I always freeze browning bananas & use them as they're sweeter.
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup margarine or butter, softened
2 eggs
3 - 4 medium bananas
1 cup mixed frozen berries, thawed
1/2 cup buttermilk (substitute = almost 1/2 cup milk & a tiny bit white vinegar)
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
Heat oven to 350(f). Grease bottoms only of 2 loaf pans 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches or 1 loaf pan 9 x 5 x 3 inches. You can also use muffin pans - makes about 18 muffins.
Mix sugar and margarine in a large bowl. Stir in eggs until well blended. Add bananas, thawed berries, buttermilk and vanilla, beat until smooth. Stir in remaining ingredients. Pour into pans. Bake 8 inch loaves about 1 hour, 9 inch loaf about 1 1/4 hour and muffin pans 1/2 hour or until wooden pick poked in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes. Loosen sides of loaves from pans: remove from pans. Cool completely before slicing. Wrap tightly and store at room temperature up to 4 days, or refrigerate up to 10 days.
Source : originally from Betty Crocker's Cookbook with berries substituted for 1 cup walnuts
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
The Ghosts of Past, Present and Future
By ghosts I'm referring to thoughts, we all dwell in those sometimes don't we? Some much more than others. I crave for quiet time alone to spend pondering and analyzing my thoughts. At night in my solitude is when I find I'm most at peace. At times I feel as though I think too much sitting oh so quietly within the chambers of my mind while the world around me sleeps. Then I ask myself, "If this is something that feels good, then how can it be wrong?".
I think that everyone needs time alone to think, to meditate, to reflect within themselves to learn and grow. The hustle & bustle of everyday life, rushing around and running yourself ragged can't be healthy. It's no wonder people bitch and complain so much, they hate their life, their job, their current situation etc.. They don't take time outs.
If you're like me, a new age thinker, into metaphysics and the Law of Attraction then you believe that everything is energy, including our thoughts and what you think about you bring about. Think about it, really think about that, it's a lot. To learn this is one thing, teaching it is another thing but to live it is a whole other story. Easier said than done, but like anything practice makes perfect.
The ghosts of our past are never far behind. It's funny how hearing, seeing and even smelling things can trigger memories, whether they be good or bad. The good ghosts are nice, they leave a smile on your face and maybe remind you of a story you'll share with a friend. It's the bad ghosts that haunt us, reminding us of times we would much rather just forget. But then of course feelings are awakened. Negativity is plagued within your mind and emotions, stuck in it like a fly on a sticky trap. Cheer up! look on the bright side..what a joke right? Well, now to stay in this state of mind for any length of time, don't be surprised if your life suddenly falls apart shortly down the road (what you think about you bring about).
Or...you can train yourself to stop dwelling on those ugly ghosts. There's many ways to do this but I'll just touch on one. That is gratitude. No matter how bad a situation was or is there's always a bright side and there's always at least one thing you have to be grateful for. You think not? You're alive aren't you? roof over your head? food to eat? kids? family? friends? pets? Be grateful for the sun in the beautiful sky, the air you breathe, the smell of fresh cut grass. If you have a hard time thinking about what you should be grateful for, then just think of how much worse your life could be. That usually helps. Being grateful diminishes bad thoughts and feelings because you can't feel positive and negative at the same time, it's impossible.
Looking back is ok to do a little bit, it's like referring to your map to see where you're going. However, focusing on the past for too long and you'll lose sight where you're going. How can you see ahead of you when you're walking backwards?
The future hasn't happened yet so you can chose either fork in the road. You can be optimistic and confident that things will fall into place and be promising. Or, you can agree with your ugly ghosts that your life is shit and will always be, and it WILL always be (what you think about you bring about).
If you have a hard time imagining a better future for yourself then it's best you just focus on now. Get off the negative train at gratitude station and from this day on take note of every little thing that makes you happy. Smile and think about it, write about it in your journal and praise people (especially kids).
One day after doing this for a while you'll feel the beautiful feeling of well being. A warm loving feeling that radiates through your whole body. That is you inner self showing you through your feelings that you're on the right path. Know that feeling, savior that feeling and try to never lose it. If it feels right, go for it. If it doesn't feel right that's your inner self telling you it's wrong.
Living in the now is a gift, it's called present isn't it? Cherish this present and better days will soon follow..you see ;-)
I think that everyone needs time alone to think, to meditate, to reflect within themselves to learn and grow. The hustle & bustle of everyday life, rushing around and running yourself ragged can't be healthy. It's no wonder people bitch and complain so much, they hate their life, their job, their current situation etc.. They don't take time outs.
If you're like me, a new age thinker, into metaphysics and the Law of Attraction then you believe that everything is energy, including our thoughts and what you think about you bring about. Think about it, really think about that, it's a lot. To learn this is one thing, teaching it is another thing but to live it is a whole other story. Easier said than done, but like anything practice makes perfect.
The ghosts of our past are never far behind. It's funny how hearing, seeing and even smelling things can trigger memories, whether they be good or bad. The good ghosts are nice, they leave a smile on your face and maybe remind you of a story you'll share with a friend. It's the bad ghosts that haunt us, reminding us of times we would much rather just forget. But then of course feelings are awakened. Negativity is plagued within your mind and emotions, stuck in it like a fly on a sticky trap. Cheer up! look on the bright side..what a joke right? Well, now to stay in this state of mind for any length of time, don't be surprised if your life suddenly falls apart shortly down the road (what you think about you bring about).
Or...you can train yourself to stop dwelling on those ugly ghosts. There's many ways to do this but I'll just touch on one. That is gratitude. No matter how bad a situation was or is there's always a bright side and there's always at least one thing you have to be grateful for. You think not? You're alive aren't you? roof over your head? food to eat? kids? family? friends? pets? Be grateful for the sun in the beautiful sky, the air you breathe, the smell of fresh cut grass. If you have a hard time thinking about what you should be grateful for, then just think of how much worse your life could be. That usually helps. Being grateful diminishes bad thoughts and feelings because you can't feel positive and negative at the same time, it's impossible.
Looking back is ok to do a little bit, it's like referring to your map to see where you're going. However, focusing on the past for too long and you'll lose sight where you're going. How can you see ahead of you when you're walking backwards?
The future hasn't happened yet so you can chose either fork in the road. You can be optimistic and confident that things will fall into place and be promising. Or, you can agree with your ugly ghosts that your life is shit and will always be, and it WILL always be (what you think about you bring about).
If you have a hard time imagining a better future for yourself then it's best you just focus on now. Get off the negative train at gratitude station and from this day on take note of every little thing that makes you happy. Smile and think about it, write about it in your journal and praise people (especially kids).
One day after doing this for a while you'll feel the beautiful feeling of well being. A warm loving feeling that radiates through your whole body. That is you inner self showing you through your feelings that you're on the right path. Know that feeling, savior that feeling and try to never lose it. If it feels right, go for it. If it doesn't feel right that's your inner self telling you it's wrong.
Living in the now is a gift, it's called present isn't it? Cherish this present and better days will soon follow..you see ;-)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)