Saving Sanity (or what's left of it anyway)

Fall Break.

The children are out of school today and tomorrow.
 Like any good mother, I was looking forward to having this break with the children. 

Until about 10:00 this morning when the umpteenth knock-down-drag-out started and ended with Turner calling everyone several words that you wouldn't say in church, Suzie doing her Velociraptor impression as she passes out death threats and with the few words he is getting in edgewise, Thomas is making sure that no one could be in doubt as to the absolute superiority of his character, intellect and gaming skills. 

It was exactly at this moment that I remembered I'm actually a crappy Mom and that the kids go to school for a reason.

 *It's the only way to preserve my sanity AND keep them alive.*

Yeah. Crappy Mom.

Luckily, when I took to the computer out of self-defense this morning, I found a few sanity savers. No, it's not a blog full of advice on how to be a better parent or the family crisis hotline number. I happened across more insane product reviews on Amazon. Some are as good as the Banana Slicer ones I found a few months back. I think I'm saving up for the Tuscan Milk first. A little spendy but sounds worth it. I hope the Hubs doesn't read this because I just about have Christmas wrapped up thanks to The Mountain Three Wolf Moon Short Sleeve Tee and Zubaz Pants. And since I believe you can never be too prepared, I hope to acquire How to Avoid Large Ships for our emergency kits. 

 Now that my face hurts from laughing, not clenching my teeth in irritation, I can load up the kids for a (hopefully) pleasant trip to the liquor store.
If that doesn't work out, there is always the option of ordering up myself the Uranium Ore. Some people have way too much time on their hands.
Bless their hearts.

You must eat these!

In spite of recent evidence to the contrary, I'm not a big banana fan.

 About once a month I might talk myself into eating one but only if it's still half green. Once they become even all the way yellow (let alone really ripe), I'm outta there.

 Now that you know this about me, you'll understand how good these bars must be for me to recommend them.

 They're called Banana Bread Bars but they're more like moist banana cake.

 Really, it doesn't matter what the bars are like because the real reason they're so good is the brown butter frosting with which they're topped. After trying it for the first time, I knew I had found my new boyfriend.

Seriously. Yum.

This frosting could possibly make shoe leather edible.

I found the recipe here. Via Pinterest of course.

 Is there any other way these days? 

Even if you don't have any ripe bananas hanging around, call the neighbors, go to the store, whatever-just find some. Then, after you try these, call me and we'll brainstorm other things on which we can put this frosting. 

That is, besides on a spoon, heading into my mouth. 

Already done that one.

Banana Bread Bars:

1 1/2 c. sugar     1 c. sour cream     1/2 c. butter softened     2 eggs

1 3/4 c (3 or 4 ripe) bananas, mashed     2 t. vanilla

2 c. flour     1 t. baking soda     3/4 t. salt     1/2 c. chopped walnuts (optional)

Frosting:

1/2 c. butter     4 c. pwd sugar     1 1/2 t. vanilla     3 T. milk

Heat oven to 375 degrees. grease and flour 15x10 jelly roll pan. In a large bowl, beat together sugar, sour cream, butter and eggs until creamy. Blend in bananas and vanilla. Add flour, b. soda and salt. Blend for one minute. Stir in walnuts. Spread batter evenly into pan. Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Meanwhile, make frosting. Heat butter over med. heat until boiling. Let the butter turn a delicate golden brown and remove from heat immediately. Add rest of frosting ingredients and whisk until smooth. Spread the frosting over the bars while they are still warm. 

 Makes about 2 dozen bars. 

Note: I don't have a 15x10 pan. I used my 13x9 pan and it worked out fine. You just end up with slightly taller bars with thicker frosting.

So nice to see you, my friend

It's was 44 degrees when I shoved everyone out the door this morning. 

Hooray for October
Listen up people. Fall has arrived.
Let's dig out the jackets and sweaters.
 Time for vats of soup, piles of pumpkin themed baked goods and actually sleeping under a blanket at night.
 I must say, it's about damned time too.
Maybe I can start feeling like a human again. I hate being hot more than almost anything. I have a tendency to turn into a hibernating shrew during the summer so it's a good thing for everyone around here when Autumn temperatures finally arrive. Maybe this weekend I'll celebrate by going outside more than once. AND, for more than 5 minutes. I know. We got us a bad-ass up in here.
 Sweat and sunlight make me sad, okay? 

One problem. I find this time of year so pleasant that I actually get motivated to do...things. Not things like housework and stuff. That would be ridiculous. More like the 20 half-finished projects laying on every surface in the house that need attention. No exaggeration. Truth.
 I think it's the weather. And the new paper designs coming along every 15 minutes or so. And the excited feeling in the air that the holidays are coming but Taylor Swift and Hobby Lobby haven't had a chance to kill it yet. Whatever it is has me feeling like I am on fire with all of the things I want (must, need) to create. Who knows? Maybe I'll actually get a few projects finished this year.
Now, there's a thought to chew on whilst I whip up some properly celebratory
 potato soup.
As long as the stove isn't too embarrassed to heat up after seeing me
do my happy dance in the kitchen this morning.
Did I already say hooray?