Turn it up!

I just posted a new playlist. Hope you enjoy all the songs :)

It's official!

It's official b/c it is on the internet :) Check out my bio & awesome picture taken by Elephant Juice Designs and Photography!

Tasty Tuesday - Banana Bread

I love fresh fruit but sometimes I don't get it eaten in time before it goes bad, feel like I am throwing cash in the trash. But luckily "bad" bananas make for some great banana bread!

I tried out a new recipe in my baking bible which never fails to produce a great product. If you do not have this cookbook yet I highly recommend getting it. It reads like a book and tells you step by step why things work and why they do not. So if you have ever had a baking disaster you owe it to yourself to invest in this cookbook!

Banana Bread

2 cups (10 oz) unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting the pan

1 1/4 cups walnuts, chopped course

3/4 cup (5.25 oz) sugar

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 very ripe, soft, darkly speckled large bananas, mashed well (about 1 1/2 cups)

1/4 cup plain yogurt

2 large eggs, beaten lightly

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Adjust an oven rack to the lower-middle position and heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease the bottom and sides of a 9x5 inch loaf pan; dust with flour, tapping the excess

2. Spread the walnuts on a baking sheet and toast until fragrant, 5-10 minutes. Set aside to cool.

3. Whisk the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and walnuts together in a large bowl; set aside.

4. Mix the mashed bananas, yogurt, eggs, butter and vanilla with a wooden spoon in a medium bowl. Lightly fold the banana mixture into the dry ingredients with a rubber spatula until just combined and the batter looks thick and chunky. Scrape the batter into the prepared loaf pan.

5. Bake until the loaf is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 55 minutes. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature. The bread can be wrapped with plastic wrap and stored at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Baking away... and smelling so good!

Fresh out of the oven

Looks perfect!

Wish list ideas - updated!

Just a few things that are on the top of my wish list... Please make sure the appropriate people see this post :)

Cuisinart food processor - No substitutions :)iPhone 3G[S]Tocca perfume in Cleopatra

Party at 600

Last weekend was filled with tons of fun with friends and family. It was the first KSU home game that I attended and the first party at my house. I was fortunate enough to get tickets thru work for the game that included passes to the luxury suite that they have. The suite was SWEET, complete with food and adult beverages, something that you can not have anywhere else in the stadium and technically parking lot.

This is me and my college roommate Jenn in the suite. After the game at my house - Audra, me, Abby (in back) and JennCutting my mom's birthday cake, I am not sure what I was thinking at the time...I was pretty proud of my homemade German chocolate cake!Happy birthday mom! I hope you had fun at your party... Or I hope you can remember it :)
me & Dina!

Jeff & Barry = handsome devils!

Fun times

Dr. Heptig & Dr. Kluttz trying to fix my mom's broken glasses... Didn't work. Had to send them back to Italee for repair :(
New friend Matt, my mom and me

Abigail & Nate (aka Dr. Kluttz)
Attempting to help Dina get rid of the hiccups... :)

The party was so much fun! Thanks to all who came. It was really easy to get things back in order the next day, surprise, surprise. I can't wait for the next party and KSU win! So I guess it will be this weekend :)

Laura's post

Please click here to check out Laura's post from her visit this past week. What great photos! I love that she circled my little sister at band practice. Made me laugh out loud!

Quickie in CA

It is hard to believe that it was almost 2 weeks ago that I left for my mini vacation to Southern California. I found a great little secret and could not resist to take the trip. I found out that American Airlines is flying twice a day in and out of Manhattan (the little apple). I found round trip airfare for $250! I did have a layover in Dallas but still... I love the 5 minute commute to the airport instead of the normal 2 hour drive to Wichita or Kansas City, both of which have flights for the same price or more.

It just so happened that my precious Kansas State Wildcats were playing UCLA at the Rose Bowl that very same weekend. It was meant to be for sure!

Here is the awesome Rose Bowl. It was gorgeous but I still prefer Bill Snyder Stadium... Best acoustics ever!
2 Kansas girls reunited in CA! Go CATS! With my friend Tyler at the game
Krista, Tami & Melanie at the beachWatching Monday night football at Saint Rocke

20

20 more days...