New Year, New Look, New Post, New Me...

2016

A Year of Transitions and New Beginnings 

I am looking forward to a New Year filled with possibilities and new beginnings.  I'm also looking forward to putting 2015 behind me, I have to say it's been an interesting year that's for sure, not one I'd like to repeat anytime soon... I can't even begin to count the many friends, loved-ones of my friends, and family members who were affected in one way or another with life altering events this past year. It proved to be challenging physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually... I felt so bad for everyone around me that it took its toll on my body and life... I was spiraling down a dark hole and couldn't see my way out... I had to constantly remind myself to count each of my blessings... that loss is a part of our life, and instead of mourning their departure, I needed to celebrate their life.

I couldn't take any more loved ones dying, friends being deathly ill or tragic events in our world. Being bombarded from all angles was too much… It all played a huge part in my heaviness and downward internal spiral... On the outside I maintained, but on the inside I was crumbling. Everything I had planned on doing fell behind... I did what I needed to to survive.

Up until September I had been doing my 365 days of art challenge... I was keeping up and marching through most of the heart ache. Then one of my best friends from back-home in Alaska passed away out of the blue dying in her sleep. She and I were close in age, so her dying really effected every aspect of my life.  I didn't find out until the funeral had taken place. I was shattered. So many things I wished I had told her. So many stories that were left hanging, feeling guilty for not being there for her through the end. Everything compiled on each other...  I couldn't breathe or stop crying... I hit my wall!  I needed a break... break from my every day, a break to help heal my broken heart, nothing seemed important...  I couldn't paint one more picture. I let me 365 day challenge go to the wayside in the middle of September. Even though I felt like I had no art left in my,  my body wouldn't allow stopping all together. Painting is a drive from deep within, I just had to switch my medium in order to get my mojo back. I needed to feel grounded so I went to my rocks. I painted my first rock in months in her memory...

Pat Magnusson you are forever loved and cherished.

Most of you who know me know I have a huge rock collection from all over the world... From each place I've visited since I was a little girl. Gifts given to me by my traveling friends.  I have boxes and boxes we have carried with us from our move from Minnesota to Alaska, Alaska to Hawaii, Hawaii to Washington... I've carried a lot of rocks over my shoulders these past 52 years, so has my husband even though he's not as thrilled about it as I am. Thank God he loves me, I don't know too many others who would have done so gracefully without complaint. 
In every home we've lived I've surrounded our home with rocks... from river rock, to huge boulders...  I can't explain my fascination with rock of all origins... I just love each and every one of them. They bring me comfort and have a calming effect on my entire body. Holding them in both hands, feeling their energy, relying on their strength...  it's no wonder why I went to my rocks for comfort and grounding. Not only do I collect them, I have started to paint on them in the last couple years. Living in the Pacific Northwest on the Olympic Peninsula in the Puget Sound... Rocks are in abundance, especially the nice big smooth rocks that easily take pen, marker, and paints. Not only do I find comfort in them, I add the beauty of art combined with my love and energy... It makes for a very special and powerful tool... I call them my Earth Angel Rocks©

Each rock is hand selected from the beaches of the Pacific Northwest in Port Townsend Washington. They are cleaned, drawn, and then hand painted with love.  Each is unique in size, painting and design. All are a one-of-a-kind piece of history. Each tell their own story, grounding you to Mother Earth no matter where you are in this world. They are sealed with an acrylic sealer and are meant for indoor use as they are a piece of art. My hope is that my Earth Angel Rocks bring you a sense of peace, love, and healing energy as it does to me. 

For the past 4 months I have been painting in-between family, baking and holiday events... I can't believe I've managed to paint a rock a day building up a small collection soon to be listed in my Etsy store.  If you can't wait, I also have my Earth Angel Rocks in two local business here in Port Townsend... Soak On The Sound and The Swan Hotel. I'm hoping to add a couple more local places here in the near future. I'll keep you posted when I get new businesses on line. If you'd like to order a custom painted rock... you can send me an email at...  katasee[@]gmail.com (less the brackets) and we can discuss options and price. No job is too big or too small... I'm taking my passion for art and turning it into a small business to help make ends meet...

 There were several other good things about this past year that I am extremely grateful for... My Children came to visit with our new granddaughter last spring. Getting to know your granddaughter is like a gift from heaven... We love our little munchkin, she truly is a gift from the stars above!!! 

 

My youngest son moved back home this past summer to help his parents out and to save some money and continue his education... We are so grateful to have him and his girlfriend around. She has become a part of our family near and dear, I don't know what we would have done without all their daily love, inspiration and help throughout the year. 

Our oldest son and his fiancé moved from Dallas to Port Townsend the same week my girlfriend of 30 years died unexpectedly.  Having them here living with us for a month while they got settled into their new place was a huge blessing... it had been 17 years since my son went out on his own and moved to Minnesota. Getting to know him now as a man warmed our hearts.  Seeing what an amazing kind, giving, gentle, loving, hardworking man he's grown into has made us both so proud of our son.  Having him here for the holidays, and celebrating his 35th birthday was truly a gift unlike any other... Having them here is what kept me sane and moving forward.  My future daughter is a mover and shaker... she is instrumental in getting me to start selling my rocks again... she inspires me with her love and energy daily.

After hitting my wall in September, my sister came for a visit in the beginning of November, another huge blessing! It had been 12 years since we last seen each other...Way too long, that will never happen again!!! We had such an amazing week going through pictures, sightseeing in Seattle, going to the beach even though it was cold, laughing, giggling, and staying up to all hours of the night... We has so much fun, I didn't want her to leave...  Every day I thank my lucky stars for having such an amazing sister.  Thank God for the phone, face-time, and Facebook, it lessens the miles between us. I can't wait to see her again in April for my nephews wedding. I love you my sister!

Thanksgiving we were blessed with a visit from our future in-laws... My son's fiancés dad and step-mom came for a visit... we loved getting to know them and celebrating the holidays with them and my in-laws.  We were so grateful that most of our family were here... it was the first big Thanksgiving dinner I've cooked in 7 years... We did the whole spread in celebration for all being together.... Yet another blessing! I loved every minute of it... well, until I collapsed that night out of pure exhaustion... It was a good exhaustion though, It reminded me I need to get in better shape so I can cook for my loved ones and keep up with my granddaughter...

 December we were again blessed with the visit from our middle son and his wife and daughter, our one and only granddaughter... I never could have imagined anything better then grand kids. With our kids all grown, we kind of got out of the baby way of life. Having a little munchkin here for Christmas brought the magic back in our lives and home. We spent the holiday with our growing family... It was the first holiday in 30 years the entire Quam family were together in one place for a holiday, so of course we had to get pictures... Thank you to all our kids and their loves for making it happen. Getting everyone together at one time, in one place is no easy feat... but they pulled it off. It was a magical Christmas for Scott and I that we will never forget.  We can't wait for their next visit...

2015 has been a year of transition. I'm sure my family and friends share in the sentiment on saying good bye to a year filled with lesson after lesson good and bad, trials, tribulations, loss and heart ache. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't all bad. We had an equal amount of joy, love, laughter, passion and new adventures.   Counting our blessing and living life in gratitude even when life gets tough helps to maintain a balance... Everywhere we look, life is giving us gifts... seeing them, acknowledging them puts a whole new perspective on how we perceive every situation we are faced with... The good always seems to outweigh any negatives life throws at us if we choose to just open our eyes to the possibility. This past year has been an amazing journey into the light I so needed to brighten a darkened path by the loss of so many loved ones. I pray the New Year brings everyone some peace, love, laughter, hope, happy memories and new beginnings... From our home to yours may your new year be full of blessings!

We Have a Winner...♥

Actually we have Two Winners

Due to the high number of entries, I had to pick two winners, 

Congratulations 

Amy and Rhonda (aka Jordan)...

Yahooo.... 

You two are the lucky winners of one of my 

♥ Famous Heart Shaped Banana Breads  ♥ 

Please send me your mailing address in a private email 

And I will send you your Prize....

♥Thank you everyone who entered for a chance to win♥

 

Banana Bread, Muffins & Heart Filled Bundt's

OK, I have a confession to make, when I said I was going to share "My" Famous Banana Bread Recipe, I fibbed a little, it's actually not my recipe, it's my Mother-in-law's recipe. I believe in giving credit where credit is due and I owe her all my credit. I've only made it famous in Alaska amongst my family and friends by serving it at almost every holiday celebration, neighborhood party, school function and holiday gift exchange. It's one of my most requested items that I've made around the holidays each and every year.

In 1987 when my husband and I took jobs in Anchorage Alaska, we up rooted our family and moved away from everything and everyone we had known.  Leaving behind our family and friends just before Christmas made it one of our most difficult holidays ever. In order to try and make my husband and son's feel a sense of home, I called my Mother-in-law back in Minnesota and asked her for her Banana Bread recipe, it's one of my husbands favorites. Knowing that my family loved and missed their Grandma, her cooking, baking and Sunday dinners. I figured it was something I could do to bring a little bit of home to our new life in Alaska.

This is one of those recipes that will fill your heart with joy, bring back wonderful memories, and comfort you in times when your missing your family. It will help create family traditions for years to come as you enjoy making this bread for or with your family members. Over the years I have learned how to perfect my ability to make the best banana bread ever for my husband (we all know a wife can "never" compete with their Mother-in-laws cooking....Right Mom... : ) ...lol... but we sure can try...lol). In doing so, I've created so many wonderful memories for my family and friends.  I hope you will to!

Over the years through trial and error, I've made a couple changes to the recipe, not that it wasn't perfect before...lol.  But... you know me... I can never leave things alone. One, I added more banana's to make the bread more moist, dense and come out perfect every time. Two, I've found different ways to utilize the recipe by making them into smaller loaves, muffins, and heart shaped gifts of love to share with my family and friends.  

My kids love the mini loves and muffins best, they ate them in the morning, afternoon and night, they even took them to school and bartered with their friends.There's nothing better then when your kids friends tell you how much they love your baking. I've even had some of their mothers call for the recipe, saying that I ruined their kids... "Now all they want is your banana bread."  I tell them "I'm sorry" with a huge smile, and offer to email them the recipe...lol

I've learned over the years to double or triple my batches so we have extras in the freezer at all times. It freezes well, ships well and gifts well. It can be served as a brunch appetizer, as a snack, compliment any meal or be a meal in it's self. I always make a fresh batch the minute I have overripe bananas, you never know when you'll need a quick loaf. They also make very cute gifts that everyone loves to receive.

It makes me beam to see others smile and enjoy my baking, to feed them a little bit of my love. Every loaf is made from my heart, blessed by my energy. It give me so much joy to make others feel good. I want to thank my Mother-in-law for her wonderful recipe and gift of love, every time I make a batch I think of her.

Judy's Banana Bread

2 Large Loves

Ingredients:

Sour Milk: Mix 4 teaspoons of Baking Soda and 6 Tablespoons of Whole Milk in a small bowl. Stir and Set a side and let rest.

1 Cup Crisco Shorting (1 stick)

4 Large Eggs

2 Cups Sugar

4 Cups of Flour

9 medium Bananas pealed and blended in a blender. You should have a full pitcher of blended bananas.

In an extra large bowl mix Shorting, Sugar, and Eggs together until well blended and smooth.

Add 1 Cup of Flour to mixture and mix in. 

Pour Sour Milk into Mixture and mix. Be sure to stir well before pouring into mixture.

Add 1/3rd of blended bananas into mixture, mix.

Add another cup of Flour to mixture, mix

Add 1/3rd of blended bananas into mixture, mix.

Add another cup of Flour to mixture, mix.

Add last 1/3rd of blended bananas into mixture, mix.

Add last cup of Flour to mixture, mix. 

Prep your pans whichever your using. When I double or triple my batch, I make several different kinds of breads. I like to make two pans of muffins, two pans of mini loves, and two bundt pans as shown below. You can use regular bread pans or which ever pans you prefer. Spray your pans with a non-stick spray. I use a natural spray, but Pam works well. I've tried to butter my pans, but they tend to burn quicker so I've given up on that method for my banana breads.

Baking Directions:

Bake large loaves @ 350' for 1 hour for two loaves of breads. (start checking at 50min. to prevent burning)

If your making muffins,  fill cups 1/2 full, I use a large cookie scoop, and put one scoop per cup,  and bake for 20 minutes. (being careful not to over bake or they will be dry...not so good.)

If you make bundt pans banana breads, fill pan 1/2 full and bake for 40 minutes, watching to make sure you don't burn your breads. 

If you double the recipe, you can make 2 muffin pans, 2 mini loves pans and 1 heart bundt cake pan.

When I triple the recipe, I can make an additional bundt cake pan.

Once your bread, muffins, or bundt breads are finished baking take out let cool about 15 minutes in the pan then promptly remove from baking pan and allow to cool on a rack. If no rack is available, placing on wax paper works just as well. Be careful not to burn yourself when removing breads from the pan... again, speaking from experience...lol. I use a thin metal spatula to assist and guide breads out of pans and to separate and loosen bread from the pan.

Tips:

1. Follow the steps one by one. By mixing each ingredient as they are listed above allows your bread to take on a different dimension of denseness. When I've added all the ingredients together at the same time, my bread doesn't come out the same. By doing it this way it allows the bananas to be layered into the mixture.

2. To add a variety to your bread, you can add 1 cup of fresh or frozen blue berries per recipe, or a family favorite is adding 1 cup of milk chocolate chips. 

3. It's very important to keep track of the number of Cups of flour you're adding. How I keep track is when I take my first cup of flour, I use my knife and make a 3 in the flour so I don't lose count. with each cup taken, I reduce the number so not to mess up. Or you can keep track with a note pad and pencil or put each cup of flour in separate bowls so you'll know exactly how much flour you have left. Do what ever works best for you. I have on occasion miss counted and  ended up forgetting a cup or adding a cup. If that happens, you can add more bananas if you need to. If you forgot a cup... well... it's really going to be a moist bread...sometimes it wont completely set up... so it's important to keep correct count....speaking from experience....lol... It gets especially tricky when your making a double or triple batch.

4. I prefer to use Pampered Chef stoneware pans for my muffins, breads and mini breads but you can use which ever works best or that you have on hand, but be sure to watch to make sure your bread isn't getting too dark, if it starts to get to brown, quickly remove. Metal pans have a tendency to get darker much quicker, which is why I no loner use them except for my bundt pans which are Nordic ware bundt brand bake ware.  Pampered Chef    

Nordic Ware

5. If your using multiple different kinds of pans such as glass, metal, stone aluminum etc... it's important to bake  "like kind" of pans together such as if your using stoneware and Nordic Ware, I would bake the stone ware first and then the Nordic ware... when you bake with different kinds of products, your baking will be uneven. The stoneware gets much hotter and will make your aluminum pan product burn much quicker. I baked one of my stoneware mini loaves pans with my Nordic ware and a glass bread pan. My glass bread pan became extremely dark and burnt on the corner that was closest to the stone pan. I've tried a couple different scenarios, and had the same issues which made me come to the conclusion to bake them separate.

6. All of my hints are from errors I've made or things I've learned along my journey. If you have any questions, or if you find my teaching method confusing, please send me a note so I can clarify.  This recipe is actually very easy if you take it each step by step. The rewards will be well worth your efforts, I promise!

7. When freezing your breads, I prefer to use Reynolds Heavy Duty Tin Foil for all breads large or small. I store the muffins in a freezer Ziploc and take out what I need and let thaw on a plate. You can  re-warm your bread right in the tin foil wrap if you prefer warm fresh banana bread. Serve with butter....yummy! I hope you'll create a new tradition with your friends and family and enjoy some homemade love. Until next time....

~With much Love~

Chel Marie