a productive morning

Abigail is sick today so there was no mad dash to get out the door, no walk to and from school and no struggle to get Jesse inside after returning home. (He loves playing outside and hates coming in.) So while Abigail camped out on the couch reading and colouring, I was able to capture this sweet moment between siblings as well as dust the family room and vacuum the main floor. The boys cooperated and played by themselves for the most part.

Jesse is now napping, the other two are watching a video while I blog and finish a layout for Jesse's scrapbook.

I also had a few overripe bananas and was also able to make my favourite banana bread. I got the recipe from Whining & Dining cookbook by Emma Waverman (and another author I don't remember). Jesse was on the counter for a few minutes but got bored when I kept moving bowls and spoons out of his reach. Luckily he went on to build a tower with his brother.

Here is the recipe if you're interested.

Banana Chocolate Oatmeal Loaf

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

2 large eggs

1/2 cup quick cooking oatmeal

1 1/2 cup mashed banana (3-4 bananas)

1/4 cup buttermilk

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 cup all purpose flour

(I've adjusted this and use 1 cup whole wheat flour and 1/2 cup white flour)

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/3 cup chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Grease and flour a loaf pan.

3. Combine sugar and butter in a large bowl and stir until uniform. Add eggs, one at a time, and stir to incorporate. Add oats, banana, buttermilk and vanilla; stir until uniform.

4. Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl; stir with a fork to blend.

5. Add flour mixture to banana mixture one third at a time; stir until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips.

6. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes or until loaf is dark brown and a cake tester comes out clean. Cool bread in pan for 10 minutes, then run a knife along the edges to loosen, turn out of baking pan and cool on a rack.