Sweets, Shoes, & Vacuum Cleaners

I have had a week-long sweet tooth.

Mr. Original laughs at me whenever I guiltily mumble something about having eaten another chocolate chocolate-chip cookie. Last night, we had caramel cone ice cream on the carpet {um, I bought it and sort of forced it into our floor date}. Mr. Original took a few spoonfuls and then reclined. I kept going. It's just that there were so many little chocolate chunks that needed to be pried out. Oh, dear.

So, the only thing sitting on my cake stand this weekend is FRUIT. Juicy nectarines, plums in two colors, and a bunch of bananas. That's it. Nothing with butter or cream inside. Nothing involving greasing a pan or preheating the oven. It's time to start thinking about a late summer trip to the swimming hole, and I do not want to feel like a pound cake in my polka-dot bikini.

I worked last evening and I'm working tonight. There appears to be the tiniest of dramas there, completely unrelated to me and of which I want no part. But still, I can sense it, and I'm trying to sidestep whenever it hovers near. Luckily, my shoes are quick and excellent at sidestepping {ah ha, you liked that little insertion of fashion, didn't you?!}. In other news, I think I might've broken the vacuum at work. Shhh. Don't ever tell a soul. I call him Nobles, because that's what's printed across his tubby body. He's a stout little guy, and he usually gets the job done. Last night, though, he just gave out. I accidentally {side}stepped on his hose, for the briefest of seconds {the shoes aren't perfect -- sometimes, they let me down}, and when I plugged him in again and went to fire him up, he wouldn't go on. It's electrical, that much I know. Can you affect the electrical business by stumbling over/onto the hose? I didn't think so, but maybe he took it personally. In any case, Nobles is busted and I fear it's my fault.

Okay, friends, that's all I've got for this Saturday, a half-sandwich after noon. Rest assured, I'll be back.

Not-So-Bare Necessity

To go with the egg cups, of course!

You will love le Vintage Maison.
I just found it, and I'm thinking about
proposing we run away together.

Bugs & Bees

While picking up some groceries last night, I spotted these splendid little chocolates by Lindt. Their presentation pushed me right over the edge. And ... um ... they're delicious.

There Will Be Bread

I think we now know each other well enough. Lean in, I'm going to tell you a secret:

You will need 3 or 4 ripe bananas {I like 4}, smashed; 1/3 cup melted butter; 3/4 cup sugar; 1 egg, beaten; 1 tsp. vanilla; 1 tsp. baking soda; a pinch of salt; 1 1/2 cups flour {I don't level off, and sometimes, I don't even do a full 1 1/2 ... to keep it moist}.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Mix melted butter into mashed bananas
3. Mix in sugar, egg, and vanilla
4. Sprinkle in baking soda and salt
5. Add flour last
6. Pour into a buttered 4 x 8" loaf pan
7. Bake one hour

Report back, sweet friends.


P.S. Mr. Original always likes to throw in some chopped up chocolate. You might try it.

Why Don't You ...

take your midnight snack on a non-circular plate? And don't be afraid to put sweetened condensed milk in your tea.

My new and occasional Why Don't You? series is inspired by Diana Vreeland's famous Harper's Bazaar column, begun in 1936, which offered outlandish {and wonderful!} suggestions such as: "Why don't you tie black tulle bows on your wrists?" and "Why don't you put all your dogs in bright yellow collars and leads like all the dogs in Paris?" I think this could be fun! Let me know if you want to play, too.

You Will Not Want to Eat Anything Else

I'll let you in on a lick of deliciousness: Vanilla ice cream {not vanilla bean; try the kind marketed as "homemade" or "creamy"} + honey + cinnamon. Go do it and report back.

Coffee's Not Enough

I'm nervous about an obligation I have this afternoon. I don't like public speaking. I'm so full of anticipation, I've forgotten to eat.

A good breakfast won't hurt.


P.S. Thank you for the grapefruit spoons, Mom.

An Offering

Yup, it's banana bread, just like I promised.