Banana Nut Bread

Some time ago, I created a list of recipes for future use. The inaugural recipe was for banana nut bread. Since I have some very ripe and rippening bananas on my counter top, I clicked on my recipes link and then on the banana nut bread recipe. But to my dismay, I came up empty. The recipe that I last used and linked to ("crookedkitchen") has disappeared into the ether .

Lesson learned -- shamelessly I must copy and save a version of the recipe for myself since websites come and go. So, for posterity and myself, I am creating a version here which will not be going away for the forseeable future.

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 soft, ripe bananas, mashed

Cream sugar and shortening; add eggs, flour, soda, bananas, and chopped nuts. Pour banana bread batter into 1 greased and floured loaf pan; bake at 325° for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. This banana nut bread recipe makes 1 loaf.

I copied this recipe from Diana's Kitchen. Thanks Diana!

A small piece of heaven

As a Virginia Tech graduate, from the Engineering Science and Mechanics department (Norris Hall), I feel very saddened by the events on my birthday. Yes, that's right. April 16th also happens to be my birthday. Every time my birthday comes around, I will always remember Virginia Tech. But I won't remember it the way that a 23 year old deranged kid wanted us to remember. No, I choose to remember VT as a peaceful, beautiful place, nestled in the mountains near the New River. A place where people can come from all walks of life and all nations to learn, grow and expand in peace and harmony. I choose to remember the water falls nearby, the peaceful quiet town, and the place that gave me a chance for opportunities and growth in life. I choose to gratefully and thankfully remember the faculty and staff in the ESM department at Norris hall and the place that Blacksburg really is. A small piece of heaven.