When I'm bored, I bake.

I've been trapped in the house because of the ice and snow, and have been very bored. Again. This time I decided to bake. I got this recipe many years ago from my dear friend, Ianthe. I had never been a fan of banana bread, mostly because people always insist on putting nuts in it. That's a no-no for me. But Ianthe's version was more like banana CAKE! It's very easy to make and so delicious. Each time I make it I'm amazed at how good it is.

Ianthe lives in Houston and I miss hanging out with her! Other than my mom, she is one of the best cooks I know. And guess what?? Ianthe is pregnant with her first baby!! It's a boy!! Can't wait to meet the little guy and see one of my favorite friends...

Ianthe's Banana Bread

2 c flour
1 c white sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
1/4 lb butter, softened
2 eggs
2 mashed ripe bananas
1 t vanilla
1 t baking soda
1/2 c milk

Mix the flour and baking soda in a bowl, set aside. Using a mixer (I still use a hand mixer), cream the butter and slowly add the sugar, beat until light. Add bananas, eggs, and vanilla and beat well. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Slowly add in the milk. Pour into loaf pans, a 9x13 dish, or cupcake wrappers (I've made it all three ways!) and bake at 350 for 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Note: The more ripe the bananas, the sweeter the finished product will be!!

"Winter Storm 2010"

Well, at least that is what the media has dubbed it. I don't always take what the Oklahoma news says seriously as they tend to blow it out of proportion (with the exception of our last blizzard). But ice and snow are on the way and the temp has dropped significantly. Oh, well...those days of temps in the 60's were nice while they lasted. I have to remember we ARE still in the middle of winter! My only fears are a) my car sliding out of control on ice, and b) the power going out at home. Other than that I've got the DVR, movies, books, and plenty of school work to do. Plus there's always the treadmill staring me in the face...

Stay safe and warm!!

New Shooz!

Mama got a new pair of running shoes! Check these babies out...

Yes, they are super-mega bright pink! But that's actually the point...these are special edition Susan G. Komen New Balance shoes. They are very girly and so purty. The breast cancer ribbon is detailed all along the inside and on the tongue. And the laces are really cute, kind of a braided style.

As you can see from my lovely pile of shoes (I rotate between 2-3 pairs of shoes at a time to make them last longer), I am an Asics girl.

But these special New Balance were too cool to pass up! I ran 3 miles in them tonight and they were great!

90 days and counting...

As of today I have 90 days until the OKC Memorial 1/2 marathon. Admittedly, I am getting nervous. The thought of running for more than 2 hours straight just baffles me! But the main goal of a first 1/2 marathon attempt is to FINISH. I am faithfully following my training schedule. Right now I run 4 days a week, cycle twice a week, and lift weights twice a week. I'll get there eventually!! Here is the route for the 1/2 marathon...yikes!

Sunday dinner

Another yummy recipe to share with you (if I do say so myself). It's a lighter version of one of my favorites: Chicken Marsala. I first had this dish at Olive Garden, probably more than 15 years ago. It has such a unique flavor. And this recipe is really easy!

Chicken Marsala with Caramelized Onions
4 servings

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 4)
1 onion, sliced thin
1 c mushrooms, sliced (I used baby portobellos)
1 T extra virgin olive oil
1 t unsalted butter
1/2 c Marsala wine
1 1/4 c vegetable broth
1 1/2 T cornstarch
1 t dried thyme
salt & pepper

I had already caramelized my onions...and cried onion tears the whole time! Just thinly slice a large onion, making sure all of them are about the same size. Over medium heat, melt 1 pat of butter and 1 T of olive oil. Add the onions and give them a stir, making sure they are nicely coated. Then just keep an eye on them, stirring occasionally. I always lower the heat as they start to cook and brown. After 15 minutes or so the natural sugar in the onions gives them a beautiful golden color and they taste sweet. Remove them to a plate and set aside.

Heat the olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile season the chicken on both sides with the thyme, salt, and pepper. Move the mushrooms to the outer edges of the skillet and add the chicken breasts to the middle. Cook the chicken until they are golden brown, about 2-3 minutes on each side.

Add the wine to the pan, and simmer for 1 minute. Add 3/4 of the broth and simmer, uncovered, until the chicken is cooked through, about 8 minutes. Dissolve the cornstarch in the remaining broth and add to the skillet. Simmer until the sauce thickens, stirring constantly.

I like to plate a piece of chicken on top of a huge bed of mixed greens. Then add some of the mushrooms and sauce, and top the whole thing with some onions. Perfection. And yes, that is a nice pale ale I'm having with my dinner!

Zee Shrimp!

If I could swim in this stuff I would. Instead of working out, I decided to make myself a 'light' gourmet dinner. I picked up some peeled and deveined shrimp from the local seafood counter. They had their tails on but I just plucked those babies right off! This recipe is easy peasy and delicious. But don't be like me and eat 2 servings...it will make you feel ill.

Spicy Shrimp & Tomato Pasta
Serves 4

1 lb peeled & deveined shrimp
8 oz thin spaghetti
1 T extra virgin olive oil
1 t unsalted butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 c white wine
1/2 c half and half
14 oz can diced tomatoes, drained
1/4 t oregano
1/4 t red pepper flakes
salt & fresh pepper
1 t fresh lemon juice

Cook pasta according to package directions. I ALWAYS add plenty of salt to the pasta water. Meanwhile, season the shrimp with oregano and a little salt. Cook the garlic and shrimp with the olive oil and butter for 2 minutes over medium heat. The harmonious smell of garlic and shrimp will permeate your kitchen..and you will thank me. Add the tomatoes, wine, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes and cook an additional minute. Add the half and half and cook for 1 more minute. Toss the pasta with the sauce, add the lemon juice, and enjoy it while it's hot! I also added some Parmesan cheese but it didn't need it. Of course, you could kick it up a 'fat' notch by using heavy cream . Did I just say that??
and a lot more wine

You say tomato...[Product Review]

...I say Cherubs!! These are hands down some of the best tasting tomatoes I've ever had. They are worth the almost $4 price tag at the grocery store. I've eaten these babies for 2 weeks in a row now...with a salad for lunch everyday. It's hard to find good tomatoes this time of year, and these little rubies are perfect!!


Nature Sweet Cherub Tomatoes

My brother, my friend

We rarely get sappy, my brother and I. But sometimes in the day-to-day you stop and realize how grateful you are for the people in your life.

We share a special bond

that grows stronger through the years.

Looking back on things we've done,

I realize that some of my happiest memories

are of times we've shared.

You give me the freedom to be myself -

there's never a need to pretend.

I'd like you to know there will always be

a special place in my heart for you -

My Brother and My Friend.

Today in History

In 1915, the U.S. House of Representatives rejected, 204-174, a constitutional amendment giving women the right to vote.
In 1932, Hattie W. Caraway became the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate, after serving out the remainder of the term of her late husband, Thaddeus.
In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt re-established the National War Labor Board.
In 1948, the Supreme Court ruled that state law schools could not discriminate against applicants on the basis of race.
In 1959, Berry Gordy Jr. founded Motown Records (originally Tamla Records) in Detroit.
In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson said in his State of the Union address that the U.S. should stay in South Vietnam until Communist aggression there was ended.
Five years ago: A NASA spacecraft, Deep Impact, blasted off on a mission to smash a hole in a comet and give scientists a glimpse of the frozen primordial ingredients of the solar system. (The probe smashed into Comet Tempel 1 in July 2005.)


There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still.
-Franklin D. Roosevelt

Book Review(s)

In the last week I have read two new books (I am a fast reader). Both of these books I read through Barnes and Noble's eBook. It's a great way to instantly download and read books on your computer. It took a bit of getting used to, reading the book on the computer screen, but now I really like the convenience of it. The first book I read because I joined a book club with some ladies at work. Our first meeting (well, MY first meeting with them) is this month and they've been reading The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. At first I was skeptical...this was not something I would have chosen to read. I have not read nor have I been swept up in the whole Da Vinci Code madness. BUT the whole idea of joining a book club was to explore new horizons!

And...I thought the book was great! Truthfully, all the talk about the CIA, Freemasons, and so many governmental secrets shook me a bit. But it was an exciting read. I'm even now thinking about finally reading The Da Vinci Code.

The next book I've been wanting to read for a few weeks (ever since I realized it written by Nicolas Sparks AND learned that the movie is coming out next month). I have the book on reserve at the library, but liked the eBook idea so much that I bought it digitally over the weekend on B&N. The book is titled Dear John and because I have already seen the movie trailer, it was easy to picture the characters. Warning: this book, as with any other Sparks novel, is a tear-jerker. The love story is similar to The Notebook (which I adored). BUT the story reveals how life can get in the way of love. I basically read this book in one sitting...and then cried for about 10 minutes! I can't wait for the movie but will most likely wait to see it on DVD so I can cry openly at home. :)

Both books are completely different and I highly recommend both of them!!

Next on the list:
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust by Immaculee Ilibagaza

Has it been 20 years?? D'oh! I feel old...

Tonight marks the 20th anniversary of The Simpsons!! Whoo-hoo!

I remember the last day of 8th grade (1990?) when I wore a pair of Simpsons boxer shorts over a pair of biker shorts (how stylish was I?). I've seen every episode and can't believe they are still on the tube, making us laugh.

So, to commemorate the occasion, I've decided to list five of my favorite Simpsons episodes. And, yes, in case you are wondering...I can tell you what happens in the episode within the first 3 minutes (other shows with which I have this ability: Seinfeld, King of the Hill, Family Guy, Will & Grace, Golden Girls, Designing Women, etc). Am I talented? Yes. Do I watch too much TV? Double yes.

On with the shows...

1) "One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish" (Season 2)
After eating everything on the menu at House of Sumo, Homer eats what he thinks was a poisonous blowfish. Dr. Hibbard tells him he has 22 hours to live (24 hours minus the 2-hour wait in the doctor's office). Homer lives what he thinks are his last hours on Earth, trying to be a good father and husband. When he realizes the next morning that he is still alive, he vows to live life to the fullest by "watching a bowling tournament and eating pork rinds." Mmmm...hog fat.

2) "Pygmoelian" (Season 11)
Moe realizes how ugly he is and decides to get plastic surgery. He becomes a soap opera star only to have a piece of the set fall on his face, thus making it look the way it did before surgery.

3) "Lisa's Rival" (Season 6)
Lisa has to deal with a new student who is as smart as she is (Allison, a.k.a Winona Ryder). At the "Diorama-Rama" Lisa tells Bart to sabotage Allison's project but later feels guilty. Lisa and Allison eventually become friends after both losing to Ralph Wiggum (who won with Star Wars figurines still in the packages). Best quote of the episode by Ralph: "My cat's breath smells like cat food."

4) "Bart's Girlfriend" (Season 6)
Meryl Streep voices the seemingly perfect daughter of Reverend Lovejoy, Jessica. Bart falls hard for her and Jessica likes Bart because she sees him as a bad boy. Together they wreak havoc on the town and Bart realizes Jessica is more of a troublemaker than he is. I just LOVE Streep's voice, all airy and breathy. The lady is dead on when it comes to comedy (case in point, this movie).

5) "Homer, Bad Man" (Season 6)
Marge and Homer attend a candy convention (Hello? I want to go to one of these!!) and hire a babysitter for the kids while they are gone. At the convention, Homer steals the prized Gummy Venus but later loses it. While driving the babysitter home he spies it on her rear end as she gets out of the car. When he reaches for it, she thinks he is sexually harassing her. A public outcry ensues and Homer is interviewed for a tabloid show which totally makes him out to be a pervert. In the end Groundskeeper Willie saves the day with a video of what actually happened that night.


I ♥ Homer.

Mmmm...broccoli

I think this recipe has the potential to convert even the toughest broccoli critics...although I doubt I could get Mr. Anti-Broccoli (a.k.a. My dad) to even stay in the same ROOM with it! This nutritious member of the cabbage family may be cooked several different ways, but this one is by far my favorite.

I apologize for the blurry picture--I had to use an old camera and it's just awful!

Roasted Broccoli with Garlic
1 large head of broccoli
3-4 garlic cloves
2-3 T olive oil
kosher salt
black pepper

Rinse broccoli and cut into bite-sized florets. In a food processor (or with your knife) roughly mince the garlic and add some kosher salt to give it a paste-like texture. Toss the broccoli, garlic, olive oil, black pepper in a large bowl. Spread the mixture evenly onto a baking sheet and toss a little more salt over everything. Roast at 400 degrees for 15-25 minutes. The broccoli is ready when the edges of the florets begin to brown (and your house smells of heavenly garlic). You can also add some red pepper flakes for a little heat!

Things that should stay out of 2010

...but most likely won't.

1) The phrase "that's how we roll."

2) PEOPLE WHO CONSTANTLY YELL IN THEIR FACEBOOK STATUS.

3) The use of "super" and "hella" as adjectives. (Yours Truly does this)

4) Verbification. ("I've been computering all day.")

5) The butchering of the ellipsis. (Jenni-isms is quite fond of this grammatical abuse...and will continue to do it.)

6) One word: Twitter.

7) Anything and everything related to vampires.

8) The phrase "I'm just sayin'" (Because I think it's snarky)

9) The phrase "I know, right?"

10) Comic Sans MS font.

11) The word "guesstimate." (Because it doesn't make sense, especially to us science geeks)

12) Swine flu.

13) Bailout.

14) The TV show TMZ.

15) The term "economic crisis." (The economy always has and always will be a cycle, people.)

The end.

I've never...

* had a cup of coffee
* sat on a heated toilet seat
* ridden on a train
* puked from being too drunk
* been in a strip club
* NOT had a pet
* met a pizza I didn't like
* ridden a tandem bike
* been to Canada
* had the measles
* cheated on a math test
* been a morning person
* had a root canal
* broken a bone

Book Review

While I was snowed in over the Christmas holiday, I read a new book. Mom had heard it was good so I gave it a whirl. It's a wonderful, endearing, and somewhat eye-opening story. This was not in my usual genre (King, Koontz, Saul) but I'm trying to embrace new and enlightening topics. Lately when I read a book I try to imagine what actor would best play each part in the movie version. Sure enough, I saw that the screenplay is in the works for a possible movie! Let's just hope Oprah stays out of this one...

I promise you won't want this book to end. Be prepared to meet three unforgettable women...

The Help
Kathleen Stockett

Celebrity Bites

It's a new category at Jenni-isms...for all (6) of my readers!

In today's Celebrity Bites we have the lovely and talented Mariah Carey. No, this isn't a post about her large breastices or her diva-demands (she apparently made two men LOWER her onto a sofa so as not to wrinkle her dress during an interview in London). In this video clip, Miss Butterfly seems to be channeling Anna Nicole Smith at the AMA's back in 2004. I'm thinking a little too much bubbly, but others are speculating possible drug use.

Personally? I think she's kind of a bimbo. The girl's got pipes but no class. Enjoy!

Swing life away

From the time I was 7 and up until I was 19-years-old there was a particular swing in my hometown that I loved. It was capable of going exceptionally high and I must admit I was good at getting air. There is nothing quite like the feeling I get when I swing. It always brings a smile to my face and makes me feel like a kid again...no worries, no deadlines, no bills to pay. I love the feel of the wind in my air and on my cheeks. I can almost feel the plastic seat and wrap my hands around the thick metal chains as I push and pull my way to freedom. Sometimes, if I got high enough, I would feel that familiar twinge in my belly...the excitement and tingle of going so high on the swing and testing the limits of basic physics.

I wonder if that swing is still there...just beyond the gazebo in the park on Tree Lane. Next time I'm in town I may have to check it out. There is no age limit when it comes to swinging...

New year, no limits

The first Monday of 2010!! Are you excited?

Other than the fact that it it still freezing cold outside, snow is still on the ground, and the next holiday is months away, I am gearing up for the year ahead! I've officially started training for the OKC Half Marathon in April and I'm coming up with new and tangible goals for 2010. Last year was great, but I'm going to do everything I can to make this year even happier and healthier. I will continue to incorporate more fitness and better nutrition into my everyday life. I also want to find new outlets for creativity...I've already found that photography is a fun way to express myself. I'd like to try out sewing and more crafty avenues. My top priority this year (besides the half-marathon) is finally graduating!! I'm chugging along with classes and should be finished by the end of the year--finally!

I'm still pondering new ideas and goals...I love a clean slate!