Sarita Shoemaker

Banana Bread Recipe

Banana Bread – off the charts DELICIOUS
Vegan, Vegetarian

This bread is not super sweet. My daughter has nut allergies so I only used a few pecans on one side of the top. Randy loves coming home after a boot camp workout to a surprise and I had these bananas staring me down for the last three days. What else was I supposed to do!?

Time 1:08

Preparation 8 minutes. Baking 50 minutes. Cooling 10 minutes.

Ingredients:
1 cup of smashed banana
2T chia seeds
⅓ cup almond-coconut creamer (or non-dairy milk)
1T coconut oil (melted)
2T maple syrup
2t vanilla extract
¼ c sugar
½ c rolled oats
1t baking soda
½ t baking powder
½ t kosher salt
1 ½ c whole wheat flour
Optional: pecans on top, ¼ cup

Directions:

Lay all of your ingredients out first.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line bread baking dish with parchment paper.

Stir chia and non-dairy milk (I used a coconut/almond milk cream I had in my fridge). Set aside.

Combine banana, chia milk blend, maple syrup, vanilla extract and coconut oil well. Really stir it up.

Add in and stir well between each ingredient: sugar, oats, baking soda, baking powder, salt. Mix it up well.

Sprinkle in flour folding and mixing.

It will be a big sticky blob – which is what you want.

Use a spoon and ¼ measuring cup to scoop and transfer mix to the parchment paper covered bread baking dish. Spread it out nicely.

Bake for 50 minutes. Remove and lightly press the middle of bread (it should push back up – if so, you are done. If not, put it in for another 5 minutes). I love my breads crusty.

Remove from dish and place on rack to cool down, 10 minutes at least.
Cut and serve immediately!

BRIGHT IDEA

Have baked bread in the morning! Wake up your family (and neighbors) with the delicious wafting smell of this bread. Prepare the wet ingredients and place in airtight container the night before. Same with the dry ingredients. Mix together first thing in the morning and SHAZAM!

UPDATE (Feb 15, 2017)

I have successfully eliminated COCONUT OIL from this recipe! The bread is just fabulous.

I also added cinnamon on my last go around: “best bread so far” was the exact comment from my Husband Unit. Just sprinkle 1/4t of cinnamon up to 1/2t into the batter just before placing it into the bread dish to bake.

SEE MY BANANA BREAD “FIRST CUT”

Starring: my banana bread fresh out of the oven having cooled for 10 minutes.

I found the original recipe at OhSheGlows and modified it to match what I had in my cupboard. I LOVE her website and highly recommend you visit for plenty of ideas.

Why Are People Marching Today?

Screen shot of Google Search — Screen shot of my Google Search “women’s march today”

I’m really confused on these Women’s Marches Planned all over the USA.

Where is it organized out of, what is it for exactly, who created it?
I feel dumb asking but I really don’t know.
I’m wary of joining any groups that claim (what sounds like) a good purpose only to discover that was all a lie and agenda for something else I don’t believe in and I’m now fighting against.
I’ve heard they were Anti-Trump and/or Pro-Women’s Rights. I’ve seen my democratic and republican friends rallying. Men and women.
Who is the enemy the march is supposed to be directed at?
What change is the march going for accomplishing?
What is the united message? Are there specific details within the message that are clearly stated?

I feel like I’m supposed to choose something but the details are unclear and the pressure is on because I have two X’s.

Just being alive is getting to be more stressful than ever.

More results of my search below. Try you own!

We all know my browser is influenced by my searching AND what paid advertisers have purchased, right?

I’m curious about what everyone else sees first.

My 2-Cents

American flag. Photo by me, Sarita Shoemaker.

Randy and I turned off our cable TV in March last year. To save money but also to stop having a fire hose of hate pumping into our faces whenever we turned on a normal channel.

Since then I mostly get my political “observations” from Facebook. I RARELY take the time to “get informed” by any friend’s political posts. Ignorance is bliss, sort of.

My daughter regularly fills me in on how awful our system is, especially for her generation. I don’t debate with her about it (because it is better to just love your kids and let them be who they are, and responsible for their choices.)

When I did a survey last year of my Facebook friends it was 50/50 divided blue and red. That was interesting to me.

I was purple.

I kept (that I can remember) my mouth shut on my personal opinions for the most part and decided to not partake in the banter or debates.

On a few occasions I’d have a reply fully written to an extreme caustic post…writing out what I REALLY wanted to say very carefully. 90% of my “friends” are my “customers” and I have to think about making a living, right?

Most times I just never hit POST because, in my mind, my throw up back onto the original throw up wouldn’t solve anything and definitely didn’t make me feel better.

My sister and I with mom on the east coast. Photo by my dad Victor Alvarez.

Plus, I sincerely believe my mom is out there watching me and my behavior and she was a super kind person that people said “has the patience of Job.” (I don’t know much about this Job, but he has got to have big-time patience for what my mom tolerated).

Today is a big day for all of us. Yesterday was the start of 4 years with a new Boss.

In my tiny little time on earth I’ve been able to have some of the most awful and fantastic bosses you would ever imagine.

I’ve had Leadership you would drive the entire place into the ground.

I’ve experienced Leaders that knew their days were numbered and they spent those last days getting people fired (or trying to) to either save themselves or have revenge.

They had dumb ideas, they were bossy and pushy, they thought they knew it all.

Anyone ever fought nepotism?

How about the boss that tried to sniff into your personal life and make you donate to a cult?

There were a few disturbingly disgusting. One of them would come to my desk and lean over my food breathing on it with their smokey-spit ask me “you gonna eat that!?” pointing to something I’d pushed to the side of my plate. Nauseating!

One of my FAVORITE Leaders. I was the GM for Panda Software in the USA. This is Mikel Urizarbarrena, part owner along with two other leaders I admired: Jose Maria and Mar.

BUT I’ve also had dynamic bosses that empowered me to have initiative, be myself and take pride for good things and responsibility for bad things in my sections, departments, divisions and countries.

You really don’t know what kind of boss someone is until they are actually doing their boss job.

Holding other jobs before is a nice gauge. Seriously though, have you ever had a person move up the corporate ladder and begin making changes you LOVE or HATE? In disbelief I’d be thinking, “where did THAT behavior come from!?” GOOD and BAD (for the record).

I can remember each of them pretty clearly. They all made me the “employee” I am today.

My feeling now that we have had 8 years of Obama and are embarking on at least 4 years of Trump is the same as having a new boss.

You hope you won’t hate coming to work every day.

You hope they succeed if they are a good boss.

You hope you survive if they are a bad boss.

I don’t think anyone can really say WHAT is going to happen over the next 4 years. We can predict and guess but that’s just wasting precious time.

Did anyone know what President Obama would do? Change? Improve? Destroy? I don’t think so.

An idea to save your sanity a smidge:

1) Cancel your TV feeds. I firmly believe it’s all just BS.

2) Recognize the good things in your life (things you can see and touch and control) and focus on making them better.

3) Live healthier with exercise 6 of 7 days. Be sure to include GOING OUTSIDE.

4) Make progress on your “Dream” or “Bucket List” items. A little every day or week.

5) I have no idea how to tell you to read things that are factual. I don’t believe ANYTHING anymore (and I used to). Maybe I was way more gullible or influenced by the scientology cult. Just beware and possibly open to seeing other points of view if you don’t already do.

6) Don’t take it personal if someone throws up on you. Just hold their hair if they need you to. Being nicer is sometimes gross and you gag, but I firmly believe it is better than being an asshole. If anything, for the stress of it all!

These are my opinions.

If you have your own, cool. I still love you no matter what they are.

Hearty Italian Vegetable Stew

InstantPot Pressure Cooker
Vegan, Vegetarian, Low Fat, Protein Packed

Hearty and delicious. Pair with a warm cornbread or salty tortilla chips!

Ingredients

Stage 1
1T water
6 garlic bulbs chopped
1 onion peeled and chopped
5 celery stalks chopped (tops included)

Stage 2
64oz of vegetable broth
1T parsley
1t thyme
1t oregano
1t sweet did basil
1t crushed red pepper (double if you want this super spicy)

Stage 3
3 carrots chopped
3 yellow potatoes with skins on, diced to bite size

1 small can/cup Great Northern beans
4 giant Lacinato kale leaves, sliced to small strips
3 cups of broccoli florets (bite size)
1 cup of frozen sweet corn

Directions

IMPORTANT: Prepare ALL of your ingredients before you begin.

Press ON Saute Mode, add Stage 1 ingredients.
Toss around to get water spread evenly.

Turn Saute Mode OFF.

Add Stage 2 ingredients. Stir to combine everything.

Add Stage 3 ingredients continuing to stir.

Turn ON Manual Mode, set to HIGH PRESSURE and 10 minutes.

Be sure the release valve is CLOSED.

InstantPot turns on by itself with beeps. The pressure will build up. Once it does the “10 minutes” begins. It will beep when the 10 minutes is up (just enough time to clean up my kitchen, floors swept and mopped or dishwasher unloaded).

You could even use this time to bake HOME MADE CORN BREAD! See that recipe here.

You can manually release the pressure (USE AN OVEN MIT – IT IS EXTREMELY HOT). I normally lay a hot pad or towel loosely over the release valve so the steam doesn’t hit the ceiling (which it will). Let the steam go until the valve pin next to it drops. You cannot open the lid until that pin drops.

Open and stir.

Serve.

PDF OF RECIPE: hearty-italian-vegetable-stew-pages

Review: Five Sisters Coffee

For the last 12 years I have been completely SPOILED by my husband beyond what any wife deserves. “It’s the little things.” really rings true. My husband wakes me up for work AT 4:11AM by setting a hot cup of coffee on my nightstand. I know. You just judged me as a spoiled brat didn’t you!? Hold that thought: we give things like this to each other. I iron his 45 cotton hankies into small squares. Plus, we just love making each other happy.

The morning sipping time will often include a review of the coffee.

We buy bulk from Costco, get used to order Peets, we bought direct from Starbucks and we’ve been given gifts. Most every single try has had a burnt taste which we both don’t enjoy.

Introducing: FIVE SISTERS ORGANIC COFFEE

Finally, after trying coffee blends, I have discovered the perfect coffee for my tastes.

Medium roast, no bitter aftertaste, smooth flavor.

I add 1 tablespoon of coconut coffee creamer (#1 choice Trader Joe’s Coconut Creamer or So Delicious Coconut Milk Creamer) to my 8 ounce cup.

This coffee is smooth enough to not NEED any creamer!

ALSO as a bonus:

Organic
Fair Trade
Farmer Owned Cooperative (Pachamama Coffee Cooperative) from Nicaragua, Guatemala and Peru

HOW TO GET IT

They work with a Cooperative (Co-Op) to ensure the farmers actually GET PAID.

You can buy direct from the Cooperative. See that here.

Check in your local health food store, ask for it or check online.

I know I saw it at Farm Fresh To You’s website. You can Google Search for it too.

Happy sipping!

Cleaning Your Instant Pot

My mother was a complete nag on a few topics (of which I am eternally grateful).
Clean your body every day, brush your teeth and floss, make your bed, change your sheets once a week, brush your hair, wear clean clothes and when I graduated to having my very own kitchen: keep your kitchen and its contents sparkling and in good condition at all time.
That’s why I am proud to say I have kept a Black and Decker Toaster for way beyond its lifetime expectancy. My pots and pans are in great condition and if my mom hadn’t mistakenly given all of her pots and pans to her employee, I’d have inherited the set she purchased in Germany before I was born (dang it…get yourself a Living Trust people).
I have discovered my Instant Pot has one bothersome flaw: the ring inside the lid absorbs the flavors of the dishes I’m making. That then transfers to my next meal.
I called IP Tech
Support (yes, a live person answered and he was mighty nice) and he warned me not to take the ring out often. I’d been removing it, scrubbing it and letting it sit in soapy dishwater. That will erode the perfect seal.
DO

Wash with a soft and dish soap bubbly sopping wet rag.
Clean lid with the rag and pick out any food particles with a soft toothbrush.
Dry the lid upside down OUTSIDE IN THE SUNSHINE.
Order a second ring or even third. Switch out the ring with the food – sweet and salty – you cook.
Tilt the IP on its side next to the sink and clean out the mote between the outside and inside.
Pull out the water catch and rinse it then let it fully dry before putting it back.
Store the pot with the lid upside down (so air can get to all parts).
Clean your pot (and the rack) after every use sooner to the completion of your dish than later.
Dry the removable pot and rack (do not let them drip dry) immediately.
Wipe down the inside heating unit carefully with the above wet rag (squeeze it out before).

DON’T

Use anything but dish soap and warm water.
Submerge the lid!
Remove the inner ring often.

None of the DON’TS are disasterous.
The point is to keep your unit in good working condition (did you fill in your Warranty Card?) to last for generations if possible.
Happy Cooking and Happy Cleaning!
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