my signature banana bread

We have not seen sun in like.....a million days.

The gloomy cold weather is starting to get to me. I've been feeling pretty lethargic, low energy, and confidence deprived, and overall a little down the past few days.  This week I am going to try to boost myself back to motivation and energy by

-running OUTSIDE for endorphins and fresh air (it's never "too cold," you're just not wearing enough layers)

-taking my vitamins especially D

-eating extra clean and healthy foods for energy

-going to bed as early as possible

I have started by baking a loaf of my absolute favorite banana bread, which is sweet enough to satisfy cravings for cozy comfort foods (for me, comfort food=baked goods) without being overly sugary.  In fact, I think it's pretty downright healthy, especially with some added chocolate antioxidants, right?  I've made this recipe about 5 times now, and it has turned out terrific every time. Oh, and there are no eggs so you can eat the batter without fear!

Anna's Signature Banana Bread

(based off this recipe)

Ingredients
-1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
-1/2 cup white whole wheat flour
(Note: use a total of 1.5 cups of whatever flours you have, such as a whole wheat/all purpose combo.)
-1/4 c. ground flax meal (Bob's mill)
-1 t. salt
-1/2 t. baking soda
-1/2 t. nutmeg
-3 ripe mashed bananas
-1/3 cup LOOSELY packed brown sugar (more or less; bananas make it pretty sweet)
-1/2 cup plain or vanilla yogurt (if using vanilla, omit brown sugar)
-1/4 cup canola oil
-1 t. vanilla


Optional: walnuts or chocolate chips for topping


Combine dry ingredients (first 6) in a medium bowl.  In a larger bowl, mix mashed bananas with sugar, yogurt, oil, and vanilla.  Dump dry ingredients into wet ingredients and mix until JUST combined (there can still be some swirls of dry ingredient).  Scoop into a greased bread pan and optionally sprinkle walnuts and/or choco chips on the top and mix them into the batter a bit (I did half and half to accommodate different "taste preferences").  Bake at 325* F for 65-75 minutes. (Check at about an hour).

january

[Lake Chelan, WA 2008]

 It is super cold here in Pennsylvania. So much for a dry mild La Nina winter...

This weekend has been spent mainly on thesis work. Yup that is my life, so get used to me freaking out about it, because it is the main thing on my mind. I have so much data to analyze still before I can even write the darn thing, and my first format review deadline is in one month. Waaaaa!!! I feel super comfortable whipping through fancy schmancy Excel functions at least. I am trying to keep things in perspective because it WILL all get done.  

This week I am loving this recipe

Achy from Jillian's Six Week Six Pack. If you are looking for a great indoor workout DVD, this one is worth the $8. She will shred you.

Excited about my newest cookbook (aaa I get too excited about cookbooks, it's becoming an addiction)

Burning lots of yummy tropical candles and pretending I don't live in the Allegheny tundra.

i just want to go back to the sunny forest

I have officially started to write my thesis.

Doesn't that sound mysteriously academic and intimidating?

[photos from fieldwork]

winter at the farm

My grandma lives on a small farm in eastern Iowa, which has been surrounded over the years by neighborhoods and development but still provides an overgrown pine grove and fields and pastures where my sister and I spent our childhoods playing make-believe.  This Christmas while we were there we were blasted with a fluffy snowstorm, which turned the place into a magical wonderland.  The beauty of snow maybe makes up for horrendous winter driving.

sweet potato coconut curry soup

I am obsessed with soup right now. It is like a winter version of a salad, warm but healthy and the perfect accompaniment to corn bread or biscuits. Soup is also very easy to make--just dump a bunch of veggies and broth in a pot and cook them for a while.  I found this recipe in my "recipe binder" where I have been stashing all the good looking recipes I find in magazines and blogs since college.

If you like coconut, you will be just as in love with this soup as I am.

Sweet Potato Coconut Curry Soup

(adapted from an old Shape magazine)

Ingredients:

-2 sweet potatoes

-half a can (~3/4 cup) light coconut milk

-2 1/2 cups vegetable broth (or one can broth and 1/2 cup water)

-one red pepper, diced

-one can beans (I used kidney beans)

-2 t. curry powder

-two huge handfuls of spinach

-cilantro

-salt

Wash the sweet potatoes, stab with a fork to vent (yourself and the potato lol), microwave 5-8 minutes or until soft.  USE A POTHOLDER to remove sweet potatoes, slice in half and scoop the insides into a medium to large pot.  Add the coconut milk and mash together until the potatoes are sort of smooth.

Add the vegetable broth, red pepper, beans and curry powder and heat over medium heat for 5-10 minutes. 

Stir in the spinach and heat until it wilts. Add salt to taste.

Ladle into bowls and garnish with chopped cilantro.

hello, 2011

 

 [scenes from New Years in my family's basement]

Here we are, already into the second week of the new year.

Seriously???!!!

I feel like 2011 is going to be a happy one.

I am definitely happy to be back in my little cozy cave apartment, after a nerve-wracking drive back across the Midwest from IL to PA. We had our own personal blizzard cloud literally tracking us along the entire stretch of I-80, which was not being plowed or salted. Ugh I am SO scared of driving in snow and ice. 

Ben has moved into his very own apartment, since my place is way too small for two people. I spent the weekend deep-cleaning and organizing all the stuff that hasn't really been moved since I arrived here in August 2009. It feels amazing to have a clean, semi-organized space. 

This week I am starting my last semester of grad school, which is kind of scary but exciting at the same time. I haven't made any official New Year's "resolutions" but I do have some goals that I would like to accomplish, as well as goals that I HAVE to accomplish (or else!!), including

-finish thesis ...a second category goal

-present thesis at the AAG's (geography conference) in Seattle

-maintain a clean and organized space to live and work

(including cleaning the kitchen every night)

-sew a cute gym bag

-start running regularly again

-blog more recipes

-apply for jobs (aaaaa!!)

-land an amazing job in a fun place to live

-MOVE and start life in the "real world"

If anyone has connections to someone who would like to hire a biologist/geographer specialized in fire ecology, resource management, forest dynamics, and many other things please let me know...

I am trying to project self-confidence, optimism, and excitement towards all the unknowns coming up in my life this year, and not stress out too much.  I can't wait to find out what my next step will be, and am so grateful to have Ben with me to keep me grounded and happy. Bring it on, 2011. I am ready for you.