Best Banana Bread

Earlier this month was my husband's birthday. We don't really celebrate birthdays (that's a story for a whole other blog post) but I wanted to make him a cake. He requested banana bread since he's not such a sweet tooth like me. I'm such a sweet tooth that I have a rare condition where every single one of my teeth are sweet, even the molars. Back to the cake... I found a recipe online on a website that both my husband and I frequent for most of our recipes called AllRecipes.com. The funniest part of this website are the reviews. Very often, someone will say, "this is a great chili recipe! The only thing I changed is instead of using Kidney beans, I used Romano beans and I also used half the brown sugar and added a 1/2 cup of dark beer, 1 teaspoon of cinnomon and instead of beef I used brussel sprouts."
So, after you read the recipe posted on the site, it's a good idea to glance at the reviews to see if there's a popular suggestion regarding a better cooking time/temperature or if most people thought it could use a bit less flour/sugar. The following recipe for the very best banana bread is my revised version so it's just perfect. Best of all, if you have ripe bananas that you're about to throw out you can pretty much find the rest of the ingredients in your cupboard. It couldn't be easier - just the kind of baking I like.

The Very Best Banana Bread

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla
  
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups ripe mashed banana
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour one 9x5 inch pan.
2. Cream butter and sugars until smooth. Add cinnamon and vanilla. Beat in eggs, then bananas. Add flour and soda, stirring just until combined.
3. Pour into prepared pan and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for about 1 hour (or till toothpick comes out clean).

My husband couldn't stop raving about this bread. He would put walnuts in it next time. I would put chocolate chips.
Enjoy!!

Roz Savage and the Pacific

The last post regarding podcasts makes me want to mention Roz Savage (www.rozsavage.com). Roz is a woman that is literally rowing across the Pacific right now... I mean, RIGHT NOW. Think about it. A woman in a row boat with no land in sight between the California coast and Hawaii. Roz writes in a blog almost every day and I have been keeping up with her since she left the Golden Gate bridge. I also listen to her podcast updates on "Roz Rows the Pacific". I find out whether the gale force winds on the ocean have died down enough for her to get back out on the deck to row. I look at her progress going south west to see whether she has actually been drifting backwards. I check to see whether her water-maker has started to work again after the electronic components were flooded with sea water. The amazing thing is that it feels like she's been out there for so long yet she still has more than 2 months more to go. I really admire her discipline, determination and drive. To me, her trip across the ocean in a row boat would be a very effective form of torture. It would be a matter of survival rather than adventure. I don't know if I would be more scared of the dark deep ocean tossing me around like a rubber ducky or being completely alone for that many hours, days and nights. Or, maybe I just can't handle the thought of not having icecream for such a long stretch of time.
Go Roz!

I'm FAMOUS!!! ...and other podcasts

I listen to hours and hours of podcasts every day while I'm working on my online business. There are a few topics that I gravitate towards... Natural Sciences, Skepticism and Tech News . Currently, I subscribe to 44 podcasts. That's right... 44. A little while back when I was just at 20 podcasts, I had a terrifying moment when I ran out of things to listen to, so I scrambled around the iTunes store to beef up my inventory... and that's how I ended up like this. I NEVER have to listen to myself think again.

Anyway, there are naturally a select few podcasts that I really look forward to. I will tell you one from each category...
Science: I absolutely LOVE Quirks & Quarks from CBC Radio (go Canada!). I know there's no practical reason to know how an alligators' lungs work or how a Neaderthal would have said "e" but it keeps me glued to my computer speakers anyway.
Skepticism: Another favorite (LOVE LOVE LOVE) is The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe. I would be happy just listening to that all day long. It has made me more aware of my own skeptical thinking (which I do naturally but more is better) and, well, it makes me feel smart.
Tech News: I probably have the most podcasts in this category but one in particular stands out... not because it is the most educational but because it is the most entertaining for me. It is called "The 404" from CNET. You see, most of my tech podcasts are made in California where they think they're in the centre of the tech universe (because they are). The 404 is created in New York which is a location close to Toronto but more importantly, close to my heart. (In fact, I just got back on Tuesday from a 5 day visit.) I feel like I can relate to these guys and best of all, they crack me up.

So, what does all this have to do with my blog title? After listening to the 404 last Tuesday, I decided I would call them up and leave them a voice message. There is a certain format to follow: "hi, this is ___ calling from ____ and you're listening to the 404, where ____". I wanted to say something that would let them know I'm a regular listener by referring to a previous podcast, a.k.a. an inside joke. It accidentally came out a bit provocative which I totally didn't mean to do. I guess I shouldn't have used my sexy bedroom voice. The next day I was going about my regular routine of working and listening to the latest 404 episode and then, after the commercial break I hear a familiar voice... MY OWN! How exciting! So, my big break happens on the 404, episode #118 at 12 minutes and 46 seconds. By the way, I'll kick Stephanie Kim's ass any day of the week, whoever she is.

My first blog entry

Hi. My name is Debbie. I've been thinking of starting a blog for the last week or so. The idea came to me when I was telling my mom about my new favorite mascara and I thought about how much I love to tell people when I like a product. After all, I love hearing about products other people like. I also want an outlet to talk about my opinions and express my views on various miscelanious STUFF. I can't wait to start.

I may as well start by writing about what I just did between this paragraph and the previous one. We're having a big, loud, warm thunder storm tonight and my Husband just grabbed his flip flops and ran out onto the balcony to enjoy sights and sounds. I grabbed my Crocs (eww, Crocs) and joined him. The thunder shook and scared me but I just grabbed my Husband tighter and we looked out at the CN Tower to catch the lightening bolts. We're back on our awesome couch (our first major purchase together) watching CNN again. The storm is still in full force. I love it!

Talk to you again soon!
Debbie in Toronto