Baking

My kitchen is a mess. I got an itching to bake. Yesterday I woke up and ran off to have lunch with my mother and stepfather. We ate at Sam's Chowder House in Half Moon Bay. We had a glorious view with smooth, sparkling water and yummy seafood. We enjoyed Clam Chowder (both Manhattan and New England) as well as Ahi Poke and a full dungress crab. But despite the good food, I was realizing that I hadn't cooked a meal in about two weeks. Take out and restaurants and I was craving some home cooked goods.

So, after lunch I stopped at home and found some recipes for food as well as the cranberry bread from my mother and her mother (always made in December) and made up a list. Met up with my girlfriend Sonya, of Hong Kong fame, as she was in town. We only had time for a quick drink, as she was running off to see a friend's new baby and I, as I put it, "I am in the mood to bake." She about lost her beer, "That is a phrase that has never slipped past my lips, 'I am in the mood to bake.'" She was incredulous.

But 3 hours later I was in full swing. 4 mini-tins of banana bread, 5 of cranberry bread (I forgot the 1/2 t of baking soda dissolved in hot water, so they look a tad limp, however they taste great), marinated New York steak, Suffato (vegetable stew) and roasted fingerling potatoes. When it came time to eat, I about collapsed. Greg suggested that I was pushing myself too hard... But I just wanted to eat and bake. My kitchen in full of dishes and I have nothing for dinner tonight - how ironic is that?

Anyway - I gave Liz the Team Lead a banana bread. A bit nervous about that, as I think I over cooked it slightly and I haven't yet tasted it. Greg got a steak sandwich for lunch with a tin of each type of bread and the remaining roasted potatoes. I've got three tins on my desk and we'll have to see who gets them.

And yes, for those in the know - that is Gail's famous Banana Bread that I made.