Saturday Morning Epiphany

I just poured myself a nice cup of coffee and sliced up a piece of Buttermilk Banana and Blueberry Bread that I made last night. Yummmmy!!! And I'm going to sit down and get some reading done....that is after I post this. *snicker

This morning, as I was lying in bed, I watched a short video about books and reading. We all know.... at least I hope we do, that reading is the gateway to success. It expands our minds in so many ways, challenging us to reach deep into ourselves as well as pushing us to step out into the unknown. Now, I have always been a strong proponent of reading, but as a practitioner??

I am probably the worst! Yes, I'll admit it. I am the worst!

I am so impressed by the sheer number of books that successful people read in a day let alone a week, month or a year. So, upon some reflection on my own life.... I need to do better. 

I'm embarrassed to say that I have not read enough books. It's quite sad honestly.... I tell my daughter that I don't have time, yet I am able to find time to read news snippets on Facebook and the Internet. So, my goal this year is to read more. I'm going to increase the number of books I read in a month as well as stretch myself and venture into other genres. But where to start?

Well...... 

I have found it quite ironic that our current president, who is not an avid reader has actually inspired more people to pick up a book (i.e. 1984, The Handmaid's Tale)..... Unbeknownst to him, he has actually started a nationwide, perhaps worldwide, book club for those that are still grappling with the results of this election and the direction of the administration. If you are curious about some of the books that have been revived, take a look at the Literary Hub. In the future, I will most likely be looking to our current state of the Union to help me find a new book to read.... Until then, I already have a few in mind.

Since it's already on my TBR shelf, I will be tackling Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man as well as finishing up The Wars of the Roses by Alison Weir.  As you can see from the picture below, when reading Alison's book, I have to printout a family tree to keep all the names straight for my journey into English history, which I love to study, but really......why is it that everyone had to be named Henry, Mary or John!!!

What book do you recommend? What has inspired you this year? And don't you just love my chaise lounge.....I love purple!

Buttermilk Banana & Blueberry Bread

Like almost everyone in the world, I have yucky bananas sitting on my counter. Every day I would walk by, glancing over at the bananas, each day taking note that more and more spots were be-speckling the once pretty yellow fruit. 

Finally, I couldn't take it any longer. I needed to do something! But what? I didn't want to make the same old boring banana nut bread, but I had nothing in my arsenal of cookbooks to help me..... So, off I went to see what Pinterest had to offer....was there anything out there that would catch my fancy?

Uh --- yea!

I found a Buttermilk Banana and Blueberry Bread recipe by DamnDelicious and after reading the various reviews and comments, and besides the fact that I absolutely love blueberries, I decided that this was the one. 

The only thing I didn't have was buttermilk, which I quickly purchased before picking up my youngest from school and voila! 

To. Die. For.

Buttermilk Banana & Blueberry Bread

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1 cup blueberries
• 
  

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat loaf pans with nonstick spray.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk together and then reserve 3 tablespoonful for later.
3. Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar on medium-high until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Beat in eggs, buttermilk and vanilla until well combined. Beat in bananas until well combined. Gradually add flour mixture to the sugar mixture at low speed, until incorporated.
4. Toss blueberries with the reserved flour mixture and then add to the banana mixture gently folding until combined.
5. Pour batter into the loaf pan. Place into oven and bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
6. Remove from oven and let cool before inverting the cake onto a wire rack.

Fighting the Digital Natives

I'm exhausted, my throat is scratchy and sore from my battle cries and I'm barely holding it together. Trembling, alone and completely out numbered with no backup in sight, I desperately try to conjure up a plan of action. How do I take back control and save my family.

Save them.
Save us.

The world has been changing ever since their arrival, but we, none of us, knew that it would lead to this. The citizens of the world now bow their heads in reverence to these soul snatchers, blinded by their own ignorance as their lives slowly drain away. All that is left is just a hollow form of what was once a vibrant, lively human being.

I can't say that I am immune to them for I feel the pull and drain on my own being when I need to engage them; but, I am stronger and I know when to sever the ties before its too late. Unfortunately, the younger you are the more enticing they become and it is now commonplace to see toddlers and children locked in, their families completely unaware.

However, I do not believe it is a lost cause and I am not giving up on my family. No matter what, I will try to save what is left of my family. So, last night, in the wake of a heated battle with a digital native, I stripped him of his cell phone.