I don't think I need to tell you how much I love the busy, bustle, energy of family life, and particuarly around family mealtime. I really do. I feel blessed to have it, and I truly enjoy it - the mess, the baking, the craziness, the creativity, the laughter. I wouldn't trade it for the world.
But you know what else I enjoy? QUIET.
Yesterday, Steve arrived home from work to find us at the end of the driveway, at the ready for a hand off - the kids ready and buckled into their car seats, the car full of pajamas, a picnic dinner, and all that they would need for a playground/picnic/bedtime driving adventure with Papa. Goodbye! Goodbye! Be on your merry way, my loves {right now, please!}!
And back I went into the house to revel in it's silence. And to clean it without someone behind me 'helping'. And to cook without the flour ending up on the floor (okay, only a little). Quiet cooking? Oh, I really, really like that. Instead of madly scrambling to just 'get things made' before they end up on the floor, or interrupted to help settle a disagreement in another room...I can leisurely take my time baking and cooking, and actually thinking about what I'm doing. It even allows for a bit of creativity, and like sewing I do think, the results of that are always unique, and a little bit of a surprise.
Blueberry-Banana Cake
wet:
3 egg whites
1/2 cup canola oil
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup sour cream
1 ripe banana, mashed
dry:
1 cup unbleached white flour
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup blueberries
1 tbsp lemon zest
Combine all wet ingredients in a large bowl. In a seperate bowl, sift dry ingredients. Add dry ingredients to wet and mix until combined. Fold in the blueberries and lemon zest, being careful not to overmix. Bake in a greased 8" pan, at 350 for 30 minutes (or until a toothpick or knife inserted in center come out clean). Let cool in pan, and remove. Extra yummy with cream cheese frosting (I like to add a little blueberry juice to this).
It was yummy last night at 11pm with three dear friends gathered here for dinner, craft, laughter, and wine. And I must say that it tasted just as yummy at 7am this morning as a breakfast surprise with my three loves, while we compared stories of last night's adventures. Ah, the Quiet and the Noise.
