Slow Sunday, banana bread & my first recording

I’ve had a slow Sunday and Saturday, my life filled with ordinary things and lots of joys along the way.

Joy dots

Still evening air with a magpie—chatak chatak

Sun low in the sky warm and mellow

Autumn leaves and damp nutty smelling soil

Foraging fungi

Lazy late afternoon after hearty lunch

Friendship and laughter

Warmth and coziness

Big jumpers and hot mugs of something nice

Sun shining through moving trees

Next doors cat swishing past

Early morning just before sunrise

Early morning just after sunrise

Sharing food with friends

Candlelight

Taking time to take time

Splashing about through muddy ground

Autumn afternoon

Banana and cinnamon bread

It’s the perfect season for banana bread over here in the UK. This recipe is simple to make, and easy to eat!

Ingredients

• 1¾ cups flour (white or spelt or wholewheat)

• 2 teaspoons baking powder

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 1/2 cup soft unsalted butter

• ¾ cup jaggery

• 2 large eggs

• 1 cup mashed very ripe bananas

• 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder

• 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract

Method

Pre-heat your oven to 350 F. Grease a 9x5 bread tin. Beat the butter in a mixer with the jaggery until fluffy, add the eggs one at a time (add a little flour if curdling threatens), then add other ingredients. Cook for about 45 minutes, test with a knife. If it comes out clean, it’s done. Cool for about 10 minutes before taking out of the tin, then finish cooling on a wire rack. This is nice served with the quick raspberry recipe jam that you can find here.

Tangerine beginnings

My first recording

I have been trying to get my recording software to work today, unsuccessfully, again, and so I thought I would share my work in progress. I have recorded the first episode of my Sam Series fall asleep story—Tangerine Beginnings—on my iPad using voiceover and no headset/mic. Once I find someone to teach me how to use the recording equipment, I’ll record it again for a professional sound, and I won’t switch payments on for the recordings until they sound professional, but perhaps the journey is worth sharing.

I hope you enjoy this. Please let me know in the comments what you think, would you prefer me to wait until I am able to edit the sound?

As I settle down for the evening, the stars are out, my kitchen beckons, candlelight flickers, and my slow Sunday is coming to an end. Tonight I think I will dream about night skies and tall, tall trees.

Wishing you the warmest,

Lucy x