Bananarama

Is there anything better than the aroma of freshly-baked banana bread?  I don't think so.  This morning I made mini loaves four ways:  plain, with nuts on top, with chocolate chips on top, and with mixed nuts and chocolate chips on top.  Mmmm.  I love that something I find repulsive (over-ripe bananas) can turn into something delicious, and that I don't have to waste food and money by throwing out my brown (black?) bananas.  Recipe is from New BH&G.

Apple(s) of My Eye

In honor of the impending fall season, this post is dedicated to my deep and abiding love for apples. The love affair started when I was a kid, thanks to the local apple orchard and the family that owned it. I remember our family going to the orchard every fall to pick boxes and boxes of apples in the warm sunshine of September, and the sweet deliciousness of eating a few straight from the tree, their skins warm and smooth. We stored them on the back porch or in the garage in the coolness of autumn, and they lasted for months. Is there anything more delicious than a crisp juicy apple? I think not. It's a treat for all senses...aromatic, sweet, crunchy, heavenly.

Our latest favorite apple: Ginger Gold, an early-season apple. With the sweetness of Golden Delicious and a hint of tartness like Granny Smith, it's a little piece of crunchy delight. And at $6 for 5-1/2 pounds (thanks Costco!), the price can't be beat. Yum!