A Family Favorite

Our family consumes a good amount of bananas every week, but when they go past ripe we do not waste! Back in college I used to whip up a loaf of banana bread and Louie loved it... now Bella has experienced this treat and enjoys it just as much!

My banana bread recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 stick of butter (1/2 cup) room temperature
• 1 egg
• 2 or 3 mashed "over ripe" bananas (depending on size)
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1 1/2 cups of flour
• 1 tsp of salt
• 1 tsp of baking soda
• 1/2 cup of your favorite nuts (optional)

Directions: 

1.  Preheat the oven at 350 degrees and grease a loaf pan.
2.  Cream butter and sugar until smooth with a hand mixer.
3.  Add egg and mashed bananas. Blend with creamed butter and sugar.
4.  Gradually add flour then salt and baking soda and blend carefully.
5.  Add nuts (optional).
6.  Pour mixture into greased pan and place in oven.
7.  Bake for 50-60 minutes until brown and inserted toothpick comes out clean.

Enjoyed with a cup of milk and a smile

Mi Bella Famiglia!

This will be an experience for me...

For a few years now, I have wanted to start a blog, but gave the excuse that I never had time. I think at this point I'll never have the time, but I need to make the time. I do not claim to be much of a writer, so excuse the poor grammer and occasional misspellings. Perhaps this will help better my writing skills!


I love the idea of sharing our family experiences with relatives and friends. Life goes by so quickly and everyone is so spread out that we miss opportunities to catch each other up on the "adventures" of our daily lives. If the moments are not recorded, they can be lost from memory...


So what is going on with the Banes family? Let me tell you...


Papa Chef - Is currently working at Seed Kitchen & Bar  as the Pastry Chef. So far, he has enjoyed his experience being the sole pastry creator for this wildly popular up-and-coming restaurant in East Cobb. Check out his latest creation... Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Bar. soooo DELISH! 

In parenting world, Louie is enjoying being a daddy more than he ever imagined. Bella has him wrapped around her finger. They love to snuggle on the couch and watch TV together or get into tickling fits rolling on the floor. I absolutely love seeing them together

Bella Rosa - has been going through a lot of changes the past few months. In June she started going to daycare 2 times a week. A first in her life - she has always been looked after by family till now. This is really a good thing for her, she gets to socialize with other children and they learn basics like numbers, letters, manners, colors. She is so smart and picks up things so fast - it amazes me. Physically she is also changing drastically - she is such a beautiful young lady. She has lovely light brown hair with soft curls, a soft round face and beautiful smile with a dimple on her left cheek.

She admires the Disney princesses and loves to pretend she is one by accessorizing with necklaces, bracelets and handbags... all the while dancing around in the tutu I made her for on her 1st birthday... I love my girly-girl!

This month we transitioned her converted crib/toddler bed into a full size "big girl" bed. I was a little nervous that she would wander around the house if she woke. The first few nights were tough, but she was also dealing with 2 year old molars coming in and she was sick the first few weeks into daycare. Now she is doing wonderfully - she stays in bed the whole night!  Potty training is also another milestone that Bella is experiencing. Ms. Dawn, her daycare "teacher", takes all the children to the bathroom every hour so Bella quickly got the hang of it and so we started seriously potty training her - so far, so good, but it is no 1 or 2 day miracle!

Bella is my precious little girl and I am enjoying every second of these wonderful moments that we share - wouldn't trade these for a thing in the world.

More posts to follow soon!