Sunday, August 31, 2014

Blooms Broom Dairy

My flight did not leave Baltimore until 6:30pm so I had some time to see the sights after my interview.  I was recommended to check out Blooms Broom Dairy for lunch and I had some macroni and cheese, a half sandwich (pulled pork), sweet tea in a mason jar and an extra small ice creme (andes mint), it was all very good.  I love visiting homemade, farm made, places that keep it simple and homemade.  :)  http://www.bbdairy.com/Hours_Location.html





Hampton Inn and Suites Edgewood, MD

I stayed at the Hampton Inn and Suites Edgewood, MD, it was a great place to stay, I wish I could have enjoyed it more, but my rental car issues ended up making me arrive late to my hotel so I checked in after 9pm.  They were very nice and even upgraded my room to a Suite which was huge and nice since I was not even going to be there 24 hours!  But it was quiet, relaxing and they had a excellent hot breakfast.












Maryland

I had a window seat for my plane ride to Maryland and since we had to basically circle the airport waiting to get the okay to land I got some neat photos out the plane window.













Thursday, August 21, 2014

Banana Bread Coffee Crumb Cake

My mom found this recipe on Facebook and wanted me to make her this banana crumb cake, from Cookies and Cups Blog which has a ton of recipes that look delicious.  I did not glaze the cake in the end as directed in the original recipe. The crumb cake came out much to sweet for my liking with 2 cups of white sugar in the banana bread filling and 2 cups of brown sugar in the crumb topping/filling. These pictures aren't the best display of the cake itself.   






Ingredients

3 ripe bananas
2 eggs
1/2 cup butter at room temperature
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup milk
2 cups granulated sugar (Filling very sweet with crumb topping consider reducing to 1-1 1/2 cups)
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 TBS baking powder

Crumb Filling/Topping

2 cups light brown sugar 
2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup cold butter cubed
( There was a lot of crumb mixture I'd reduce to 1 cup of brown sugar and 1 cup of flour next time I make this crumb cake.)

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 9x13 inch pan on the sides and bottom. 
2.  Mix the flour, baking powder, salt, together in a medium bowl and set aside.
3.  In a larger bowl mash together the bananas until they become a liquid.  
4.  Mix in the butter until combined.  Add the eggs, sugar and vanilla and mix well.  
5.  Stir in the flour and milk.  

Crumb topping/Filling
6.  Combine the cold butter cubes, brown sugar and four together in a bowl and use a fork or pastry cutter to form crumb filling.  

7.  Pour half the batter into the 9x13 pan.  Pour 1/2 of the crumb mixture on top of the batter.  
8.  Cover the crumb topping with remaining batter and top with the other 1/2 of the crumb mixture.

9.  Bake 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  
Cool 10 minutes before serving.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Banana Chip Bread

I decided to use my ripe bananas by making banana bread, which I made even better by adding mini chocolate chips.

















1 1/2 cups Unbleached All purpose Flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4-1 tsp Cinnamon
3 medium ripened bananas
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips (or to taste/desired amount)
1/2 cup butter or margarine melted
3/4 cup light brown sugar (packed down)
2 large eggs
1 tsp real vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Oil the sides and bottom of a loaf pan.   Mash bananas in medium bowl.  Add brown sugar.  In another bowl add flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon and mix together, set aside.

2.  Add eggs mix well.   Melt butter or margarine in microwave just until melted.  Add slowly to wet mixture.  Add vanilla extract.

3.  Slowly incorporate dry mixture into wet mixture.  Fold in mini chocolate chips.  Pour into loaf pan.   Bake for 55-75 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean.

Garden Update

Plants are getting bigger but haven't harvested much besides beans, grape tomatoes, kale, swiss chard, peppers and some arugula.


Cucumber and small Spaghetti Squash in container

Basil and Everbearing Strawberries, Green Onions in the back.

Green and Red Winter Kale

c
Celery


Catmint plants (Bailey loves to eat flowers or leaves)



Spaghetti Squash

Garden side view

Garden Front view



 Beets, Brussel Sprouts
 
Brussel Sprouts, Yellow Wax Beans, Grape Tomatoes


Sunflowers

Swiss Chard, Squash, Sunflowers, Nasturtium(hanging pot)
 Cucumber, Swiss chard
 Spaghetti Squash
Onions, Eggplant, Beans