ring ring ring ring Banana phone: Best Banana Bread

Baking with S: Coconut Banana Bread Edition

Since handing in my dissertation, I've felt a lot less guilty doing the things I want: walking to Broadbeach to my favourite second hand book shop, going through my belongings (you know, creating outfits out of the clothes I already own), cooking, baking etc.


I've been searching the internet for great recipes for banana bread. I had a few bananas going off (I don't want to eat them once they get slightly spotted... eww) which is perfect for smashing for banana bread. Plus, I bought coconut shaving for a coconut fish recipe I found prior, so I was sitting with a TON of coconut to use up in the next few weeks.


So, I decided to give coconut banana bread a whirl in my crappy little toaster oven in the Pyrex dish I bought a few weeks ago.


If you make it, you will need:


1 cup desiccated coconut
1/2 cup castor sugar
1 1/2 cup self raising flour
1 cup mashed banana
1 cup soy milk (or 1/2 c of milk, 1/2 c of water)
1 egg
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

a handful of dark chocolate chips


It's easy to make: Mix all the dry ingredients in one bowl and all the wet in another (mash those bananas well) then mix them together. Pour into a greased dish (I used the clear Pyrex one) It makes a 9' x 9' (I think, I could be wrong) and bake for about an hour at 170 degrees celsius. 


Stick a knife in it to see if it's done. It will come out clean if it is!... let it sit for a while, or if you're like me, cut a piece out and burn your mouth on the chocolate chips (umm totally worth it)


So I modified this a bit. The original called for a cup of sugar (too sweet) and coconut milk (which would have been delicious, but I've read it is very high in fat) and didn't have chocolate chips. Regardless, mine, even with modifications, turned out wonderful!

...delicious!

From the Inspiration Files

When I have a house...

*These are part of the "Design Inspiration" files saved to my hard drive. I have no idea where they came from...

Things to remember

A Very Cultural Day in Brisbane

As the time ticks down to my departure, I'm trying to fit in a few local(ish) adventures! The Goldy really lacks in all thing cultural, so Tuesday I headed to Brisbane with D to see some art at GOMA.

First stop was Grill'd. I am seriously obsessed with the burgers there. "Healthy burgers" as they call them. I just call them delicious. I didn't get a picture... Next time!

To get to the museum, you have to walk through Southbank. I could live in Southbank and Griffith has a campus there, but they only offer limited courses (and the two hours each way commute didn't really tickle my fancy). Anyway, Southbank is really artsy and cool and on Tuesday they had a festival for Under 8's.

This was a giant play thinger that you (if you were 8 or under) could go into:

Up next, these really random 'paper' boats. I'm not sure what they were intended for. You can't really question art, though:

There were a few things happening at GOMA including a huge New Zealand feature. I don't get the large dead bunny, but I (strangely) like it!:

And of course, what's New Zealand without FLIGHT OF THE CONCORDS? They had these TV's set up playing 4 different episodes of the show-- including the episode with Aziz Ansari that I posted recently !  HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY! 

The main feature of GOMA was Ron Mueck . His art is super realistic and slightly (ok, super) creepy. 

Now it was a bit crazy, but we were checking out his book on the way out and I've actually seen his work before! The National Gallery in Ottawa has this GIGANTIC baby head that he created and I have a picture standing beside it. 

On the way back, we ran into the traveling Hat Museum:

I got yelled at for taking pictures, so I snapped this one when the security guard wasn't looking:

And finally, this was part of the museum. As D pointed out, it looks like this guy is rocking the iPod running arm band. He is so ahead of his time! 

As we left, we grabbed a coffee and walked to the train station. And that was Tuesday... an excellent, cultured day! 

I live in the wrong country (For many reasons including this)

America, I love you because you bring me products like this:

Check out the Cheerios site to see all the things you can make with them... yum! 

Just do it!

Nike. Kobe. Andre 3000.

Summer Missions

In July I'll arrive home with no money, lots of laundry to do and a heaps of memories. But what I willl be missing is, thus far, a job. Not even a career, just a simple everyday money making job. (HELP ME!) So while I'm continuously looking for something to do, I'm also thinking of all the things on my "summer-to-do" list.

I've come up with a few things:

1. Sewing. I started making a dress before I arrived to Australia (actually this began prior to my European adventure)-- I'm not even sure if it will still fit but I'm going to arrive back home and get that dress finished! And I've been searching the internet for other things I want to make and I've compiled a list of bookmarks for that! 

I want to try my hands at these skirts and dresses by designer Cynthia Rowley:

(@ here)

Cute, non? Love the colours, too. Will have to check out Fabricland when I get back! Hello, ends! 

2. Volunteering. I'm not sure where yet, but I've typically done some kind of volunteering since I was a kid. Maybe at the art gallery? Or perhaps I should focus on getting that job first...

3. Cooking! Last night I ventured out of my boring as cooking routine of the same blah food and tried out a great recipe I found: Coconut Fish & Chips.  I'm not into mayo, so I switched that out for a honey mustard and it was amazing. I need to go to the fresh meat and seafood counter more often I think. Ah, delicious delicious inspiration.  

4. Outside exercise. I love jogging outside along the beach but recently there have been some weird attacks, so I've slowed down the running outside at night routine. BUT as I will be without employment, I will run outside during the day at home. Exploration of the north part of town... I wonder what's changed? 

5. A few mini-vacations trips. I have a few mini vacations planned:

A quick trip to Kentucky for a long weekend when I arrive (perhaps a quick trip to Nashville?) which will be an excellent opportunity to catch up with the family!

NYC, baby! I promised one of my little sisters a weekend trip to the City to see the sights, sounds and a Broadway play. I also promised another trip to A, so I better get a job because A & I in the City is terrible for my bank account. 

So many plans, so little money!