I usually never attempt to make any of the cookie or cake of the month recipes in MSL. I just never get around to it. This time, mum found a previous issue (September 2006) of MSL and asked if I was interested in baking these cookies. She loves banana-anything and that was what caught her eye.

The key is to use really ripe bananas so that you can taste it when it’s baked.

Ingredients
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup unsalted butter (I didn’t have enough butter so I used 1/2 cup butter flavored shortening and 1/4 cup unsalted butter)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup or 1 large ripe banana, mashed
1 cup rolled oats
8 oz semi-sweet chocolate chunks (I use choc chips)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts, toasted

Method
To make, combine flour (both white and whole wheat), a pinch of salt and baking soda in a bowl; set aside.

Beat butter and sugars until fluffy, then add egg and vanilla. Mix in banana. Add flour mixture to that, and then stir in oats, walnuts and chocolate chunks.

Spoon out onto a parchment linked baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes at 375 degrees. (I used 1 1/2 inch serving scoops)

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I really liked this cookie – it’s very much like a banana walnut muffin, only crisper on the outside and because of the shortening, soft and chewy on the inside.

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Almost a year to the birthday of our patio, we are taking on another garden project: to renovate our boggy lawn.

Our house is at the bottom of a steep street and as a result, a lot of runoff gets into our backyard.

Wet winter + clayey soil = soggy & moss-ridden lawnWith the advice of a friend who descends from no less than 5 generations of master gardeners, we have added a turf builder with added iron sulphates to rid the lawn of the moss. The broadleaf weeds like dandelions had to removed because they have been growing like mad.

Mike has offered to renovate the lawn with this “recipe” that Ann Lovejoy has shared from Joy Creek nursery in Oregon since he is now on spring break. He’s not only checking off items from the “honey-do” list, he is also creating his own projects. Such a keeper, this Mike!

BEFORE

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Despite the rainy spring weather that we’re having, we spent the day at the outdoor outlet mall. Mike had to get some new clothes and we picked up quite a few things for him that were good bargains.

I got myself some new spring sandals and this wonderful smelling oil (they got me at ‘rare orchid’) to be used in my aromatherapy burner and lamp ring.

Tomorrow, the sun might make its guest appearance some time during the day and I think I will try to go outside to feed my rapidly growing spring bulbs with some of this bulb food*. It will not only fortify them for this year’s growth but will also help their reappearance next year.

*note: I used granular bulb food because the ground is wet. If you live in a place with less rain and the ground is not wet, try to use liquid fertilizer.

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Imagine my glee and pride when I saw this on the cover of April 2007′s Saveur magazine: “An Insider’s Guide to Singapore”, p. 62.

Thank you, Christopher, for sharing the deliciousness.

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I can’t believe that I’ve been away for almost a week. Time whizzes by but where is spring? She teases us so blatantly with daffodils and flowering trees but then threatens us with last minute frosts. My farmers almanac says Mar 24 is the last frost in Seattle. We shall see.

The past few days have been spent looking for new bar/kitchen counter stools. The ones we bought from Ikea a few years ago are giving up their ghost. We got some good use from them – we used to sit on them for dinner at the previous townhouse and now we have folks gathered at the counter when we entertain. I’ve been eyeing these. I am not sure if I want to spend this much but I love their sleek lines. I’m glad I found this picture too because it lets me visualize how they would look against my counters (same stain).

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I’m very interested in this homemade press that epl has made and shared on Briar Press forums. [via black.white.bliss - a new favorite read]

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May the roads rise to meet you.
May the wind be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
The rain fall soft upon your fields
And, until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
- A Gaelic BlessingWe are celebrating St Paddy’s day in the company of good friends. We are blessed.

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I admit that I’m a sucker for nostalgia but in recalling my past, I can almost understand who I’ve become today.Love this picture of my brother and me. I think we were outside our kindergarten and one of us was graduating. I also adore the dress that my mum had sewn for me – lace and soft cotton.

If you look carefully, I have a sty in my right eye. Ow. But I still looked happy there, no?

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I thought I would brighten up things here at the blog with a little spring green. I was just compiling my previous banners into a gallery so I can remember da*xiang’s previous looks.

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I spend a lot of my evenings quietly and I must say that I do enjoy it. I muck about with the camera to find some inspiration for a post. Most of my day’s excitement comes from blogs I read and sometimes I struggle to be original.

Well, here’s a picture of me and my good side.

Spring seemed absent today, the walk downtown became terribly chilly even though there was talk about what to make for the upcoming supper club we’re hosting. Talk of buttermilk fried chicken and mashed potatoes could not keep us warm.

This Saturday, also St Paddy’s, we are hosting a supper club dinner with our good friends and we’re paying tribute to the amazing Edna Lewis. I will post more about the menu when supper club members decide on what they will make.

Mike is almost done with his finals – two more exams and he will be a free man for the next 2 weeks. I will have a break from convoluted medical terms and complicated lists of symptoms from illnesses that I would not wish on my enemy.

It’s Tuesday night, nothing draws me to the telly and Billy Joel is playing his piano for me.

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