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Maple-Date Banana Bread

Happy Thanksgiving!  Do you have your stretchy pants ready?  Marshmallows for the sweet potatoes?  Tofurkey roast defrosting?  Oh, who am I kidding?  Of course you do.  After all, Thanksgiving dinner is the meal we’ve all been preparing for all month, isn’t it?  You don’t need me to tell you what to have for dinner tonight.  But… have you considered Thanksgiving breakfast?  I mean, that is, if you’re not fasting in preparation for the big meal.  If you’re looking for some last-minute easy but festive breakfast to fuel you up for the Turkey Trot or the parade-watching… well, look no further, friends.  I have one.  This is a simple, but moist and delicious, banana bread.  It’s literally ready in two shakes of a turkey’s tail.  And it’s basically fat-free and sweetened with nothing but maple syrup and fruit.  So there ya go, you can feel good about indulging in a slice of this bad boy.

See you at the Turkey Trot!

Maple-Date Banana Bread

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose or white whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup applesauce
1/2 cup maple syrup
2 large eggs
1/2 cup diced dates
2 medium-large bananas, mashed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • In large mixing bowl, whisk together dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt).  Set aside.
  • In small mixing bowl, beat together applesauce and maple syrup until combined.  Beat in eggs one at a time, then beat in chopped dates, mashed banana, and vanilla extract, one ingredient at a time.
  • When wet ingredients are thoroughly mixed, add to dry ingredients and fold together until just combined.  Transfer to loaf pan and bake for between 1 and 1 1/4 hours.  Remove from oven when a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out almost clean (there will probably be a little bit of banana stuck to it; don’t worry about that).  Allow to cool slightly before slicing and serving (if you can!).

Source: Loosely adapted from How To Be A Domestic Goddess, by Nigella Lawson (Amazon link for convenience only; I am not an affiliate).

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Bull Run Mountain

I’d been wanting to hike Bull Run Mountain for years.  It’s out in Manassas, Virginia, not far from the Civil War battlefield, but less touristy.  In fact, hubby – who is usually hip to all the worthwhile hikes in northern Virginia, had never even heard of it.  Still, he was on board the moment I told him where we were going this weekend… because I saved Bull Run Mountain for a special occasion: a surprise hike for hubby’s birthday.  And it was the perfect hike to celebrate with – quiet, but not deserted, just challenging enough, and with a payoff of great views at the top.  We’ll be back for sure.

 Happy birthday, handsome!

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Armchair Traveler

Yesterday at work we got to talking about what we’d do if we won the lottery or somehow came into oodles of cash.  And that conversation turned into a discussion of what we are most inclined to drop large chunks of change on.  One co-worker loves shoes, another jewelry.  For my part, I confessed that I’d most likely spend my money on experiences – especially travel experiences.  No one was really surprised – after all, I did just hop a plane to England a month ago.  And to France the year before that.  Yes, travel – especially European travel – is definitely my weakness and what I like to daydream about.  In fact, I think that if I suddenly came into wealth, I’d live pretty much as I do now – which is to say, well within my means – but I’d travel a lot more.

Sadly, however, I am not loaded.  I can afford one spectacular vacation and a few shorter weekend getaways a year – both in terms of dollars and in terms of time away from work.  But that doesn’t mean my mind is always in NoVA.  Far from it.  In between trips, I tide myself over by reading travel books… and I have a few favorites, which I am now going to tell you about.  I’m wordy that way.

A Year In Provence, by Peter Mayle – This has to be my favorite travel book of all time.  I read it for the first time when I was actually in Provence, and I laughed my head off at the antics of the locals (that goat race? sublime) and at Mayle’s struggles to renovate his house.  I read it whenever I want to feel the warm Provencal sun on my face – even in the depths of winter.

Encore Provence, by Peter Mayle – Can you tell I like Peter Mayle?  (I would also recommend Toujours Provence, by guess who, but that might be overkill.)  In this volume, Mayle and his wife return to the south of France after several years away and hijinks ensue.  And after reading about the intrigue-riddled truffle trade, you’ll really cherish that bottle of truffle oil we all know you’re hiding in your pantry.

My Life in France, by Julia Child – I think my journey to France began when I read Julia’s memoir of her time there, a year before I actually went.  Julia chats about Paris, Marseille, food, and her social circle in post-war France.  It is magnificent and so much better than Julie and Julia.  If the movie had just been based on My Life in France, I’d have been thrilled.

My Love Affair with England, by Susan Allen Toth – You knew England would turn up sooner or later in this list, didn’t you?  I’ve loved this book since high school, when I read it to escape before I’d ever been to England.  It’s warm, funny, personable, but honest.

A Year in the World, by Frances Mayes – The author of Under the Tuscan Sun explores the concept of home as she trots around the globe.  Her chapter on Andalusia is marvelous and her description of a Scottish garden planted the seed of going to Scotland long before I’d ever been.

Notes from a Small Island, by Bill Bryson – Hilarious depiction of England and its people from the perspective of a long-time resident outsider, this book is part memoir, part travel guide, part goof.  No one is safe around Bryson – he skewers everyone, including himself, with his trademark wit.  My favorite part?  When Bryson goes shopping with his English wife, spends two hours wandering around lost, and then miraculously ends up right where she told him to meet her, at the proper time, too – and then acts offended when the Mrs. is surprised.

That’s just a selection of my own personal favorites.  What about you – any favorite travel books?

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Pumpkin Mac ‘n Cheese

I’ll just say this up front: I’m already married.  Sorry, boys.

That out of the way, here’s how you can handle your disappointment – make this macaroni and cheese recipe.  It’s a keeper (like me).  See, every week I ask hubby if he has any special meal requests before we go grocery shopping.  Usually he doesn’t, but this week he asked for my baked macaroni and cheese.  I said sure, and was all set to make it, when at the last minute I decided it would be fun to add pumpkin to the mix.  I asked hubby if he minded, and he was surprisingly enthusiastic about the idea.  And let me tell you guys, it was GOOD.  The pumpkin makes the sauce extra creamy, and you don’t need quite as much cheese as in the original recipe.  It’s almost healthy!  Okay, that’s a stretch.  But it’s fun to have mac ‘n cheese now and again, and if your family includes it as a side at Thanksgiving – mine doesn’t – consider making this pumpkin version for a little extra-Pilgrimmy flair.  Shoe buckles not included.

Pumpkin Mac ‘n Cheese

1 box short pasta, such as macaroni or tubetti
kosher salt
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/3 cup beer (or dry white wine)
1 2/3 cups milk
1 14-ounce can pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
1 block cheddar, grated
pinch nutmeg
1 1/2 tablespoons thyme
freshly ground black pepper
panko breadcrumbs
freshly grated Parmesan cheese
extra-virgin olive oil

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Fill medium-sized pot with water and bring to a boil.  Salt generously and add pasta.  Cook until pasta is just al dente, drain and set aside.  Return empty pot to burner and turn heat to medium.
  • In pasta pot, melt butter.  Add flour and whisk vigorously until mixture is bubbly.  Add beer and milk and stir until sauce thickens and becomes a smooth bechamel.
  • Add pumpkin to bechamel sauce and stir until completely smooth.  Melt in grated cheese, then add nutmeg, thyme and pepper to taste, and stir to combine well.
  • Return pasta to pot and mix thoroughly until pasta is completely coated with cheese sauce.  Pour pasta into large casserole dish and spread evenly.
  • Sprinkle panko breadcrumbs over top of pasta and add grated Parmesan (you be the judge of how much you want!).  Drizzle top with olive oil and bake for 30-35 minutes.

Source: Adapted from recipe here, which was adapted from Williams-Sonoma Savoring America (Amazon link for convenience only; I’m not an affiliate).

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My Second Home

I love libraries.  Having access to a good library is a huge quality-of-life thing for me.  Let’s face it, without the library I’d probably be flat broke and chewing on book pages instead of organic vegetables.  I grew up going regularly to my town’s library, which was satisfyingly stocked with Agatha Christie mysteries and Pearl S. Buck novels.  (Note to self: re-read The Good Earth, preferably soon.)  And I think I might have been the only kid to actually borrow from my junior high and high school libraries.  I was weird that way.  College and law school were an embarrassment of riches on the school library front, and when I got married and moved out to Arlington, Virginia, I had the pleasure of belonging to a really world class public library.  In fact, when hubby and I left Arlington to move into our forever house, one of the few things I was sad about was leaving the Arlington library.  But I’ve found a new home in Sherwood Regional Library, one of the outer branches of the Fairfax County library system… a small branch, yes, but with a great collection and the ability to get me pretty much any book I might want from another Fairfax County library if it’s not at my home branch (which has only happened once – I can almost always find whatever book I want right in the stacks).  I find I have grown to feel really at home at Sherwood – it’s cozy, and they keep me in books.  What more could a girl want?  And since I’m there on pretty much a weekly basis, I’m shocked I haven’t shown you guys around yet.  Let’s have a look, shall we?

This sign stands right outside the main doors to welcome you.  It makes me grin every time I see it, because I am truly proud and happy to call Fairfax County my home.  I love the beautiful natural surroundings, the friendly people, and all the great community resources – and it’s getting better all the time.  I particularly love Fairfax County because hubby and I chose to make our home here.  I love being an adult and being able to live wherever I want, and this is definitely where I want to live.  But I digress.  Let’s go inside…

First view upon walking in the doors – the information desk and a central well with desks and computers, and the shelves extending out in a U shape.  (Sorry for the not-great picture quality.  I had my camera on the wrong setting and didn’t realize it at first.  I figured I’d already made myself obtrusive enough with my gigantic dSLR so I didn’t want to re-shoot.)

Is there anything better than the sight of full bookshelves?  Especially when they’re library bookshelves?  Hello, library books.  I’m Jaclyn.  You probably know me as That Girl Who Hangs Out Here Every Saturday.  Don’t worry, I’ll take you all home in turn.  All in good time, my wordy little friends.

I can usually be found here, in the fiction section (or a few shelves over, in the mystery section, rifling through the Alexander McCall books).

And I almost always stop off here, too – at the Holds shelf.  This is where all those shiny, sought-after new releases wait for the lucky, patient people who have been inching their way up the waiting lists.  I’m on the waiting list for at least seven books at all times, so I almost always have something fun on this shelf.  For example, after I snapped this picture I went ahead and snatched up the copy of The Magician King that was waiting for me.  Oh happy day!

Goodbye, lovely lovely Sherwood Libe.  See you next weekend.

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London Acquisitions: Tea Edition

I’m not like other girls.  When I travel, I don’t come home with a bagful of the latest European fashions… silk scarves… even home decor items.  No, when I go to Europe I come home with TEA.  Lots and lots and LOTS of TEA.  That’s just how I roll.  Wanna see what I got?

 

Sweet France from TWG Tea

 

Magic Moment from TWG Tea

 

Strawberry Black from Harrods

 

English Breakfast from Harrods

 

Royal Tea from Whittard of Chelsea (couldn’t resist)

 

Assam Harmutty Tips from Whittard of Chelsea

Now who wants to come help me drink all of this?

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Four Shame

I’m almost ashamed to tell you guys this, but if I can’t come clean to my three blog readers, then to whom can I come clean?  (Grammar.  Embrace it.  Fear it.)

I’ve been a bad reader.  I’ve been flighty and flaky.  I’ve become… a bookslut.  (Ahem, Mom, that just means I have lots of books on the go, not that I’ve been reading D.H. Lawrence or flirting with male librarians.  I swear I haven’t flirted with a librarian since college.)  After an incredibly focused month of book monogamy in October, I currently have FOUR… count ’em, 1, 2, 3, FOUR… books on the go.  And I’m beginning to despair of ever finishing any of them.

Here’s what I’m reading now…

As Always, Julia – Loving this collection of letters between Julia Child and Avis DeVoto.  I started it before England and have been enjoying every minute.  If only I could stop getting distracted by new shiny books.

Night and Day, by Virginia Woolf – Started in London, still plodding along.  Would really love it if I didn’t keep wandering away.

The Lantern, by Deborah Lawrenson – Waited several months for my turn to take this new release out of the library.  It’s one of the new shiny books that’s distracted me from the above.  Bad Jac.  Like I said, flakey.

The Age of Innocence, by Edith Wharton – Chalk this one up to my apparent A.D.D.  I was reading Night and Day in London and thought, “When I get back to the Colonies and finish this up, I think I’ll be in the mood for some Edith Wharton.”  (Yes, I really think these thoughts.  Yes, I am super cool and have tons of friends.  Thank you for asking.)  So I got back to the Colonies all right, but I couldn’t wait until I finished Night and Day to dive into The Age of Innocence.  I was just too excited.  This despite the fact that I’ve had The Age of Innocence on my bookshelf for, literally, YEARS, and never even blinked at it before.  I guess I needed to be deep into a book about London in order to care about Old New York.  This is the twisted way my mind works, people.

What to do, what to do?  I know one thing’s for sure: I cannot, repeat, cannot, start any new books or I might not actually finish anything this month.  Hold me to this, people.  No.  New.  Books.  Until I finish all four of these.  Or until my other current library book (The Girl in the Garden by Kamala Nair) is due back.  I got that one off the waiting list too and can’t return it.  I like to live on the edge.  But seriously, guys, I need you to hold me accountable.  If you see me with a book in my hand, and it’s NOT one of the above, please take it gently out of my hands and then punch me in the face.  Thanks.  I’m counting on you.

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How To Choose A Thanksgiving Wine

If you’re hosting Thanksgiving this year… or throwing a holiday dinner party of any kind… or having the boss-man over before your end of the year performance evaluation… odds are you’re giving some serious thought to the wine.  Even if it’s not normally your beverage, you might be wanting to impress everyone with your fabulous taste in grape juice.  And you may be wondering, where to begin?  How do I go about picking that perfect wine to go with the turkey (or Tofurkey, as the case may be)?

Fear not, friends.  Drunken messybaker has tips for you.  Oh, happy day!

First off, you need to settle an important question.  What’s the main course?  If you’re hosting Thanksgiving, you’re probably roasting up a turkey.  The conventional wisdom says that you should serve a white wine – preferably Chardonnay – with turkey.  And while Chardonnay is fine, it’s certainly not mandatory.  What you want is to find a wine that will stand up to your main course without overpowering it.  Chardonnay is often the choice when it comes to white wines to serve with poultry, especially in the colder months, because it does have the body to pair with turkey, and its aromas – often toast, butter, or vanilla if it’s oaked, or lemon, apple and pear if it’s not – tend to complement the flavors most people associate with turkey and the Thanksgiving meal.  So if you want to pour Chardonnay, by all means, go for it.  Pick a nice Sonoma wine – I love the Chardonnay wines from the Russian River Valley and Los Carneros – or be a little exotic and pour a white Burgundy.

But I don’t like Chardonnay, you say?  It’s boring?  Okay, that’s fine.  (I happen to disagree, but there are plenty of people who are anti-Chard, probably because they’ve had too much mediocre stuff.  Sometime I’ll do a post about that.)  You don’t have to pour Chardonnay.  If you want to stick with white, you just need to make sure that you’re picking a wine with enough power and heft to match with turkey – so that rules out most Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio.  But you might always consider a lesser-known white varietal… like Viognier.  Just as “big” as many Chards, but a bit sweeter and fruitier, Viognier is the unofficial official wine of Virginia.  Since I’ve moved here I’ve come to love it, and it’s definitely worth consideration for your Thanksgiving table.  Plus, you’ll get the bonus of looking erudite and sophisticated by choosing a wine that half your dinner guests haven’t heard of.  Swirl on, my pretentious friends, swirl on.

Ah, but wait.  What if you don’t like white wine at all?  (That’s not crazy, Mom.  Some people don’t.)  Are you stuck swirling your water glass all evening?  I say… NO!  Now this might be sacrilege to some, but I don’t see any reason why you can’t pair turkey with a red wine.  You just need to pick carefully.  In this case, you’ll be doing the opposite analysis.  Unlike white wines, which you’d be evaluating to make sure they have enough body to stand up to a rich roasted  turkey  Tofurkey, if you’re going for a red you want one on the lighter-bodied end of the spectrum.  A big Cab or meaty Merlot is going to be too much for your poor little bird (or Field Roast!) to handle.  Steer toward a light, fruity Pinot Noir – I love the choices from, again, the Russian River Valley, or from Oregon.  Or go for a fruity Rhone red.  The key is to find a red wine with relatively low tannins and a good fruity character.  (Some of the Rhones are like jam in a glass.  You can tell people that they’re the alcoholic version of cranberry sauce.)  Sure, the establishment will gasp and say that you NEVER, NEVER serve red wine with turkey, but who cares what they think?  If that’s what you like, go for it – the only rule of wine pairing that I consider unassailable is that you should drink what you like, and only what you like.  Plus, it’s fun to stick it to the establishment.  That’s what the Pilgrims did… and isn’t Thanksgiving all about the Pilgrims?

Cheers!

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London Acquisitions: Ceramics Edition

You didn’t think I’d go all the way to England and come home without some new tea accoutrements, did you?  Silly rabbit.  I was in the land that invented afternoon tea.  Obviously I needed to bring home a mug or two… and a strainer… and a couple of tea tidies.  You know I love me some tea tidy.

 I planned to buy the Knightsbridge Map mug from Harrods, but when I saw it in person it was just way too big to fit in my backpack.  I was in the midst of shedding a tiny tear when I spied this cutie.  It was still a mug with a map theme, but it was more compact and colorful than the mug I had originally been eyeing.  Sold.

 I’ve been wanting a Cath Kidston mug for years.  I love Cath Kidston and wish it was easier to get their stuff here in the Colonies.  (You can order online from www.cathkidstonusa.com but I’m mildly allergic to paying for shipping.  Evidently I’d rather just buy a plane ticket.  You know, because they cost the same. /sarcasm)  When I saw this little mug, which came in its own (unpictured) tin, I had to have it.  Bonus points for good packaging that made it super easy to transport back across the Pond without breaking it!

 Okay, this isn’t ceramic but I’ve been on the lookout for a nice circle strainer for awhile now.  I loved this pretty one from Harrods – and it comes with a matching tea scoop too!  So cute.

 Tea tidies are such a great souvenir or gift from England – quintessentially English, but also small enough that they barely take up any space in Ye Olde Backpack.  I knew I wanted to get one from Harrods and I was going to go with the classic teapot shape until I saw this English telephone booth version.  My grandpapa loved English telephone booths – he collected them and even had a full-sized one in his backyard (sans phone, much to the chagrin of 16-year-old messybaker).  So it felt like fate.

 Impulse buy from Whittard of Chelsea right here.  I went in to pick up more tea for myself and my bestie R (because we can never have too much tea) and saw this tea tidy.  I see Whittard shops in just about every English town I visit, so it seemed fitting to bring a tea tidy home.  In addition to the tea, of course.  It was my reward for not saying “Whittard!” in a Borat voice to the chic store clerk.  Sometimes I need to bribe myself to act like an adult.

Stay tuned for the second round of London acquisitions coming up next week!  I’m a-gonna show you all the tea I bought.  Because, you know, I needed more tea.

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A Thrifty Challenge

As a foodie… and as someone who loves fresh produce… my grocery bills can get pretty high.  Between the piles of fruits and veg, the nice cheeses that we bring home, and treats like fun spices that somehow find their way into the cart, I often find myself with teeth on edge, wondering how I managed to spend so much money at the grocery store checkout on any given completely normal week.  It also doesn’t help that hubby and I shop at Whole Foods (for the time being, but we’re anxiously awaiting that blessed day when Wegmans opens its next northern Virginia store, which will be tantalizingly close to our house).  All of this combines for some unacceptably high grocery bills.

 I’m not going to give exact numbers, because I prefer to keep financial information off the blog.  Just take it from me when I say that for quite some time now, I’ve been unhappy with my inability to economize at the market.  That’s why I’m getting serious about cutting back.  My lofty goal is to cut my grocery spending IN HALF for the remainder of the year.  (What I mean by that is this: I naturally spend somewhere within a range, say between $A and $B, on a weekly basis.  Each week until December 31st, I am setting a goal to spend within a range of between half $A and half $B.)  I started this goal a few weeks before we left for our vacation and I’m glad to say that so far, so good.  In fact, I’m pleased to report that on our big “return from vacation stock-up” trip, while I was fully expecting to blow the budget, I still came in $25 under my upper range.  Woo to tha hoo!

 This could get interesting.  Here’s what I’m going to do:

  •  Keep the pantry clean, organized, and clutter-free.  I am usually good about keeping an organized pantry, but lately I’ve let it get a bit out of hand.  The first step in cutting back on grocery bills is going to be cleaning out the pantry.  There’s no better way to figure out exactly what I already have!  I’m usually pretty well-stocked on canned and dried beans, brown rice, vegetable stock and soup in cartons, and oats (both old-fashioned and steel-cut).  Part of my money-saving strategy involves using those staples more.
  • Use coupons!  Whole Foods has a page of current coupons – and they’re coupons for things I already buy on a regular basis, like plain Greek yogurt.  Every so often, in a burst of thrifty inspiration, I print a page of coupons (and you can select only those ones that you want to print – so cool) and then promptly lose them.  Not anymore, though.  I’m going to go to the grocery store armed with coupons.  But – and this is a major but – I’m ONLY planning to use coupons for items that I would have bought anyway.  Coupons can cost you more money (and extra pounds on the tush) if you use them for overly-processed foods, like chips, that you wouldn’t have bought without the coupon.  I’m not into buying things just because I have a coupon – but if it’s an item that I buy anyway and I can save a dollar, I’m going for it.
  • Stock up on staples when they’re on sale.  I used to do this all the time when I ate chicken – I would only buy it when the organic chicken was on sale.  If we ran out between sales, we didn’t eat chicken again until the next sale.  But as a vegetarian, I find I’m terrible about this.  I buy the staples I need instead of waiting for sales and then stocking up.  If I need tofu, I buy tofu – even if it’s not on sale.  Same goes for beans.  Last week at the market I started to put this idea into practice – I bought three cans of lentils because they were on sale.  Now I’ve got them in my pantry and I can use them in meals anytime – and the next time I need lentils, I won’t have to buy them full price.  I need to be better about stocking up on staples when they’re on sale, and not buying them when they’re full price.
  • Control myself in the produce department.  My biggest money drain at the market comes from getting too excited about all of the pretty fruits and vegetables and buying way more than hubby and I can eat in a week.  I invariably end up throwing stuff away and it just kills me.  I need to either learn to preserve, or I need to be better about not throwing stuff into the grocery cart just because it looks good.  I have to get real about exactly how much veg two people can actually eat in seven days.
  • Get back in the menu-planning habit.  I used to do this and it did save me some money – although not as much as I’m aiming to save here.  I’ve fallen out of the habit and just gotten into whipping up whatever interests me in the moment, which is fun and all, but it’s an expensive habit that I need to kick.

 So there you have it – my strategy for saving some major cash at the grocery store.  I’ve exempted one item from my money-saving strategy: beer.  I personally don’t drink beer, with the exception of the occasional Blue Moon – the only beer I like.  (I’m such a girl.)  But hubby is into artisan beers, especially IPAs, and they add up.  I’ve spent a lot of time gritting my teeth over the grocery receipt, looking at how much money goes to expensive beers.  But you know what?  It makes him happy.  I could say “no” or tell him he has to reign it in, but I’d be a nag, and I’d be taking away something that he enjoys.  I’m just not willing to do that.  So for purposes of this money-saving challenge, I’m considering beer as a separate item that I won’t count toward the “grocery costs.”

 So there you have it: I’m challenging myself to chop my grocery costs in half for the rest of the year – through December 31st.  And I’m hoping that when I get into 2012, my thrifty strategies will become habits that will continue to save us money.  I’ll report back regularly to let you know how it goes!