Deja vu all over again

That's what we're experiencing here in central Kentucky. Yet another snowstorm arrived early yesterday morning. We are nearing all-time record amounts of snow this winter and though lots of people are sick of it, I can honestly say I'm not. The icy farm road business is getting a little old, but having fresh clean snow on the frozen ground instead of sloppy mud makes it almost worth being farm bound. It is much easier to keep fiber animals clean when they are on snow.

It seemed like the perfect day to spend some time in the kitchen baking up something that would fill the house with good smells. After an inventory of the freezer, I decided to bake some banana nut bread. Whenever we have bananas approaching the too ripe stage, I stash them in the freezer and, when critical mass has been reached, it's time for baking. This is just your everyday, basic banana bread. I've been making it for a long, long time. My favorite way is to eat it warm with butter about five minutes after it comes out of the oven, but next would be buttered and stuck in the toaster oven for just a few minutes. Delicious with a cup of tea.

Not long after the bread was done, the mailman braved the farm road and delivered a box of Florida sunshine! My sweet mother-in-law sent us a boxful of Honeybell's from sunny Florida, where she spends the winter. (I know she's extra glad to be there this winter!) We've had very little sun around here lately, so we are especially grateful for these.

I know I've been neglecting the blog lately. I think I've been in a bit of a slump because of not being in the normal routine of interacting with my animals twice daily. That's all about to change though. I'm getting back to what passes for normal around here and getting excited about new lambs being born soon. And, once the mud dries up and we have some green grass, I'll be so happy to see spring arriving

Basic banana bread recipe-

1/3 cup shortening

3/4 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 3/4 cup all purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup chopped nuts (we like walnuts)
1 heaping cup mashed bananas (the riper the better)

Cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs and mix well. Sift flour, baking powder and salt together and add to first mixture. Add nuts and bananas. Bake in loaf pan for approximately 55 minutes in a 350 degree oven. (I like to double the recipe and freeze one loaf)