the left). Shortly after being taken to our table, we were greeted by Claude (a fancy french waiter). His accent and disposition made me want to quickly put my napkin on my lap and sit a little straighter in my chair. But his warm smile and beautiful descriptions of each item on the menu made him very likeable. I liked him even more when he brought us these delicious little morsels of banana bread before our meal arrived. Upon asking for another plate of these morsels (Yes I'm guilty), Claude offered me the recipe. He said a couple years ago he began printing out copies for his customers as this banana bread was so popular. So because Claude was so thoughtful to share with me....I just had to share with you. :)

I am waiting for some of my bananas to over-ripen and I plan to make it this week. Thank-you Claude!

The Loft Banana Bread Recipe

16oz flour
16 oz brown sugar
2 tsp. baking soda
4 over ripe bananas pured
1/4 pound melted butter
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. baking powder
2 cups buttermilk

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a large bowl, add the four, brown sugar, baking soda, and baking powder and thoroughly mix until everything is incorporated. In a second bowl, add buttermilk, eggs, vanilla, butter, and banana puree and whisk until everything is a smooth consistency.

Grease a 13x9x2 baking pan.

When pan and oven are both ready, add the liquid mixture to the dry ingredients and combine quickly. Batter may be slightly lumpy. Do not over mix the batter. Empty batter into the greased pan and put directly in the oven.

Bake for 20 minutes and check with a toothpick or cake knife. Toothpick should come out clean. Continue baking for an additional 5 minutes and check that bread is cooked through. Remove from oven and cool. Cut and serve!!!


Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Finding Love in Sourdough Toast


Happy Valentine's Day! My favorite holiday has looped back around once again. A holiday full of surprises, the unexpected, and going big for LOVE. And it is also time again for my annual valentine's blog message :)

Pete and I recently returned home from a wonderful vacation to southern california. We had a lot of much needed quality time together. I think we were literally with each other every minute for 8 days. I loved each one of those minutes for a different reason!

The funny thing is while on this vacation we discovered we both have an undying love for sourdough toast. Now for 5 and 1/2 years of marriage, we've never realized this. How you may ask? Well I've always noticed that Pete ordered sourdough toast when we are out for breakfast, but I always thought he did it because I liked it so much and then he could share a piece with me. Pete thought that (after all these years) I always buy sourdough toast at the grocery store just for him to make his sandwiches with. While out for breakfast in Laguna Beach, it came out that we both actually love sourdough toast and we have ever since we were children. We had a good laugh and were pretty touched that we both thought the other one was sacrificing sourdough toast.

I thought this story was a good one for Valentine's Day. Whether you have been married 5 1/2 years, 6 months, or 52 years. . . never stop finding out what your spouse loves. You may find out your taste buds have more things in common than you once thought. :) It always amazes me that year after year of knowing and loving someone you. . .there is always more to know and more to love about that person. That is what makes love so unbelievable and so adventurous!

So this year my Valentine's challenge is to you is to search out something new to love in your spouse or significant other, your friend, your parent, your child, or your co-worker. Add another reason to the list of why you love them or how they make your life a better place. That is what Valentine's Day is all about.

LOVE,
Maggie