Banana Bonanza

Bananas usually get eaten up quickly in this house but we somehow had SIX bananas that needed to be used before our trip. I quickly baked up a loaf of our absolute favorite banana bread. We are both in love with banana bread and I tested lots of recipes before settling on this one as "ours" - and I actually found it in my mother's recipe box! It's perfectly sweet and dense and moist (the only time it's okay to use that word is when describing desserts.). We love it.


I baked this loaf at 10:30 AM and at 2:30 PM that is what it looked like. I couldn't even get a picture of the whole loaf before we scarfed down 3/4 of it. Yup, we're fatties.

Beth's Banana Bread

Ingredients:
3/4 cup butter softened
1 1/4 cup sugar
3 bananas, blackened (I mean really, really black)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
2 cups flour
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup buttermilk

Directions:
1. Cream butter and sugar
2. Mash bananas coarsely by hand and add to creamed mixture by hand
3. Add eggs, vanilla, baking soda, flour, and salt by hand
4. Gently stir in buttermilk until just incorporated
5. Bake at 350 degrees F for 75 minutes

If you don't have buttermilk, you can use 1 tsp vinegar mixed with 1/2 cup milk (whole works best). And if you're wondering why the recipe specifies hand mixing, the texture comes out MUCH better.

Normally, the next banana recipe I'd turn to is banana cake with cream cheese frosting, but Matt doesn't love it so I decided to find something new.


I found these Cocoa Banana Bars on allrecipes.. umm YUM. We probably won't finish these before we leave and I am actually considering wrapping them up and taking them with me. They're that good.

I followed the recipe exactly but I used an 8x11" pan and stirred chocolate chips into the white batter instead of marbling the two batters together. They're not really bars - more like dense cake - but the combination of bananas and chocolate is beyond delicious. You will not regret trying them!

And now we are off to the Big Island for one last island hopping adventure. Be back Sunday!

Two Weeks!

Things have been so hectic around here, I almost can't believe we're leaving in two weeks. We had our pre-move out inspection this morning and it is hard to believe that in less than two weeks our house will be totally empty with white walls. My heart hurts a little more every day thinking about saying goodbye to our friends, our first home, and Hawaii.

This was actually our second to last weekend on island because this upcoming weekend we will be on the Big Island. We had a lot to do but we made sure to get in good food and good friends. Friday night we went to dinner with Dom and Megan and Saturday night we went to a luau with the Howards - both families I will miss beyond words. Paradise Cove luau has by far the best combination of food and entertainment and the setting is for sure the most beautiful of all the luaus offered. I wish I had taken more pictures of this weekend but I was too busy enjoying myself.



Sunday we went to the swap meet to get a few final souvenirs and we made out with lots of tacky t-shirts (including an "I Survived the Hawaii Tsunami of 2010" t-shirt). I had set out to find something for our new house in California that would remind us of our time here and we picked up an EGA handmade out of different Hawaiian woods. I wanted something more Hawaii-related but leave it to Matt to pick out something totally moto.

We also relaxed with a little beach time with Jack and our absolute FAVORITE meal ever. I know it doesn't look that appetizing because everything picks up the color of the soy sauce in the marinade but it is probably the most delicious (and simple!) meal I make. If you try it, you will NOT be sorry. They're supposed to be skewers/kabobs but we picked up a grill basket that looks like this from Williams Sonoma when we first moved out here for grilling vegetables and when we don't feel like being fancy throwing everything in the basket and grilling is way easier than sticking everything on skewers. You might notice that it calls for canned pineapple. It's almost a sin to use canned pineapple in Hawaii but we have found that pineapple in syrup is more sugary so it caramelizes better over the flames.

Pineapple Shrimp & Scallops

Ingredients:
1 lb of shrimp
1 lb of scallops
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp onion powder
3 garlic cloves minced
1 16oz can pineapple chunks in syrup
1 large zucchini sliced

Directions:
1. Combine shrimp, scallops, vegetable oil, lemon juice, soy sauce, ginger, onion powder, and garlic cloves in a ziploc bag.
2. Refrigerate at least 3 hours, but I like to do it overnight for the most flavor.
3. Place shrimp, scallops, zucchini, and pineapple on skewers or in grill basket. Grill for about 3-5 minutes on each side on skewers and just a few minutes longer in a grill basket. If using skewers, baste with marinade.

And just because I think my dog is sweet and cute, some photos from the beach:

I admit it, I'm a Bibliophile

I'm sure no one else reading this is nerdy enough to care about this, but I am obsessed with books - especially old, rare, or pretty books. These classics were initially published in 2008 but I started collecting them last year. I found out too late that two of the books, Madame Bovary and Crime and Punishment, were only printed once and were never released in the U.S. I relentlessly stalked eBay but each time one of these books was posted for auction, I watched the prices go up over $100, $200, $300 and Matt listened to me cry about it. At least I can take comfort in the fact that there are other people out there as nerdy as me, right?

But honestly, if I was working right now, I probably would have devoted my paychecks to these books. Thankfully I'm not, and I had to be thrifty about it, because a few weeks ago three copies of Madame Bovary were on eBay at once and I was able to snag a copy for $45. Yes, I am aware this is still quite a lot for a book, but books are something me and my mom shared and I envision myself passing these books on to my non-existent daughter in like, 20 years. Is that weird? Probably. But I still have books my mom gave me and after her passing they mean a lot to me.

But after receiving Madame Bovary, I was still missing Crime and Punishment. I stalked Canada and UK bookstores online and googled Crime and Punishment almost every day, hoping a copy would somehow pop up on shopping results or a website with information about how to obtain one would magically appear. And magically, one did. A blog I had never seen had a post about these books, and a commenter mentioned Chapters in Canada shipping her a copy of Madame Bovary. I knew Chapters was sold out of the book online, but I immediately jumped on the Chapters website and located the book in over 20 stores. After calling seven of those stores, I finally found a store willing to ship one to me. It may have helped that the manager I spoke with, Carmen, was 36 weeks pregnant with her daughter and I told my story about my dead mother and her books.

Either way, today is a big day in the Callahan household. I finally have all 10 books and they are beautiful. Thank you Carmen! I can't wait to display them in our new house (along with the second series of which I have already 5!)


Besides enjoying my books, we have been thoroughly enjoying our last few weeks here - just 18 days left! Luckily, Matt isn't working so we basically have an 18 day Hawaiian vacation.


I'm going to miss this so much. That's the base in the distance and if you could zoom in really far you could see our house right next the mountain on the far right. We have been so blessed.

And I'm still enjoying cooking. I made this and this tonight. Neither of us are on WW (even though I probably should be) but the recipes just looked really, REALLY good. And they were.


And after I took this picture, I succeeded in making this meal non WW friendly by sprinkling on another handful of cheese and plopping on a giant dollop of sour cream. And then eating another one with another handful of cheese and another dollop of sour cream. And then eating a Tear 'N Share bag of M&Ms all by myself. Yum.

Reunited and It Feels So Good

It was such a surreal feeling picking Matt up from the airport knowing he would never be leaving me for a long period of time ever, ever again. I keep reminding myself that I don't need to desperately hold on to every moment because he's not going anywhere but I don't know when I will actually be able to accept that! I love how distance strengthens us and how I fall so deeply in love with him over and over again every time he comes home. And honestly, I don't understand how he gets even more handsome with every separation - I can't keep up! But enough with the mushy stuff. We had a low-key weekend full of quality time and catching up.. and COOKING! Ohhh how I missed cooking.

Here's my Irishman enjoying a late St. Patrick's Day dinner. Why Jack is in his crate, I do not know.



I might now have an Irish last name but my blood is definitely NOT Irish. Corned beef grosses me out. I gagged all day while it cooked in the crockpot. I though going the crockpot route would be easier since I wouldn't have to stand over a boiling pot of salty grossness but the smell has permeated my house. This is the second thing I've made for him in the last week that I absolutely hate. He's lucky I love him.

Undoubtedly the sweetest part of Matt's return:



I love how our 10 pound puppy turns my big, strong husband into a mushy, lisping, baby-talking freak. Isn't his high-pitched baby voice sweet? I can't wait to see him with our human babies instead of fur babies.

Apple Pie For the Apple of My Eye

Now that Matt will be home, I'll be baking and cooking a lot more and I have decided to post some of my recipes here. Matt's not home yet, but he will be tomorrow (!!!), and as always, I will welcome him home with his favorite treat, a warm apple pie. Actually, it will not be warm because he likes his cold. And with NO vanilla ice cream. He's weird, I know. But it makes things easier since I can bake it the day before, and spend the day of his return remembering how to apply makeup and how not to look like a frumpy mess.

This is the BEST apple pie. I am saying that with confidence even though I have absolutely no idea what it tastes like. I HATE apple pie - I find the texture of it repulsive. But everyone I have ever baked this for tells me it is the best apple pie they have ever tasted.


This particular pie is by no means my prettiest pie. In fact, it's downright ugly. I made the pie smaller than normal and didn't adjust the number of apples accordingly and so the apples and filling oozed out, as you can see. And I was actually lazy and bought pre-made crust, but couldn't even find the roll out pre-made stuff, which I would recommend using at ALL costs. This crust that comes frozen in the tins is just not the same looks-wise, since there's not enough to crimp the edges, as you can also see. I decided the effort that goes into making the crust is not at all worth it when Matt devours the pie in two sittings or less and doesn't even see what it looks like. He notices the smell though. Even though I hate apple pie, not much compares to that apple-y cinnamon-y smell.

(Matt looking creepy last Thanksgiving.)

So I'll save the homemade crust for special occasions and holidays. He also really likes as much crust as possible so I never get to show off my lattice skills.

Apple of My Eye Pie

Ingredients:
9 inch double pie crust
1/2 cup unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup water MINUS 1 tablespoon
1/2 cup of white sugar
1/2 cup of packed brown sugar
8 medium granny smith apples peeled, cored, and sliced
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
A dash of nutmeg
1 egg white

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F
2. Melt butter in saucepan and add flour to form a paste
3. Add water, cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, white sugar, and brown sugar and bring to a boil
4. Reduce temperature and let simmer until thickened
5. Brush bottom pie crust with egg white
6. Fill with apples, mounded slightly
7. Dump almost all of the filling over the apples and mix through, reserving a 1-2 tablespoons for the top crust.
8. Place top crust over apples and crimp sides together. Brush the remaining filling over the top crust with a pastry brush.
9. Bake in the pre-heated oven for 15 minutes, then turn the temperature down to 350 degrees F and bake for 45 more minutes.

And for anyone who feels ambitious, when I make crust, I use this pie crust recipe. Butter crust all the way. Crust with shortening is gross in my opinion.

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go...

Okay, my bags are not packed. Not at all. But that's not my fault. I'm not even allowed to pack my own belongings. I have done the majority of sorting and organizing, though. Today I actually threw away six bags of trash and donated five bags of clothing to Goodwill. I took pictures of all the trashbags but it was embarrassing slash scary how much excess stuff we have.

The house is looking emptier (read: creepier) every day. I took everything off the walls and shelves. I'm starting to remember why I sat on the floor in the middle of the empty apartment and cried when I realized this was the place I had to live.

Those red baskets have my Super Nintendo games in them which I am NOT ready to pack up yet.

Basically everything that made this house or home can be deduced to these two piles. A little paint and all this crap made me forget the original, sorry state of this place.



I packed most of my clothes into these four tubs.



And this is my closet post-cleaning and packing. And yes, minus the ball gowns, this will ALL somehow be coming with me in my suitcases. More likely in mine AND Matt's, but whatever, marriage is about sacrifices, right? Thanks, Matt.


I can admit that at this point, I am attached to this place, school cafeteria tile floors and all. I know when we leave, I'm going to cry. But not quite as hard as I cried when I was cursing Matt for making me live here.

More Hawaii Favorites.

It's funny how two months ago I was so anxious to leave this place and now I am dreading it. The more I pack, the sadder I get. And in ways I feel like we wasted so much time that we cannot get back.

Lost fans should recognize this place!

I promise this blog will eventually be about California and new and exciting things. It's just that even though I'm so ready for the next chapter of our lives, it's so hard to close this one.

Looking Back.

I decided to start this blog as a way for us to record all of our experiences over the next few years. We have had the time of our lives in Hawaii and sadly, have no real record of it. We are beyond excited for our upcoming move, but we're not quite done in Hawaii yet. Before I start posting about our new adventures, I want to post about some of the adventures we have had that have gotten us to this point.

Love...

This was circa 2001, but can we just take a moment to notice the rhinestone studded bandana headband? And my scrunched BLONDE hair. Thirteen year old me was trashy.

Marriage...




Our First House...



Our First (Fur) Child...




Hiking Oahu...







Ziplining Over Haleakala...



Driving the Road To Hana...







Biking the Coconut Coast...








Taking in Waimea Canyon...

This isn't in the park, we took this off the side of the road on the drive back down.

See the house?

Flying over the Na Pali Coast...






Seriously, how lucky are we?

Even though I want to use this primarily to chronicle our move and (hopefully) our last four years before we settle back down in Boston, there are a few Hawaii adventures left to be had (and reported here) when Matt is back!