Banana Bread, NaKnitMo, & The Lost Hero

The title sums up my day. I finished up NaKnitMo last night with a grand total of 30,066 stitches, which was 66 stitches over my goal. This was exciting enough, but I just got a message on Ravelry this afternoon (and a text from my soul sister Mary!) letting me know that I had also won something in the NaKnitMo Prize Drawing!!! Very soon I will be the proud owner of the Summer 2010 issue of Verena Knitting! A very special thank you to crosstitchlinda on Ravelry for donating my prize!!

I went back to the library today for the first time since my pneumonia diagnosis in October. It felt good to be back, even though I only made it 3 hours before ripping the tape from the tape dispenser was making me break out in a sweat and get shaky. I came home then, and after eating lunch took a L-O-N-G nap. I felt refreshed enough from this to bake some Banana Bread this evening, as well as cook dinner, wash a load of laundry, and sew together a strip on the quilt I'm working on. Not a bad day, productivity-wise; however, I really wish my energy level would come back. I really miss it!

I'm worn down again now, but content. I picked up The Lost Hero, by Rick Riordan, from the library, and am looking forward to a hot cup of coffee and reading some of it tonight. Not that there's much tonight left...it's almost 10:00PM now...but I plan on soaking up as much of it as I can before my eyes close. I'm really hoping, being an extension of the Percy Jackson series, that it lives up to my high expectations.

What? You think I sit around all day just eating bon-bons?

Well, you're wrong...I *make* them, not *eat* them!

Peanut butter bon-bons, to be specific. From an old, family recipe for peanut butter Easter eggs, of all things. Hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it, right?

Well, I thought I'd share this gem of a recipe with you, too. Make some, share them, ENJOY them!

Great Grandma Susie's Peanut Butter Bon-Bons

Ingredients

• 1 pound (approx. 3½ cups) of 10x sugar
• 2 Tbsp. evaporated milk
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• ½ cup butter, softened
• 2/3 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1½ bags of semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 Tbsp. vegetable shortening

Instructions

1. Line 2 large cookie sheets with wax paper.
2. Mix the 10x sugar, evaporated milk, vanilla, butter, and peanut butter until well-blended.
3. Roll the mixture into 48 1-inch balls and space evenly between the cookie sheets.
4. Place the balls in the freezer to set while melting the chocolate.
5. Using a double boiler melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips and vegetable shortening, stirring frequently to prevent scorching.
6. Using a fork, or kebab skewers, dip each ball into the chocolate quickly, coating completely.
7. Place the coated candy back on the cookie sheet.
8. Repeate steps 6 & & until all 4 dozen balls are coated with chocolate.
9. Allow to set up completely.
10. Store in an airtight container.

Baking, Music Monday, & I Glee Love...

In keeping with my goal to bake one thing a day from now until Christmas this weekend brought with it, not only the Peppermint Bark from Saturday, but also Peanut Brittle on Sunday, and Monster Cookies this morning!

I haven't decided what I'll make for tomorrow, yet, perhaps a batch of fudge...

It's also Monday, which means Music Monday, and this week I've bot a MAJOR Glee fascination going on, so enjoy their newest cast member below!

It's BAKING SEASON!!!

I love this time of year. As soon as Thanksgiving is finished I hit the baking aisle of the grocery store and set to work. I used to give out Christmas treat baskets of my goodies, but I have a house full of almost grown males, now. Nowadays, if you want some of my baked goods, you'd better watch for a tweet, Facebook status update, or blog post, grab your GPS, and beat tracks! Regardless, I love baking. I love my kitchen and house, by extension, smelling of chocolate, peanut butter, and mint. I love watching the hubby and boys come in sniffing the air to find out what I made that day. I just love everything about it!

This morning I kicked off my month of chocolaty goodness with a batch of Peppermint Bark. As I'm not a huge fan of plain white chocolate I layer mine. The recipe follows. If you try it out make sure and comment and let me know if you liked it, what you changed, etc. The best part about baking is sharing ideas to make newer, better things!

Peppermint Bark a la Bragg

Ingredients

• 12 oz. bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 12 oz. bag of white chocolate chips
• 2 teaspoons of vegetable shortening, divided
• ½ teaspoon of peppermint extract, divided
• 12 candy canes, broken into small pieces

Instructions

1. Line a 9-inch x 9-inch pan with wax paper or aluminum foil.
2. Using a double boiler melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips with 1 teaspoon of the vegetable shortening, stirring frequently to prevent the chocolate from scorching.
3. When almost melted add ¼ teaspoon of peppermint extract and continue stirring frequently until all of the chips are melted and smooth.
4. Immediately pour the melted semi-sweet chocolate into the lined pan and spread evenly.
5. Top with ½ of the broken candy canes and place in the refrigerator until the white chocolate is ready to pour.
6. Repeat steps 2-4 with the white chocolate chips.
7. Top with the remaining broken candy canes and refrigerate one hour, or until set.
8. Remove candy from pan by turning it upside down onto a hard surface.
9. Carefully peel the wax paper or foil from the candy and break from the bottom into the desired sized pieces.
10. Store in an airtight container.