Toothwhale

Banana-oatmeal loaf

 
Are you ready for a break from pumpkin? Try this banana-oatmeal loaf. The banana and buttermilk make the loaf moist, and the oatmeal gives it a lovely crust. The recipe is from the February 2005 issue of Cooking Light.

 

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2/3 cup sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup regular oats

1 cup mashed ripe banana (about 3 medium)

1/3 cup low-fat buttermilk

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

cooking spray

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and the next four ingredients (through salt) in a large bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Stir in oats.

Combine mashed banana, buttermilk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and eggs; add to flour mixture. Stir just until moist.

Spoon batter into a loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 55 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes in pan on a wire rack; remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.

One hundred

Thanks to Jake for taking this picture of me.

I feel good about making it to my 100th post here at Toothwhale. I feel good about recording thoughts, feelings, and moments, about taking and sharing more pictures, about being in the habit of writing, and about connecting with people through blogging. To mark my 100th post, I'm sharing 100 things I want to see and do in the future of my life. Some things will happen, some won't, and I'll change my mind about others. Here and now, this is my list. I'd like very much if you would share in comments some of the things you would like to experience in the future of your life. I'd like to know.

I'm looking forward to milestones ... when Harper sleeps in a bed rather than a crib and wears panties instead of diapers 1, 2, two first days of kindergarten 3, 4, when they learn to read 5, 6, write all the letters of the alphabet 7, 8, tie their shoes 9, 10, and ride bikes without training wheels 11, 12. ... when they lose their front teeth 13, 14, go to their first sleepovers 15, 16, win their first trophies for athletic or intellectual accomplishments 17, 18, and get dropped off at the mall or the movies with only their friends 19, 20. ... when they go on their first dates 21, 22, get driver's licenses 23, 24, and go to proms 25, 26. ... when we go on college visits 27, 28, and laugh and cry at high school graduations 29, 30, college graduations 31, 32, engagement parties 33, 34, weddings 35, 36, and grandchildren's births 37, 38.

I hope to... renew my wedding vows with Jake and return to San Francisco for a second honeymoon 39, 40. ... go with him on eating tours in the places we've lived before -- chicken salad and shrimp po' boys in Pensacola, Fla. 41, 42, barbecue brisket, chicken fingers, and burritos in College Station, Tex. 43, 44, 45, and pizza slices as big as your head in Tallahassee, Fla. 46. ... return to the Florida Keys 47, to Asheville, N.C. in the summertime 48, and to the hill country of Texas as the wildflowers bloom in spring 49. ... see the Grand Canyon and the aurora borealis together 50, 51, and take in Charleston, S.C. 52, Sedona, Ariz. 53, the Pacific Northwest 54, and American history in the Northeast 55. ... visit El Morro, the beaches, and extended family in Puerto Rico 56, 57, 58. ... make it to Europe 59, Hawaii 60, and even Australia 61.

I want to ... read To Kill a Mockingbird and the entire Harry Potter series -- first by myself, then again, with the kids 62, 63, 64. ... really learn to speak Spanish 65, to sew enough to craft a Halloween costume 66, pillows 67, and a simple curtain 68, and to knit well enough to make scarves as gifts 69. ... find a religious home 70. ... buy a jukebox and a brilliant red Fiestaware pitcher 71, 72. ... ice skate 73, hula hoop 74, paddle surf 75, hand crank ice cream 76, do a cartwheel 77, swim with dolphins 78, take the perfect family picture 79, ride in a hot air balloon 80, and drive my dream car -- a vintage Volkswagen Beetle, red with a tan convertible top 81.

I'd like to go ... back to see my grandfather's burial site at Arlington National Cemetery 82, to Busch Gardens and Disney World with Henry and Harper 83, 84, and on a cross-country trip as a family one summer when the kids are at an age to enjoy it 85.

I hope to see ... my mom find the perfect watermelon once more 86, all of my sisters get married and become mothers 87, 88, 89, my dad relax in retirement 90, and my parents celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary 91. ... women in the offices of vice president and president 92, 93. ... my husband write and publish a novel 94, 95, myself happy in my next career 96, my children be best friends 97, my husband live a long and healthy life 98, all my children's dreams come true 99, 100.

Enough about me. What about you?

We're reading: Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the 100th Day of Kindergarten

I'm one post away from 100 with this one, and in the spirit of triple digits, I thought to share the best 100-themed children's book I know: Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the 100th Day of Kindergarten. Written by Joseph Slate and illustrated by Ashley Wolff, Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the 100th Day of Kindergarten is the follow-up to the great Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten. In 100th Day of Kindergarten, fluffy-tailed border collie Miss Bindergarten, her cockatoo Coco, and her 26 animal students with A to Z names mark the first 100 days of friends, fun, and schoolwork with a themed celebration.

On the 99th day of kindergarten, Miss Bindergarten gives a homework assignment: Bring in your own collection of 100 wonderful things. That night and the next morning, as each student prepares, Miss Bindergarten does her own homework. She shops for the ingredients of 100 Day Punch and Heavenly 100 Day Hash, she puts finishing touches on 100-inspired classroom decorations, and she pins 100 bows to her dress. When her students arrive, she congratulates them on their first 100 days, and they show and share their 100s.

Each page of 100th Day of Kindergarten is bursting with fun detail. Coco sneaks chocolate ice cream as Miss Bindergarten fills the ice cube trays to make the 100 cubes for 100 Day Punch. Ophelia the otter's mother sees Ophelia to the bus while wearing her younger siblings in a sling. Miss Bindergarten's classroom is a study in primary-grades perfection. 

Slate's Miss Bindergarten series is a joy to read, and Wolff's illustrations add layers to Slate's rhyming stories. In addition to Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the 100th Day of Kindergarten and the original Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten, look for Miss Bindergarten Stays Home from Kindergarten (a must for flu seaon), Miss Bindergarten Takes a Field Trip with Kindergarten, Miss Bindergarten Plans a Circus with Kindergarten, Miss Bindergarten Has a Wild Day in Kindergarten, and Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the Last Day of Kindergarten. Also, because I'm a fan of Ashley Wolff's work, I must recommend another book she illustrated, The Wild Little Horse, by Rita Gray. It's a beautiful, gentle lullaby of a story.

Here's to 100 -- days of kindergarten with Miss Bindergarten, and posts (almost), for Toothwhale.

He just laughs to it

The kids and I have been rocking out to a Playhouse Disney CD in the car since I checked it out from the library on Wednesday. Music Play Date includes "music from all your favorite Playhouse Disney TV shows." Because I don't even try to be cool anymore, I let myself dance in the driver's seat to "Hot Dog!," one of three songs on the CD from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. (It turns out it's performed by They Might Be Giants, so that's cool, at least.)

Friday was conference day at Henry and Harper's preschool, and their teachers had good things to say about them. Henry's teachers did have one question for me. "Does he dance?," they wanted to know. "Because we can't get him to dance." No, he doesn't dance. Well, not unless he's in the den at a family dance party. Then, yes. But otherwise, no. He's already self-conscious.

Today when "Hot Dog!" came on during our drive home from preschool, I shouted, "This is my favorite one!" and started grooving. From the backseat, Henry said, "I really like this one, but I don't dance to it. I just laugh to it."

Day moon