Good Friends

It's good to have good friends. I have a problem remembering dates - birthdays, anniversaries etc. Since I live from one happy day to the next, the calender is not much in my thoughts.

So this good friend of mine will remind me, "Hi Flo, it's So and So's birthday soon/today " This year she had to remind me that I had 10 minutes more to wish her a Happy birthday! That's how good, friends can be.
Then she reminded me " Hey you have not written in your blog!"

So here I am to write my thoughts/feelings since my last post.

Now plastics are my good friend. I love plastics though I know they pollute when thrown around.
I love plastic bags. They are light and attractive.
They are durable and recyclable.
They are waterproof - my things remain dry should I get caught in the rain.
I can place my feet with my new shoes on and walk on wet dirty roads if I have too.
I can use them to store my things - ALL KINDS of things.
I use them when i have to handle 'dirty' things. They protect my hands indeed.
I also use plastic bags to knead my dough.No dough sticks to my hands and I don't have to buy gloves.

I just discovered a new use for a plastic bag. I use it to steam my hair. Look!I was at the hairdresser's and she steamed a customer's hair with cling wrap. I remember steaming my hair sitting under a 'steamer' for a long time. So I decided to steam my hair but with a plastic bag! So now I'm steaming in the comfort of my home writing in my blog.:)

Back to plastic bags. I give away cookies,cakes,food in handy plastic bags. There's no need to try remember with whom my container is. Besides I can place lots of individual bags of goodies for different people into one big bag and they get distributed easily.
When I go shopping, I love the bags they supply.
Finally I recycle the plastic bags that I have used into garbage bags.
So I love plastic bags. They are my friends.
( I don't do this, but I have seen people using plastic bags tied to their plants/trees/ windows to act as scarecrows.)

I have another good friend. She abhors plastic. "No, no need to give me the plastic bag," she'll tell the cashier but she has not yet progressed to carrying her own paper/fabric/rattan bag around like some others do.
Readers, do not worry. I try to minimize using these 'treasures' of mine.

During the last fortnight, I've watched a few Cantonese shows on You Tube- To grow with love, Tai Chi & CJ7. I enjoyed Tai Chi the most. I found a new song that I like on You Tube -
Ray Boltz's "Thank You".

Something that I'm so thankful for is Mozilla Firefox.
Whenever in the past Microsoft had to shut down unexpectedly, I would have to start a new session all over again.
Now Mozilla Firefox gives us a choice to continue the previous session/to start a new one.
It makes life so much easier. :)

My latest recipe - a hit with my friends- is Banana bread.
For those interested, here is the recipe that I adapted and call Flo's Delicious Banana Bread.

Here it is:

FLO'S DELICIOUS BANANA CAKE.

INGREDIENTS

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
  
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon ( optional)

3/4 cup white sugar
3 eggs
• 1/2 bar butter/margarine/1/2 cup oil
• 1/2 cup milk/water
  
4 ripe bananas, mashed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup raisins (optional)
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
1 cup chocolate chips (optional)

1 cup mixed fruit(optional)
Decide which option you'd like. It's ok to use 2 options in one recipe.)
I like to sprinkle the top of the loaves with black sesame seed.

METHOD

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. Lightly grease and flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan.( I prefer a 11"X 11" tray - won't be so high, so easier to eat)
3. In a large bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, cinnamon and white sugar.
4. Stir in eggs, , bananas and vanilla extract.
5. Fold in your optional ingredients, if desired.
6. Pour batter into prepared pan.
7. Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 60 minutes- for the loaf tin and 30-35 minutes for the tray. (until a knife inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean).

The above is the same recipe bakes in patty tins for children. The black specks are black sesame seeds.

And now I shall end my post. Happy reading my good friend. ;)