Banana Bread & Sparkling Earrings

*Photo credited here.

Okay. So these two things are pretty much totally unrelated, except for the fact that I want to share them with you.

First off, the Banana Bread.
I've had some bananas in my freezer for quite some time now that I've been waiting to use to make banana bread. Don't know what I was waiting for, but oh well I finally did a couple of days ago and MAN it was good! Like, oh my gosh I can't believe I baked that - good. Like, dang, am I a good baker or was it really just that easy - good. I have to share the recipe and encourage any of you bakers (novice or the like) to give it a try. The bananas I used were BLACK. I let them thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then cut the top off and the banana pretty much squeezed out of the peel. Kinda gross. But I googled it, and black bananas are okay to use :-)

Now, for the recipe! I made 2 smaller loaves, and took one over to my new neighbor.

Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ginger, ground
1/4 teaspoon allspice, ground
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, grated
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest (optional)
1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine
3/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups ripe bananas, mashed (4 medium)

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Grease 9 x 5 inch loaf pan. (I used 2 - 4"x6"ish something pans)
3. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, allspice and nutmeg together in bowl.
4. Add lemon zest and almonds.
5. Stir until combined.
6. Set aside. Beat butter in large mixing bowl until soft and creamy.
7. Beat in sugar until light and fluffy.
8. Add eggs and beat until thoroughly blended.
9. Beat in flour mixture alternately with bananas until mixture is well blended.
10. Pour into prepared pan.
11. Bake in center of oven for about 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
12. Cool in pan on wire rack 10 minutes.
13. Invert from pan and cool completely on rack.

*To see the recipe on food. com. click HERE.




Now, for the Sparkling Earrings.
I'm getting a package together to ship off to my favorite store in North Carolina where I sell my goods and wanted to include some of my earrings. However, they needed a little polishing. Since I forgot to pick up some silver polish wipes when I was out the other day, I turned to trusty google to find an alternate way to clean them - and VOILA - ehow, you did not disappoint.

With a little bit of aluminum foil, baking soda, and boiling water, these earrings are super sparkly and ready to go! So, if any of you have some jewelry that needs a little sparkle, give THIS a whirl because it works!

So these are my latest two nuggets to share. A recipe and a how-to. Any new tips you have to share?