Middle aged musings from farm & hearth
Can I vote for Bill Clinton to come back as president? We need a visionary, we need someone who knows how to walk the line and work with both sides of the issues, we need experience, a level headed approach, we need extreme intelligence. I will never care one ounce about a President’s private relationship shortfalls, nor should anyone else ..We have no idea what has gone on behind closed doors with every. single. President. I’m not interested in hearing from Clinton haters and this is not about being a Republican or a Democrat… extreme right, conservative, liberal or extreme left. My feeling is that the separate parties deal no longer works. There is too much division and animosity. We’re sinking to new lows with an unwillingness to work together at the expense of ALL of us, mud slinging, bold lies and lack of respect for elected officials.
I hate politics for this reason, and I apologize for putting a political rant in your face this morning. I’m just done with the division, the ugly, the finger pointing, the skirting. Let s get on with the SOLVING of the myriad of PROBLEMS we have before us, by working together and compromising when necessary. Are you capable, Washington? That includes the way we talk to each other here, so please keep that in mind.
2 cups white whole wheat flour (or all-purpose flour)
– I used Gluten Free Bob’s Red Mill All purpose baking flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup sugar
4 Tbsp (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened to room temp
2 large eggs
1 and 1/2 cups mashed very ripe banana (about 3 bananas) – I used 4
1/3 cup plain low fat yogurt – I used vanilla yogurt
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup dark chocolate chips (I used half semi-sweet, half dark chocolate) – I used semi sweet only
1 cup halved raspberries, tossed in 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour
Preheat oven to 350F. Spray a 9×5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside. In a separate large bowl, beat the sugar and butter with a stand or handheld mixer on medium speed until well blended – about 1 minute. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the mashed banana, yogurt, and vanilla. Continue beating until blended.
Slowly stir in the flour mixture by hand, until *just combined* – do not overmix. Fold in the chocolate chips and then gently stir in the raspberries – you do not want the raspberries to bleed their color. You may sprinkle a few raspberries + chocolate chips on top for looks as well.
I threw everything in the bowl at the same time (oh yes I did).. except the chips and raspberries, which I folded in once batter was mixed. Still came out great.
The batter will be very thick ( not mine) , so spoon it into the prepared loaf pan rather than pouring it. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes in the pan on a wire rack. Remove from pan and cool completely on the wire rack.
For those of you who are local, here’s a link to the Salmon River Boat launch
if you’d like to take the trip…
Actually, the name “Moodus” comes from the local Native Americans who called the area “Machimoodus” long before settlers came to Connecticut, which roughly translated means “place of bad noises.”
