- Spring is here! It was absolutely gorgeous this weekend - over 60 degrees on Sunday. I love that I was able to have the patio door open all day on Sunday. There is nothing like fresh air and sunlight!
- I've successfully taught myself to crochet! My grandma gave me a book with instructions on crocheting and I think I've figured it out. I'm currently working on a blanket - so much for starting on a small project!
- I made some gluten free banana bread this is just delicious. I swear, you can not tell it's made with gluten free flour. Of course the chocolate chips I added sure help! My mom never added chocolate chips when we made banana bread so it feels like such a treat (and more like a dessert) when I add them to my recipe! How do you like your banana bread?
- I spent time catching up with friends on Friday & Saturday night and Sunday afternoon and still had plenty of 'me time' to unwind from a busy week. Having some 'me time' each weekend is crucial!
- I'm starting to sort of like biking. I don't like it nearly as much as running, but I do love that I can read while biking! Reading while running is impossible for me. I just don't have the coordination. When I see people reading while running on the treadmill, I am amazed.
- I made Beef in Pomegranate Sauce for dinner on Sunday. My cousin has raved about it and I finally got around to trying it. It was so good. You must try it. I served mine with the ultimate comfort food - mashed potatoes. I adore mashed potatoes. They are so easy to make - every time I make them, I wonder why I don't make them more often! How do you make yours? Do you hand mash them or do you use a hand mixer like I do (I like mine extremely smooth & fluffy)?
What were some 'good things' you enjoyed this weekend?
Yum! Looks delicious! I never thought of serving mashed potatoes as a side-brilliant. I really should make this dish again, it's so easy. Mmm. maybe mashed sweet potatoes. The weather is gorgeous. I slept with my windows open and woke up to the robins! Have a happy Monday Lisa.
ReplyDeleteI just bought a crochet hook the other week and I'm itching to try it out! Looks like you're definitely a natural =)
ReplyDeleteThat dinner looks delish! I like mine smooth too. Although, I have a recipe for a more rustic version with blue cheese and caramelized onions, and they are amazing!
ReplyDeleteI am always so impressed when anyone can crochet or knit. I just can't do that! The meal looks awesome! I love mashed potatoes. Good work!!!
ReplyDeleteYum!!! Sounds like a fantastic weekend!!
ReplyDeleteI rarely make mashed potatoes but I'm always the taste tester for my mom, her's are always smooth and fluffy! I pretty much like anything with potatoe!!
Look at you go with crocheting! That is awesome. And really? Is there any other way to have banana bread than with chcocolate chips? I have a recipe that uses a dallop of peanut butter as well.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you had such a fantastic weekend. It was great talking to you yesterday!
Yum to the beef AND the banana bread! When I make banana bread, I like to not back it long enough for it's completely doughy in the middle! ;) (Not really, but the only time I've ever made it...I failed and haven't re-tried).
ReplyDeleteI always make my mashed potatoes as garlic mashed.
That's awesome you learned how to officially crochet! You are so talented, Lisa!!!
Glad to hear you had a great weekend! You needed one! I am sure the spring weather you're finally getting helps perk-up one's mood!
Sounds like you had the perfect Sunday night dinner. Looked yummy!
ReplyDeleteI love chocolate chips in my banana bread and banana muffins! So tasty!
ReplyDeleteMy good things this weekend were having one of my friends come hang out for the weekend and help me work on wedding projects.
Sounds like you had a great weekend :)
I love biking as well just because reading while biking makes me happy and accomplishes twice as much =)
ReplyDeleteAnd now I'm craving mashed potatoes even though it's only 9:30am. I blame it on getting up early like you and getting to work before anyone else!
I am so impressed with your crocheting project! It was just a few weeks ago that you were here learning - you are a fast learner!
ReplyDeleteI love mashed potatos anyway but especially garlic mashed. I never did add chocolate chips to my banana bread, but do to my muffins and love it! I'm definitely going to make the beef dish! Thanks! You must live better than we do as we had fog, rain and temps only in the 30's all weekend! Flood is picking up momento!
I enjoyed time celebrating a good friend with her bachelorette party and bridal shower! I also enjoyed little surprise blackberry messages from you! :)
ReplyDeleteWhen I lived in Grande Prairie and would go home for the weekend my grandma would always send me back with a HUGE batch of banana chocolate-chip muffins. YUM. Probably had a little something to do with my weight gain... LOL.
ReplyDeleteLOVE the crocheting! What's the difference anyways? My grandma has crocheted AND knitted me SO many things and I really can't tell the difference haha.
I'm embarrassed to say that unless the mashed potatoes come in a box I SUCK at making them. I can just not get the right consistency when I make them from scratch! And they end up chunky and not so good. At the restaurant I used to work at the garlic mashed potatoes were TO DIE FOR and we used to sneak spoonfuls of them when we were in the kitchen lol!
I'm really struggling with my crochet book...I'd love to blame the book, but I think it's me!
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm a hand potato masher all the way :-)
Yay for you and your crocheting skills! :) And that does look delicious. My favourite kind of potatoes are mashed with the skins still on, with some garlic and onions in there, covered in butter and then plopped on top of some warm buttery toast. Delish!! :)
ReplyDeleteI love the color of that yarn for your blanket.
ReplyDeleteAnd me? I like my banana bread toasted on the outside and steamy warm on the inside. Yummmm!
It sounds like you had a really good weekend, I am glad!
ReplyDeleteHurrah for the crocheting! Our family banana bread recipe is banana chocolate marble cake, I shall post a recipe some time, and try to gluten free it.
That pomegranate stuff sounds divine, much make. Your recipes are soooo good!
I use the swizzer (which is what my kiddies call a hand mixer - the hand blender is called the whizzer too) to do mash, with a little milk and butter, some cheese and a bit of wholegrain mustard! mmmmmmmmmm. Mashed potato s the ultimate in comfort!
Mashed potatoes are my absolute favorite. I am all about the hand mixer too. I actually use chicken broth instead of butter/milk these days because of my tummy but I still really love them.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you had such a great weekend- especially weather wise, ours was miserable and still is but I'm hoping your weather will head over here next. It's amazing how much the weather can affect my mood!
That's awesome that you can crochet! Glad to hear you had a great weekend, it's always nice to look at the positive things in life. I enjoyed celebrating with new and old friends : )
ReplyDeleteSo many good things to reflect upon :)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed a good run this week-end, and a fun baby shower! Also, a not-so-fun drive to Montreal and back, but at least it was with a friend which made it fun ;)
ps: I'm so jealous of your knitting/crocheting skills. Like, seriously!
biking is certainly a good thing to focus on. i'm getting more into it than running these days.
ReplyDeleteglad you had a good weekend!
It's funny, I'm a pretty big fan of banana bread, but not a fan of bananas. And while I've never tried it with chocolate chips, I'm sure I'd love it.
ReplyDeleteAnd I use a potato masher. Of course there's the fact that I don't have an actual hand mixer to use.
That blanket looks great! What stitch are you using for the crochet? I am feeling like I need to get back into my crafty stuff now because I have taken a break for so long! Glad you had a good weekend - I ended up working for most of the weekend so it wasnt that great. : (
ReplyDeleteSometimes it's tough to pull yourself out of a funk. I know the feeling. It's the little things (as you've shown here) that bring us back to that place where things are happy again. I personally don't like choc in my banana (or similar) bread. Hope you're doing something fun for St. Patty's Day!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on teaching yourself to crochet. I just learned some knew knitting and am excited about the scarf I'm working on.
ReplyDeleteMy weekend was full of bridal showers. My cousin and one of my high school friends will be getting married two weeks apart this June. It's going to be a busy month, but hopefully fun.
Lisa!! You have to tell me what stitch you are using for that Blanket! i love it! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!! I cant tell exactly what it is? Double crochet? Im not that good at just looking at it and knowing what it is!!
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