Thursday, February 12, 2009

Daniela...beating Haim's record of trouble making in the army!


Haim was a BIG trouble maker in the army...our niece however, is trying to best him! Within 6 hours of her arrival she was already in...well not jail, but more or less "grounded" for refusing the work to which she has been assigned for the next 2 years. I'm sure she'll work it out...she and 9 other girls are having a stand-off with the army...hmmmm, who will win? The army or a bunch of teenage girls? It could be 2 VERY LONG years for her! I made her some chocolate chip banana bread, which she said was devoured in a matter of minutes...this is the recipe, adapted from Martha Stewart.

  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature, plus more for pan
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups unbleached flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup mashed very ripe bananas
  • 1/2 cup sour cream (though I've been using "ski" cheese - smooth and creamy, with a consistency similar to sour cream- in Israel and it's worked wonderfully)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 bar dark chocolate, finely chopped (butterscotch chips are fab too)
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan; set aside. In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, and beat to incorporate.
  2. Put flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl (sorry baking gods, I hardly EVER mix) and add to the butter mixture. Mix until just combined. Add bananas, sour cream, and vanilla; mix. Stir in chocolate, and pour into prepared pan.
  3. Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Let rest in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool.

No comments: