Thursday, January 6, 2011

FOR TODAY
Outside my window...I see the steeple of the Catholic Church against a backdrop of a very gray sky. The rain is coming down heavily and the leaves on my green bush are blowing in the wind.

I am thinking...nothing in particular. I just have a sense of contentedness that mostly everything is okay.
I am thankful for ...a phone call from the nursing home where mom will soon reside.

From the kitchen...there is banana-pear bread in the oven and dough for buns rising in the bowl.

The finished buns. I used mostly whole wheat flour.


I am wearing... my nightgown. I haven't had a shower yet but will soon do so.

I am creating...nothing yet. I will figure out whether to make something knitted or crochet but there is no rush.

I am going...to run some small errands in the neighbourhood.

I am reading...a novel by Vikram Seth entitled A Suitable Boy.  I started it some time ago and put it aside due to busyness and other priorities. I've decided to begin again as I hardly remember what I read.
I am hoping.. I will have enough energy to continue work around the house over the next few days.

I am hearing...the vacuum cleaner outside my condo. The custodian is hard at work. He does a great job of vacuuming daily.
Around the house...I see evidence of my decluttering project. Some things are organized and some are not but I am making progress.

One of my favorite things...is having something in the oven made from scratch. Later I will make some salmon chowder.
A few plans for the rest of the week I will continue to make progress on my decluttering project and try to take in a water aerobics class or a swimming lesson Friday.

For Inger - My banana-pear bread. I used mostly whole wheat flour as that is the only flour I have on hand.

Nola, a new reader of my blog has asked for the recipe for the banana-pear bread so here it is.

Ingredients

  • 3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed
  • 1 chopped and mashed bartlett pear  (I only used 3 bananas so I added a pear but at other times I have used an apple)
  • 1/3 cup melted butter
  • 1 cup sugar (I reduced mine to 1/2 cup and it was still a bit too sweet)
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour (I used 1 cup of whole wheat and 1/2 of white flour)

Method

Mash the bananas and shred the pear in a food processor (or you can cut it into smaller chunks).  Then in a large bowl add the melted butter into the mashed bananas and pear. Next add the sugar, egg, and vanilla into the bowl and mix. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in. Add the flour last and mix. Pour mixture into a buttered 4x8 inch loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour in a 350 F oven or until done. Cool on a rack. Remove from pan and slice to serve.

This is my first time joining this meme. Please check it out.

21 comments:

Inger said...

What a lovely way to write a post. A banana-pear bread? I've never heard of it but it sounds delicious. I'm purging files and going through things too. I'm glad if you have found a good place for your mother.--Take care, Inger

Joyful said...

Hello Inger, thank you for your lovely words. They mean a lot. I often make banana bread because my bananas get overripe before I've eaten them all. If I don't have quite enough bananas I will add an apple or a pear to make up the difference. So glad you are making progress on your paperwork too! Isn't it a great feeling?

Just Ramblin' said...

Hi! I am new to your blog. Just took a chance when I added my name to the Simple Woman's Daybook list. I enjoyed reading your blog and now am very curious to know if you would share your recipe for banana/pear bread. I made pear bread for the first time at Christmas. Your bread sounds and looks wonderful. Nola

Joyful said...

Hi Nola, thank you for dropping by. I'm delighted you enjoyed my blog and that you are curious about the banana-pear bread. I will edit my blog post so you and others will know what goes into it. Let me know if you try it :-)

Jan said...

That is a lovely start to your Daybook posts, Joyful.
I'm sure many friends will enjoy the Banana-pear bread.... Must admit many of the recipes I see have a lot of sugar, and it is great to know that the sugar can be reduced in this recipe without spoiling the bread.
Trusing all going well with your Mother.
Love and Blessings,
Jan

Joyful said...

Hi Jan, thank you for the vote of encouragement about the new meme. I've often seen the template at your blog and so enjoy your posts in this way. I've tried differing amounts of sugar in the banana bread and am quite shocked to discover that using even half of the amount is still too sweet for me. I can't imagine using a whole cup as per the recipe. Mom has her up and down days. Thanks for asking.

OneStonedCrow said...

Welcome back to the blogosphere Penny - I like your approach - no pressure ...

This and your previous post remind me that i too have a lot of uncluttering to do ...

Bossy Betty said...

So many lovely things and thoughts here today!

Rhonda said...

hello, I have not been too steady in the blogging dept. either, real life just keeps me either busy or tired :)
your breads both look delicious!

I always enjoy reading the memes like you did, but I've never done one myself. Maybe I will in the future.

Hope everything is well with you

Kilauea Poetry said...

Sounds good to me..I love fresh bread or quick bread! Looks yummy too..I haven't had a pear in quite awhile. Wonder what you would use to replace it? I'm curious as to how a pear would taste?
A good kind of busy and satisfaction..must be mixed with your mom but I understand.
Well hope you have a great weekend.

Joyful said...

One Stoned Crow, thank you for your visit. I agree the no pressure approach to goals/resolutions/dreams is the best approach. I wish you a lot of success with the decluttering. I'm still making progress.

Joyful said...

Bossy Betty, thanks for your visit. You always make my day :-)

Joyful said...

Rhonda, I know what you mean about real life keep you too busy for blogging. It happens that way sometimes and other times, we have all the time in the world (and interest) in blogging. Thank you for your compliment on the breads.

Joyful said...

Kileaua Poetry, a pear tastes great! lol. If you don't like regular pears for eating have you ever tried an asian one. They are crunchy but mild in taste...not too sweet. If you don't have a pear to add to the banana bread, try an apple.

Mrs. W said...

What a lovely Daybook thank you so much for sharing. I haven't put pears in my banana bread I usually put chocolate chips and nuts. I will have to try your recipe some time. Warmest Regards, Heather

Joyful said...

Hi Heather, thank you for your visit. I love chocolate chips and nuts in my banana bread too but have been experimenting with apples and pear this past few months. Try it when you have time and let me know how you like it.

Joyful said...

Bossy Betty, thanks for your visit. You always make my day :-)

Joyful said...

Sounds good to me..I love fresh bread or quick bread! Looks yummy too..I haven't had a pear in quite awhile. Wonder what you would use to replace it? I'm curious as to how a pear would taste?
A good kind of busy and satisfaction..must be mixed with your mom but I understand.
Well hope you have a great weekend.

Joyful said...

Welcome back to the blogosphere Penny - I like your approach - no pressure ...

This and your previous post remind me that i too have a lot of uncluttering to do ...

Joyful said...

Hello Inger, thank you for your lovely words. They mean a lot. I often make banana bread because my bananas get overripe before I've eaten them all. If I don't have quite enough bananas I will add an apple or a pear to make up the difference. So glad you are making progress on your paperwork too! Isn't it a great feeling?

Joyful said...

Hi! I am new to your blog. Just took a chance when I added my name to the Simple Woman's Daybook list. I enjoyed reading your blog and now am very curious to know if you would share your recipe for banana/pear bread. I made pear bread for the first time at Christmas. Your bread sounds and looks wonderful. Nola

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