Banana Blueberry Cake

A friend of mine who is super health conscience gave me this recipe. It was served recently at a family gathering and even though it's about a hundred Weight Watchers points per slice, she said it was really good. Actually, it's not that bad, except for the frosting which is literally nothing but butter and sugar and vanilla. I compromised and used Land of Lakes Lite Butter in the frosting as if it even matters!

Banana Blueberry Cake

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter

2 eggs

1/4 cup buttermilk

1 tsp. Real vanilla extract

2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

3 large very ripe bananas, mashed fine

1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries

Frosting:

2 sticks butter at room temperature

2 tsp. Real vanilla extract

4 cups powdered sugar, sifted

6 TBSP milk

Preheat oven to 350F. Cream sugar and butter, add eggs, buttermilk and vanilla until smooth. Sift dry things and add gradually to batter and mix well. Stir in bananas and fold in blueberries. Bake in 9x13 inch pan for 35 minutes.

Cool and frost.

Note: I had to use more sugar to make it a spreadable consistency so maybe you could half this frosting recipe. And it is well worth the hour it takes to work it off! Or skip the frosting.

Tomato Basil Soup - Nordstroms Cafe

Yummy! Another reason I dislike blogger is that it won't let me cut and paste this recipe so I have to type it up. Blah. But here it is and it's delish! You can definitely make it with less oil (1 T.) and fat free half and half and it's still wonderful. The Italian tomatoes and fresh basil make all the difference. Enjoy!

Tomato Basil Soup
1/3 c.oil
5 carrots, peeled and chopped
1 large yellow onion, chopped
1 T. dried basil
2 28 oz. cans whole Italian style tomatoes in puree
3 32 oz. boxes low sodium chicken broth
2 cups heavy cream
kosher salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 T. thinly sliced fresh basil leaves
Saute onion and carrot in oil, cook until soft, add tomatoes and broth, bring to a boil. Reduce and simmer 20 minutes.
Remove from heat, puree soup in batches in blender until smooth, and return to pan. Add cream and warm, season with salt and pepper, garnish soup with fresh basil and serve in bread bowls or with thick slices of artisan bread.

Madeline and Grandma

Lucky for me baby Madeline and and Valli have come to visit Alaska. We've been able to spend some time together and have a lot of fun. She is a little doll and we just love her so much! We only wish Dave could be here with too, but yesterday we were able to Skype him for about an hour. Families are the most important part of life. They deserve every sacrifice required of us.
What a little darling. Photo by Grandpa.

It's Leftovers!

Okay, I have leftover lamb, leeks, potatoes, 6 deviled eggs, some strawberries, little angel food cakes, a Costco rotisserie chicken carcass, lettuce, and two bunches of browned bananas. What to do? I'd like to make a stew with the lamb and the chicken...? I just got an awesome recipe from a friend for a banana blueberry cake. Too much sugar? - maybe a bread instead. Or half the sugar? Ideas?

Easter Weekend

Here is a snap shot of the delicious Easter meal that cooked itself while I was relaxing all weekend. For one million US dollars I will tell you how this is done. Forgot to take a picture of the chocolate zucchini cake and the mini angel food cakes with berries and whipped cream. Finally these two guys are done and onthe shelf. I am such a procrastinator. Jenny, the red one is yours. Thank you for seeing the value in something that was about to be tossed out. My newest find, a twin size postage stamp quilt. I found it for about $20. It is all hand pieced within about 1/8 of an inch from the seam which I realized too late when I put in the washer on gentle and the weight of the wet fabric tore a lot of the seams apart. Spent two sessions of conference piecing it back together. Lesson learned there. I do this because I love the idea of rescuing something that someone else couldn't take care of anymore. I haven't decided how to quilt it but it would make the most lovely little tablecloth. Or on a bed.

Last and least, the ugliest quilt in America. I finally sewed together these 9 hideous little squares and I have no idea what to do with them. I think they were going to be a baby quilt. The fabric was so cute until I sewed it up. I'm thinking something more along the lines of Halloween!

I also managed to cut out and start sewing up a pretty twin size quilt for a friends daughter for graduation - all Amy Butler type fabrics in warm colors. Will post a picture when it looks like something.

Watched Fantantic Mr. Fox! Very funny.

Oh Easter Tree

I have a new tree. It's the Easter Tree - all green and grassy. It can also double as a Christmas tree. But I have silver one just like it that will debue in the winter. Ornaments were a bit scarce this year so I will have to be on the hunt for some new ones when they go on sale. I do love spring. I decorated this little guy just before we went to Hawaii so I would have something bright to greet me when I came home. It was nice. Ribbon fish purchased from a gift shop in Hanapepe in Kauai on the last trip over.

My fuzzy chicken. He is so cute.

Happy Spring!

Yeah for Easter and Conference Weekend and Eating and not doing anything I don't want to do!

Or something like that. I have a lot of things to unwind from this week and I am anxious to get started! Spring, Easter, Conference, all things to help me regroup, remember and rediscover why I love this life and living it. I am upholding my tradition of working on some quilts. I tied these two a while back but I can't find the newer photos so these are the pre-tied photos. I 'm going to bind the edges and they will be ready to take their place amongst the others.

I found four old quilt tops at a local shop and have enjoyed finishing them up. I hope the quilter who peiced them together would be pleased. Hopefully I will have the finished photos soon!

So, the good news is...

I have four days off from work.

Tomorrow I am meeting a friend I love to look at her newest quilt projects.

Tomorrow I am also meeting with my new RS Meeting Coordinator, a lady I also love.

I am going to work out and read my scriptures and prepare myself to have a wonderful conference weekend.

I have two quilts to bind off during sessions- yay!

I have another quilt to start.

I'm cooking lamb for Easter and my menu is delicious.

Dickie and I are looking forward to some quiet time.

Dickie is going to get my bike down because the streets are clear enough to ride.

Dickie is going to sweep all the nasty winter crud out of the garage!!!

On Tuesday when I arise to face a new week I will be a new person with a new purpose and a new attitude! If not, oh well, I'm not so bad the way I am. hehe

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend as well. Happy Easter!