Improvisation Smoothie

The smoothie itself isn't exactly that innovative, but the fact that I was really craving bananas and my blender was incapacitated led to a little creative problem solving. Fortunately my trusty mini-prep food processor was beckoning from the shelf. It can't handle liquids all that well so I had to retool my original milk-heavy smoothie plan. But in the end its hitting the spot and giving baby Delia a nice protein boost for our closing shift at work.

2 very ripe bananas
2 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
1/2 cup nonfat plain greek yogurt

As you'll notice from the picture the mini processor can't exactly handle chopping ice either, so I just threw a few cubes in to pulse it around and cool down the mixture.

Babies Are Not Fruit

Date Walnut Bread

When I told the boy I'd be going on a crazy baking spree he made two requests of me; Banana Nut Bread and Date Walnut Bread. One of his favorite childhood snacks was date bread with cream cheese. I don't think I've ever had date bread let alone made any. I looked at a couple of recipes and decided to make something up on my own. I'm pretty darn pleased with how it turned out, but we'll have to see what Jim thinks when he gets home.

8 oz Pitted Dates
2 navel oranges zested and juiced
2 tablespoons Bourbon
2 eggs
4 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon clove
1 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
3 tablespoon butter
1 1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup water

Preheat oven to 325F.

Roughly chop the dates and place in sauce pan with orange juice and bourbon and bring to a simmer for five minutes, remove from heat.

Cream butter and sugar together. Add in eggs, orange zest, dates and vanilla. Mix together.

In a seperate bowl mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, and spices.

Add dry ingredients to egg mixture. Slowly add in water to thin batter. Add in walnuts.

Place batter in two greased loaf pans. Cover with tinfoil and place in the oven for 30 min. Uncover and bake for 40 more minutes.

This makes two very large loafs.

A Small Introdction

I should start at the beginning and mention that I, in fact, am not Delia. I am, however, growing Delia in my belly. So not only am I in the kitchen with little Delia, I'm everywhere with her. She is now 5 months along and I'm at the point in pregnancy where one actually becomes a functioning human again. I thought now would be a good time to restart one of my passions; baking. While I've got her with me constantly I'll start learning all those recipes that remind me of my grandma and creating new family recipes of my own. If nothing else, this will serve as a place to keep recipe notes where I can't possibly lose them. And so it begins...