things are roasting hot at the coffee emporium. amazing how fast the place heats up with an espresso machine, a conveyor belted toaster oven and a panini grill. doesn't help that it is muggy in cincinnati. y'all know it is, i talk about it all the time. HUMID!

anyways, the bananas got brown fast this week! i brought them home and spent some time baking. first, i went through a stack of recipes that had amassed in a drawer on valencia street, amazed that they made it all the way back here with me.. remembering all the things i would make for our little household.. ah, memories. i knew there was a good banana bread recipe in there, found it and got to baking.

1 1/3 c. whole milk

2 tbsp. vanilla

juice from 1 lemon (mix these three together, buttermilky)

5 c. cake flour (didn't say this had any nutritional value)

2 tsp. baking powder

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

2 sticks butter (softened)

1 1/3 c. sugar

4 large eggs, 1 yolk (i always toss in an extra yolk to anything i am baking- rich!)

5 bananers

2 c. chopped walnuts

you know the drill. beat the butter and sugar till light and fluffy. add eggs slowly. beat in bananas. add dry alternately with wet. stir in the walnuts. bake at 375, of course- till springy to the touch.

i always forget (or just have serious scarring from my days as a pastry chef) how much i love baking, especially this easy stuff. instant gratification baking. i love the yeasty rising ten million step bread baking too, but it sure is nice to mix and bake and smell and eat.

after the bread (cake) cooled, i cut half into thick slices and left them out to stale overnight. this morning, i whisked up some eggs, milk and vanilla and poured it over the bread while i was packing up for brunch. fried the slices in butter, baked for about ten minutes in the oven, and took to l'hospital for best brunch ever!

stopped for coffee and the times on the way and enjoyed some quiet time with jenna in her bed. it was so peaceful and wonderful. scanned the whole paper, listened to tunes, talked about ace hotel and pok pok (why is everything pointing to portland this weekend?)

the docs and nurses took the leftovers! i have been trying to pawn food off on them this whole time, and finally at day 17- they are getting hip to the fact that the sister of the girl in room 541 cooks for a freaking army!