Banana Lover's Banana Bread

My husband LOVES banana bread.  I'm pretty sure it has more to do with the fact that I add chocolate chips or peanut butter chips (or both) when I mix it up.  I have been using the same recipe for years and it is always a big hit.  Unfortunately for my husband, I am not one of those people who believes if you should not mess with a good thing.
I came across this recipe on the wide wide world of Pinterest and loved the simplicity.  It is apparently from an eatery known for it's wonderful banana bread and was featured in Bon Appetit.  I had some sketchy bananas so I figured I would give it a try. 
I discovered this loaf browns dramatically while baking (so don't freak out) and is wonderful when eaten fresh from the oven.  It is has a slightly crispy and chewy crust with a densely freckled, cakey interior.  After it cools, you should warm it up in the microwave or even the toaster because it is not as good room temp.
I will say, I found it yummy and much more banana-y than my stand-by recipe, but my husband and little people were not fans.  I don't think the recipe is to blame, clearly it was my fault for not adding chocolate chips...

Banana Lover's Banana Bread

 

 

Ingredients:

Nonstick spray

1-3/4 c. all-purpose flour
1-1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt                                        
3 eggs
1-1/2 c. sugar
1 c. mashed ripe bananas (it took 3 for me)
3/4 c. vegetable oil

Directions:
Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.

Whisk eggs, sugar, bananas, and oil in a large bowl until smooth.

Add dry ingredients to banana mixture and stir just until combined.

Scrape batter into a loaf pan sprayed with nonstick spray and smooth top. 

Bake at 350 degrees until a tester inserted into the center of bread comes out clean, about 60-70 minutes.

Transfer to a wire rack; let bread cool in pan for 15 minutes.

Run a knife around inside of pan to release the bread.

Turn out onto rack and let cool completely.


***I found this recipe here ***



Make It Monday - Sand Casting

When I was planning my family vacation this year, I remembered a fun project I did as a kid, sand casting.  Basically, you make a mold with sand and pour on Plaster of Paris.  When the plaster hardens, it captures some of the sand, giving you a cool, sand dusted form.
I decided to do this on the beach to avoid hauling copious amounts of sand into a rented beach house (you are welcome homeowner).  I will tell you, depending on the beach you are at, the sand will be different affecting how intricate you can be with your mold.  The sand at the Outer Banks is pretty coarse and we could not letter or do small casts.  Feet and hands worked the best for us.  Try it and you will be able to tell if the sand will cooperate.
If you decide to do this at home, buy sand at any home improvement store.  Be sure to get the finest grain they offer, you will get a much more detailed cast.  While you are there, pick up a box of Plaster of Paris, they sell it there too. 
These casts are pretty easy to break, so if you want to keep it FOREVER don't let your kids play with them.

Sand Casting

What you need:

Sand

tray to hold sand (if you are doing this at home)

Plaster of Paris

water

bowl and spoon (metal) to mix plaster

items to make molds of (keep it simple, shells, hands, feet or simply designed items)

 

What you do:



Mix the sand with enough water to make it damp, but not wet.

 

 

Make impressions in the damp sand with items. (Please note, I am using shells in this picture but they did not turn out well, the sand was too coarse.  We will do this project again at home using finer sand and shells.)

 

Mix up the plaster following directions.  Mine was a 4-1 ratio of water to mix.  Add more water if needed to make it pourable.  Pour mix over molds.  Let dry according to package directions.  Mine were ready after an hour. 

 

 

Gently brush off excess sand with a soft brush to reveal your cast!

 

 

***Want another cool kid friendly project?  Check out how to make salt clay.***

Happy Father's Day

Better late then never right?  I spent 11 hours in a car with three small people, then had to unpack, then had to go to the store since said small people act like it's child abuse if there is no milk in our fridge, AND there are still two hours left of the day so I figure I'm still good.  Here is a peek at the reasons my husband gets to celebrate today...

 

RE-DIC-ULOUS.  I know.  I made them.

Tomorrow I will show you how cute they are in their manly picture frame.  Tonight I am too tired to do anything else.