Life Update

Recipes I'm Loving

Banana Bread Muffins

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1¼ cups pecans, chopped finely
• 3/4 cup sugar
• ¾ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 3 very ripe bananas, mashed
• ¼ cup plain yogurt
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 6 tablespoons salted butter, melted and cooled
• 1 generous dash vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a large muffin tin with muffin papers, or grease if you prefer.
2. Toast the pecans in a dry skillet over medium high heat until fragrant. 
3. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and walnuts together. In a separate bowl, combine the bananas, yogurt, eggs, butter and vanilla. Fold the wet ingredients into the dry until just combined. Scoop the batter evenly between the muffin tins.
4. Bake until the muffins are golden brown on top, approximately 20-25 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Recipe adapted from Savory Simple. 

I originally made these as a thank-you for a coworker who gave me a ride to work when I had a transportation emergency. I had forgotten how nice it is to have muffins around the house for a quick breakfast and snacking. 

Enchilada Sauce

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp. canola oil
• 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
• 4 Tbsp. chili powder 
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. cumin
• 1/4 tsp. oregano
• 2 cups vegetable stock

Instructions

Heat oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add flour and stir together over the heat for one minute. Stir in the remaining seasonings (chili powder through oregano). Then gradually add in the stock, whisking constantly to remove lumps. Reduce heat and simmer 10-15 minutes until thick.

Use immediately or refrigerate in an air-tight container for up to two weeks.

Adapted from Gimme Some Oven

I didn't have any cumin, so I omitted it. The sauce was very tasty, but I found it a little too "kicky" for my taste. I am a weakling and don't really enjoy spicy foods, so alter the amount of chili powder as you like. 

Fashion I'm Loving

Leggings. I apologize to anyone I ever made fun of for wearing leggings as pants. I recently cracked and bought my first pair. They are divine and I plan to buy a couple more pairs soon. 

Things I'm Doing

Missing my in-laws. They recently came to visit and it was lovely to see them again. We went on a 5 hour hike and saw a mama black bear and her cubs. My mother and sister-in law also opened my eyes to the joy of thrifted clothing. 

Missing my bestie from college. Can't wait to visit this winter!

Clearing out the apartment in preparation for our move. We move to our new place in less than two weeks. I'm trying to keep my sanity amid all the boxes pilled in our living room. 

Listening to LPs. We finally got our record player working, and I've been working my way through the albums I brought back from my grandmother's estate. They are in pristine condition and are the best of mid-century music: Frank, Dean, Louie, and Judy. 

Books I'm Reading

Goebbels: A Biography by Peter Longerich

This book is very interesting, but slow going. I'm on page 245 of 707. I've had this book from the library for three weeks and I'm generally a swift reader! If you're interested in this sort of topic, I'd highly recommend this book. All the German phrases and terms are a bit overwhelming, and I wish I had more of a background in post-WWI German government, but overall,  pleasant before-bed reading (is it weird to call a book about a Nazi a pleasant read?).