classy things

Things that would make it seem like I'm a classy person enjoying a (very) brisk fall afternoon: I am drinking some darjeeling tea and listening to the Yo-Yo Ma Pandora station. I swear by this station; it's the best. Also I just found this simple breakfast idea originally posted here. These three elements might tell one, Oh, this girl eats breakfast and listens to classy music (it's literally classical music), and drinks tea. Tea is classy.

Unfortunately, I woke up at 12:30 PM today to a text message after having shut off my alarm clock at 10:30 and also just poured the tea down the sink. So who I actually am is someone who stays up until 5 AM reading about determinants of pulmonary gas exchange, needs an alarm clock for 10:30 AM (seriously?) and then doesn't even respond to it. Furthermore, I skipped straight to baking a pizza and some ribs for lunch, and forgot about the tea I was steeping until it was way too bitter.

And now that I decided to write a quick post instead of brush my teeth, I have 15 minutes to leave and go meet my Anatomy group (which, by the way, is composed of great people. I can't help but gush every time I think of them. I told them I would profile each of them on my blog- which, true, has only been actively updated for the past 4 days, but whatever).

So things are a bit of a mess around here. But. Yo-Yo Ma on Pandora? Like I said, I swear by that.

cough drops

The placebo effect is real.

Rewind to about 24 hours ago. I was at Walgreen's looking at Ricola cough drops. The previous night, I had bought this great flavor (the exact flavor escapes me right now). It comes in a pomegranate-colored (that's a color) bag. As I looked at the different flavors trying to figure out if I wanted to try a new one or get the same one. This is pretty much my typical dilemma, no matter where I am or what I am doing. I'm looking at the packaging when I suddenly notice that most of them say Cough Suppressant. Duh, I think to myself... that's the point. But then I begin to wonder why the one I had bought did not say Cough Suppressant on it. Furthermore, why did it say Vitamin C Supplement?

Yes. I had been taking Vitamin C, thinking they were cough drops. I think I had 14 in a day. The thing is, it usually stopped my coughing within three seconds. My friend, Saad, who was with me was not to let me live this down. I was saved only by the fact that in passing, he asked me if I was getting the Honey Herb flavor. Except that he pronounced it "Oney Erb." Overdone silent H's.

Yeah, it's not a good idea to try to buy things after studying for many, many hours.

"You Should Sell These to Starbucks"

[Image by Shutterbean]

One of my goals (which I should really compile so that they are not floating around everywhere- "everywhere" being my brain) is to only eat the sugary things that I make myself. This is my reconciliation of my desire to eat healthier but also still bake. I would like to note that it is really, really hard to avoid buying Trader Joe's Highbrow Cookies. I like slightly crunchy cookies most of the time (I SO go through phases in cookie preferences) and these are irresistible. Inherently, there are many problems to this goal, which I need to work out. For example, what about Molly's Cupcakes or the myriad of delightful Chicago bakeries that I can't help but love and at which I share experiences with friends? There will need to be some thought put into this.

To me, baking is like the less-intimidating, more approachable version of cooking. This autumn, I plan on improving my cooking skills, and yet I feel this inexplicable need to ease into it... and if someone would hold my hand through the entire process, that would be preferable. In the meantime, while I wait for takers, I've been wondering what I can bake for $21. It turns out that I can't get out of making banana bread... over and over again. I made some a few weeks ago on Thursday. Then two more loaves Friday. Then two more loaves yesterday. It also turns out that you can actually make five loaves of banana bread for $21 and still have a lot of leftover ingredients. I am only running low on the yogurt, vanilla extract, and butter. I look forward to trying out some new recipes in the upcoming weeks.... hopefully. It's just that this stuff is so good. And as of yet, I have been unable to mess it up. And I mess up baking a lot, in the most careless ways.

I've been giving it to co-workers and friends left and right. One of my co-workers is obsessed with it and came into work on a day off to get some. And it may be the sole reason that we are friends. But that is another story for another day. One thing I like is that there are no nuts because I feel as though I've recently met quite a few people who are allergic. But I'm sure that they can be added.

I used the recipe from Shutterbean and I believe she got it from a book called Mad Hungry: Recipes for Men and Boys.

Tessy's Banana Bread

• 1 cup plus all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• coarse salt
• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
• 1/3 cup buttermilk (I used 1/2 cup plain yogurt)
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 large banana, mashed (about 1/2 cup)
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For the topping:

• 1 tablespoon cold butter, cut into pieces
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon flour
• salt

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a loaf pan. Or be like me and use Pam. I make enough mess in the kitchen. Me and butter hands don't mix.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together 1 cup flour, the sugar, baking powder, baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon salt.

3. Stir in the melted butter and the buttermilk (or yogurt). Add the egg and beat for 1 minute. Add the banana and vanilla. Stir until well combined. Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.

4. Make a topping by mashing together the tablespoon of cold butter with the tablespoon of flour, the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and a pinch of salt. Distribute the topping evening over the batter. Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until cake tester or toothpick stuck in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Cut and serve from the pan.

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Next up, I'm thinking about trying out zucchini bread or some sort of cookie. I almost always crave cookies.