Chocolate Chip Banana Cookies

A food post! It's been a long time. The truth is, though, that I haven't been doing much cooking the last few weeks. Since I hurt myself, it's been difficult to stand in one spot for a long time (like standing in the kitchen). But it's getting better now. So I decided to use up some bananas to make these cookies!

My roommate made a similar recipe during this past school year. I really liked them and decided that I would try to make something similar. These cookies are almost like a muffin. They are kind of a cross between a cookie and a muffin, quite yummy! Instead of making banana bread with your brown bananas, give these cookies a try!


Chocolate Chip Banana Cookies

1 cup white sugar
1 cup butter
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 large ripe bananas, mashed
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (or mix and match with nuts and dried fruit)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Cream butter and sugar together until smooth. Stir in the eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, and cinnamon. Stir into the butter mixture. Then add the mashed bananas, rolled oats and chocolate chips, mix until well blended.

Drop teaspoonfuls onto unprepared cookie sheets. Bake around 8 to 10 minutes. Remove cookies from pan onto wire racks.

Makes 3-4 dozen

You thought I was too busy?

You are probably all thinking that I have forgotten about my blog now that I have started working...which isn't true, because for the last week and a half, I haven't been working. Last Wednesday (the 24th) I fell down a couple of steps, and landed wrongly on my hip. I couldn't move. After laying on the ground for over an hour, stressing about what I possibly broke on my body this time, one failed attempt at standing (to walk to the car to get to the hospital), and nearly fainting, I called my mom and asked her if she thought an ambulance was covered by our medical insurance.

So, I had my first ambulance ride (oh, and if it's medically necessary, OHIP users will only pay $45 for the ambulance, and we've sent in the bill to see if the insurance company will pay the rest). The ride itself was not painful. The hospital situation was. I had to go to the washroom myself, which was not pleasant...but necessary nonetheless! I had to get X-rays, and I could barley lay on my back. I have to say, I don't recall ever being in as much pain as I was on that Wednesday. About four hours later (not bad!) I was on my way home.

Erik moved a bed downstairs for me that I lived on for about a week. On this past Wednesday, I went to the physio therapist, and got up for the first time by myself. Before that, Erik had be getting me up at about four hour intervals (when he came home from work). Walking isn't really a problem, but using my right leg to get me up is. It is getting better now..and I am noticing alot of improvment each day, but I'm still taking it careful. My lower back is bothering me now, because I am walking funny. Hopefully physio will be helpful.

So if you were wondering why I was straying from the blog, that was one reason. I've read alot of Harry Potter the last week (I'm on to the fifth book, but I'm going to take a quick break from Harry and read some other books now). Other than reading and sleeping, I haven't done much. I attempted to make some marshmellowy squares a few days ago, which reminded me that maybe I should just stay out of the kitchen until I've recovered a bit more (lets just say Erik ended up with marshmellow all over him and he wasn't even helping). I am not going back to work next week...actually, I don't know when I will be going back...but standing too long makes me tired, dizzy and have a sore back. I'm aiming to get back and do little jobs as soon as possible, but we'll just see how it goes first.

So, the updates should start to get a bit more regular, as I am probably going to get progressively more active. However, I dont think you all want to hear about what Harry did today (in my world), so I'm going to try to leave the updates to topics that would be of interest!

Slacking in the Recipe department

Sorry about the slack! I have been making new dished, but I haven't taken any pictures, and I am convinced you won't cook anything I post unless there is a visual! I'll try to get on the ball with it, sorry Meaghan! haha...Actally, I'll be starting work full time next week, so it is hard to say how much I will be cooking this summer. Expect new recipes on Sundays, though.

This weekend is pretty busy. Lisa and Ron are getting married tomorrow! I'm really excited, I cannot wait to see Lisa's dress! Today we have rehersal business to take care of, which should be fun too. I expect alot of goofing around...at least between Lisa and I!

Snazzy New Shoes

This is a pictures of my new shoes, aren't they snazzy??? I got them last Wednesday and swore I was going to go for a nice long jog on Thursday. Unfortunately, I woke up with a sore throat and didn't do my run until today. Not that I am feeling 100% better today, but I was sick of waiting to try the new shoes. I figured I'd take a nice short, slow run, but I guess I ended up being gone about 45 minutes and I think I ran...about 7 km (?) not too sure, I plan on measuring the distance tomorrow morning. Not to sound cocky, but that was kind of a slow run...but it was much longer than I planned on running. Needless to say, the shoes are very nice! They are super comfortable to run in (no blisters!) and they are also very hot (in terms of appearance!)

To further update, Lisa and Ron's wedding is this coming Saturday, and I'm really excited about that! It should be good, and it will be so neat to see my best friend get married! Lisa and I are going to get together tomorrow to do some chillin'...she wanted a non-wedding related day to relax a bit, so hopefully it goes go tomorrow!

I'm still kind of working. Part time. I'm milking in the morning, and technically I'm supposed to have this week off, but I really don't feel like I need to be sleeping in all week. Peter and Rachel have been really slack on me last week, and it looks similar this week. I think I'll take Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday off completely. They said next Monday there is no more of this part time bologna (my words) and that they won't be asking, "Are you coming tomorrow morning to milk?" any more...drat!

The Red Hot Chili Peppers' new album, "Stadium Arcadium" comes out tomorrow. Looking forward to that too! And on a similar note, last Tuesday was the new Tool album, "10,000 Days". I hate to say that this Tool album hasn't topped "Lateralus" for me...but it's still good. From what I've heard, the new Chili Peppers album is supposed to be one of their best yet (with their current line up), and I really think it's going to be the CD for the summer (at least for me...and therefore, Erik also haha). Michelle and I are probably going to go see the Chili Peppers in September (eh, Michelle, the 25th???), that is, if the tickets don't sell out in less than a minute like the Tool one's did...boo!

For those who are interesting in farming, Erik finished planting corn this morning. So that is taken care of for another year...that is, if it doesn't all have to get replanted, eh Erik? I kinda joked about that to him at lunch, he didn't see the humor in my comment. The first year he had the corn planter, ALOT of (if not all....) the corn had to be replanted...that was shitty. Oh well...it was my first year that I got to work in the field and I was happy to get to do it all over again haha.

Speaking of Erik, living with him is going good. The other day he said, "I like living with you." Normally I'd be thrilled of such a comment, but the fact is we haven't really seen each other since I moved in. Well, we've seen each other now a bit, but last week I would only see him for 15 minutes in the morning before we both left for work...and once and a while for a quick lunch. Should be better now though!

That should be a good enough update for you all! And looking back on the title of this post, "Snazzy New Shoes", I realize I have strayed a little bit from my intended topic. But I think this update was due, and since "Snazzy New Shoes" is a fun title, I think I'll leave it!

Still Busy!

Man, I thought once I was moved home, (in with Erik), that this week would be really relaxing. And I also thought I'd be able to try out a bunch of new recipes, since now Erik would be able to help eat them!!! BUT man was I wrong. I moved home the last of my stuff on Sunday, and was up at 5am Monday morning to go to work (!) It's nice weather here and all the farmers are planting. Hence, why I was asked to start work. I am apparently going to get a week off still...when I'm not sure, because I can't see it happening any time soon. Probably as soon as the corn is all in the alfalfa will be coming off and I'll still have to work. Sigh. Oh well. Right now it's not too bad, I'm just milking in the morning and finishing up anything that has to get done for the day. I've been done around 10am all week...but still! I'm getting up in the morning, that's the hard part! Oh well.

So, hopefully when things slow down there will be some more culinary excitement around here, because lately, there hasn't been any. Oh well...at least I finally got my wireless router hooked up and working (that was a headache and a half!)

I'm done University!

Yay! This morning I finished my life as a student...sad in some ways, but very glorious! My last exam was a breeze, I kind of kick myself for studying as much as I did...and considering I went biking yesturday afternoon, you know it was easy!
Now packing, moving home, unpacking...back to Toronto (Sunday) moving, taking furniture apart, putting it back together, moving Mike some time early next week, unpacking... sigh! Hopefully I can find some room for relaxation!

Saying some goodbyes

The last few days have been a little weird. I have been saying goodbye to people that I have become friends with the last few years. Particularly, two instructors at the YMCA I have been going to. I really love the YMCA I am a member of, it's such a great place and I've really started to feel like a part of the family! Even though I leave during the summers, I would always go back and be greeted with familiar smiles and 'hellos'.
Since last year, I have been taking Spinning classes every Monday night and Tuesday night. This year, I wasn't able to continue with the Tuesday night class, although it really was my ultimate favorite class (great music, great workout!). I still loved Monday night's class, and I attended it regularly the last two years. I also became rather good friends with the one instructor. I said goodbye to her on Monday, but I have a feeling I'll see her some day again! The Tuesday night instructor I never got to know too well, but I introduced myself tonight and let her know how awesome her class was and how much I hated not being able to go to it this year (except during exam time, when I don't have Tuesday night classes!) She really appriciated it, which was nice to see!
Of course, I have been saying goodbye to my class mates also, but it doesn't really feel like a 'final goodbye' with them. I will see them at graduation, and hopefully will keep in touch with some of them through email and phone. I'm sure I'll be back in Toronto often enough, which is where (I believe) most of them are staying (this is where all the broadcast related jobs seem to be).
Anyways, I have until Friday to finish off saying bye to everyone...It will be wierd not attending the gym any more though, I always looked forward to going there in September and seeing everyone again.