Summer is Here

We've had the most beautiful start to summer since we've lived in Arizona, almost 10 years now! The temps have been below 100 up until this week, and we've had a nice breeze and even a few clouds in the sky....all very unusual for June in Phoenix. The kids haven't been in the pool yet because we had to have it completely retiled, we're just waiting for the chemicals to balance out and we'll be swimming either today or tomorrow! In the mean time we've been keeping busy with other things, movies, friends, volleyball, badmitton, and LOTS of Legos!
I also decided that I wanted the kids to learn a little cooking over the summer, our first recipe we'd tackle is Grandma Gardner's Banana Bread (which she can no longer enjoy after developing a banana allergy...so we'll just enjoy it for her)!
Before the kids got up I set everything out that we'd need.Here's the recipe:
1c. sugar
1/2 c. melted butter
2 eggs
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. baking powder
2 1/2 c. flour
3 TBSP sour milk (buttermilk works too)
3 mashed bananas
1/2 tsp salt
1. c walnuts (optional)
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Cream eggs and sugar. Add butter and milk, mixing well. Mix dry ingredients together and slowly add but don't over mix. Add bananas and nuts. Bake in 2 greased loaf tins for 1 hour.
Collin got started by peeling and mashing up the bananas, a job well suited for a little boy!

Bailey started out by cracking the eggs (no shells!), and was ready to start mixing.

Mix away Bailey!

Before we knew it the batter was ready. However, I have to say I think I have the worlds largest bread pans, I should have put the entire recipe into one , since I did not, our bread turned out just a touch burned and dry. The kids however didn't seem to mind because once it cooled they asked daddy if they could get a slice, when I came downstairs it looked like rabid wolves had been in my kitchen! They definitely were enthusiastic about their baking adventure, hopefully next time mom won't over bake it!