I’m Back!

You didn’t think I’d left you forever, did you? I’m sure you know why I’ve been gone. It’s been one big depress fest since the pandemic began and so I haven’t felt like writing about treats. That said, we’ve needed them now more than ever. So, resolved: I am going to try to write entries to share with you whenever I find things worth sharing that make me feel good. Wish me luck!

Banana Bread

First up, the best darn banana bread you’ve ever made is within your grasp. My love of banana bread as the ultimate comfort food began early. When I was in elementary school, my babysitter, Mrs. Eisel, used to pick me up from school and I was always starving. I remember asking her to drive through Wendy’s so that I could get an order of fries or a frosty for a little over $1. One day Mrs. Eisel said she had something else in mind for me to snack on at home. Low and behold it was delicious homemade banana bread. She made hers without chocolate chips or nuts, but it was warm, moist and tasty – more like cake than bread. One taste and I was hooked. But, once we grew too old for a babysitter, my world, sadly became banana bread free for years.

Twenty years later I was living in London and had just given birth to my second daughter, Sana, when banana bread reentered my life. Being a stranger in a somewhat strange land, I had the good fortune to learn of and join the American Women’s Club of London. We American Women were a friendly, diverse, crew with very different geographic, ethnic, political and educational backgrounds but we were united in supporting each other abroad. Whenever one of us had a baby (and it seemed like that was pretty often!) we set up meal trains to make sure that the new Mom got a break from cooking for a few nights. I was so touched by this custom – it nourished me in so many way. I always participated once I’d been a recipient. In fact, I will never forget making a tray of lasagna for the first time in my life (unknowingly) for a famed food critic. Even though I’m sure it was average, Lydia was a great sport about it and fed it to a guest she was hosting. It was always the thought (more than the food) that counted. But, I digress. One of the most amazing meals I had when I had just given birth was prepared by an AWC friend, Heidi Gianni. Her homemade dessert? A banana bread that was nothing less than perfection. I will always fondly and gratefully remember the golden evenings where I would indulge in a thick slice of that deliciously gooey, choclate-y banana bread with a frosty cold glass milk before nursing my baby girl to sleep. Once I fell for that bread, I had to get the recipe from Heidi. I make it all the time now, particularly when I feel like we could all do with a little extra love and comfort (eg this weekend when a blizzard had us hunkered down indoors). I’ve even made the banana bread for my parents on a visit home to Ohio and now my Mom makes it for all her neighbors and friends. It is also a favorite of my dear friend Congresswoman Katie Porter and her sister Dr. Emily Porter as much to my flattered shock and surprise, it was included in their family cookbook recipe compilation one year. I share the recipe with continued thanks to Heidi, below. It’s truly the gift that keeps on giving.

The Recipe

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Cream: 3/4c butter
Add: 1 1/2 cups sugar
Blend: 1 1/2c (4-6)mashed bananas
           2 eggs
           1 tsp vanilla
Add: 2c flour
         1 tsp baking soda
         1 tsp salt
Add: 1/2c sour milk (2tsp cider vinegar and milk)
Fold in nuts or chocolate chips if desired. (a must in my book)
Pour into greased loaf pan and bake for 1 hour.  If top is browning too
quickly, tent foil over top ( I always tent foil or it gets too brown; this quantity fits well in 2 small loaf pans)

Search Party

So, my husband and I have at this point, we feel, watched everything there is to watch that’s worth watching. We had arrived at a place where we could rarely find something that we both felt like watching – that is, until, we happened upon Search Party. Originally shown on TBS it’s now on HBO Max and I cannot tell you how much enjoyment we’ve surprisingly derived out. of it. It’s the story of a late twenty-something, Dory Seif, living in New York, working aimlessly as a personal assistant and hanging out with her college friends doing young, hip things while searching for purpose. Sounds boring at first, but it’s not because Dory’s friends Elliot and Portia are quirky, flamboyant and hysterical AND because there is a missing person (a random acquaintance from college) case that Dory feels she must solve no matter the cost. And cost her, it does.

Search Party is the rare show that’s funny and sad; frivolous and thought-provoking; it’s about friendship but also almost Darwinian survival. Search Party is a satire but it’s also a slice of New York City living. The best part? It’s only a half hour show so a lot happens each episode and you still have time to read after watching. Plus there are five seasons! Check it out and let me know what you think.

So that’s it for me –I hope to write another one of these in a month. Tell me what you are looking for – book recs, streaming recs, podcasts? I’m sure I have something for you. Until then, stay healthy, happy and well, friends.

Yours truly,

M