Yummy Banana Bread

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2 1/3 cups mashed overripe bananas
• Chocolate Chips and/or nuts (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. 
3. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar.
4. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. 
5. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten. 
6. Add chocolate chips and/or nuts if you want. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
7. Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.

Entertaining...bring it back!

Our world is so full of things competing for our attention; things that claim they will satisfy us, make us happy or will entertain us.  I have really been noticing lately how many of these things are so impersonal and/or cost quite a bit of money.  What happened to the things we used to do for fun that included spending time with each other? Laughing with family and friends while playing a game can be so much more fulfilling than staring at the TV for hours on end. 

One game I recall from years gone by is All Fours. This is the national game of Trinidad and Tobago where my family is from. It is a fun game of strategy and chance that can make for some exciting times and good laughs!  I haven't played this game in many years but I think that I am going to set up a time to teach some friends and have some good old fashioned fun! 

If you are interested in learning the game, here are two sites you might like to check out.

All Fours Rules

All Fours Free Computer Game

What are your favorite games or pastimes to do with family or friends? I'd love to hear more ideas that are free (or require only a small one time investment like buying a game etc). Let me know what you do for fun that helps build your relationships!