7QT: Penitential Birthday Edition

1. Today is my 33rd birthday. I am now what some people say is the perfect age - the age Christ was when he died - and so it seems somewhat appropriate that it falls on this first Friday of Lent. This is also the last year I can claim to be in my early 30's... I'm having a little trouble wrapping my mind around that.

2. Since Valentine's fell on Ash Wednesday and my birthday is a Friday in Lent, we did most of our celebrating early. Sunday was my "official" birthday celebration, complete with brunch, Tres Leches cake, and a beautiful new sewing box. Eric ordered it for me from Poland, via Etsy. The detail is beautiful and after years of needles and thread all jumbled together in a shoe box I am thrilled with the various compartments, not to mention the beautiful design.

The kids surprised me this morning with two more gifts - Disney's Tangled and Vivaldi's The Four Seasons. How's that for variety?

3. We combined Valentine's and Mardi Gras and celebrated with a breakfast-for-dinner feast. I've never been a big fan of the romantic interpretation of Valentine's day; I'll never turn down a gift of flowers, but I'd rather celebrate as a family (or before having a family of my own, with friends). And so on Valentine's we might have gifts or cards, but the main celebration is a special family dinner.

I grew up eating Norwegian Pancakes on many a special occasion, and introduced Eric to their odd deliciousness on our first Valentine's day together. This has now become the tradition, and the fresh strawberry topping makes them especially festive.

I will never be a food blogger

Norwegian Pancakes

1 c. sour cream

1 Tbs. white sugar

2 eggs, beaten

1 c. white flour

Whisk together until smooth and add a little bit of milk, just enough to thin the batter a bit. (1 or 2 Tbs.?) Pancakes are dense and should be small (2 inches or so across). Fry on greased pan until golden brown. Use a low heat to ensure middle is cooked through. Eat with butter, powdered sugar and fresh berries or jam. Enjoy!

4. Since we are not having cake today, I had chocolate chip banana bread for breakfast and have been slowly finishing off the loaf over the course of the afternoon. Even though I didn't give up chocolate, the bread is so good it feels like cheating somehow.

I love to bake, and quick breads are a regular occurrence around here. They're consistently delicious, easy to improvise, and both freeze and gift well. While zucchini and pumpkin are my personal favorites, banana is the most common because, well, bananas are cheap and go brown fast. Here is my go-to recipe (written with the assumption that you have some baking experience and don't need detailed instructions. Sorry if that's not the case.)

Easy Banana Bread

3 bananas, very ripe
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
½ cup canola oil
1 ¼ cup flour (white, whole wheat, or blend)
½ tsp. salt
¾ tsp. baking soda

Bake at 375 for 45-60 minutes. Makes one loaf.

I like to blend the bananas with the wet ingredients before mixing in the flour; it cuts down on banana chunks and the infusion of air from the blending makes the finished product lighter. As I mentioned, I typically add chocolate chips for added yumminess.

I also like experimenting with substitutions, and last time I actually remembered to write down the adjusted recipe after it turned out oh-so-good. The coconut sugar adds a nice crispness to the top, the flax egg adds a hearty nuttiness, and the yogurt keeps it moist while maintaining just the right density.

Easy Banana Bread - Substitution Version

3 bananas, very ripe
½ cup white sugar
½ cup coconut sugar
1 egg
1 flax egg*
1 tsp. Cinnamon
¼ cup canola oil
¼ cup Greek yogurt, plain
1 ¼ cup flour (white, whole wheat, or blend)
½ tsp. salt
¾ tsp. baking soda

Bake at 375 for 50-60 minutes. Makes one loaf
*flax egg: combine 1 T. ground flax seed with 2 T. warm water. Let sit for a couple minutes before adding to other ingredients.

5. Today is the feast of St. Onesimus. He's the slave for whom Paul pleads in his letter to Philemon, which was my favorite book of the Bible even before knowing I shared a special day with its subject. I chose it as a favorite not because of its incredible brevity, but for verse 12: "I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you."

6.                            The glory of God is man fully alive. ~St. Irenaeus 

In my adult life I've taken to making resolutions on my birthday rather than at New Year's. It's the beginning of my new year, and therefore more personal and more likely to "stick." Since the beginning of this new year corresponds with the beginning of Lent, it seemed natural to combine the resolutions. The object of both, after all, is to grow in virtue and become "more fully alive."

This year my resolutions are aimed at becoming kinder, gentler, and more self-disciplined. Although not part of my Lenten resolutions, per se, I have decided as of today to make time management a real goal this year. I tend to be late as a matter of course, and it wears on my poor husband's timely nerves to no end. I could (and may have been known to) say I'm helping him to develop the patience of a Saint, but I should probably turn the focus on my own sanctity for this one.

7. In typical two year old fashion, Sprout has been wanting "to be hold" whenever both my hands are otherwise occupied. And when I have to set him back down after a snuggle he's been wrapping his arms around my neck and saying "I've yocked you in a yife of yuv!" (Darn those tricky "L"s!) As I was disentangling myself for the third time yesterday, it occurred to me that he has come up with the best description of parenting I've heard so far... locked in a life of love. The wisdom of the pure(ly mischievous) of heart!

These two! Locked in their love is an okay place to be :)

I've done a bit of blogging besides the Quick Takes and have already managed to touch on the controversial and deeply personal. Despite plugging them here I feel a little conflicted about encouraging anyone to read my other posts... so first check out the other Quick Takes here!