THANKS-GIVING

White Chocolate & Cranberry Walnut Banana Bread

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F

Mix together dry ingredients:
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda
3/4 cup of sugar
1/2 cup of brown sugar
few shakes of cinnamon
dash of nutmeg

1 cup of chopped walnuts

Blend together other ingredients in separate bowl (If you don't have an electric mixer try a potato masher and a fork):
2 eggs
2 very ripe mashed bananas
6 tbsp. of butter
1 shot of brandy
juice from 1/2 lemon
7 grinds of sea salt
splash of vanilla extract (enough so you can faintly smell fragrance in batter)
3/4 bag of Ghiradelli white chocolate chips

Blend together ingredients to create a smooth batter. (Note: At this point you may gently mix into batter one regular banana chopped into small pieces. This adds some extra texture and moisture to baked loaf)

Grease pans with butter or oil (try coconut or peanut)

Fill pans with batter

For mini loaf pans bake approx. 45 min. (perfect gift size)
Regular loaf pan bake 1hr.

Good luck!! xo jl

Harley

Harley lived an adventurous and beautiful life. I raised him and he raised me. Below is the letter my Mother wrote after he passed on last month-

Harley was part of so many cherished moments in the lives of our family and friends. He was adventurer, friend, lover and gourmet. Over the years it seemed he enjoyed hanging around people far more than seeking companionship with other dogs. Particularly fond of women, in a moment of great spirit, he would throw himself into a lady's nice lap.

We adopted Harley from the shelter when he was four months old. He was Johnna's dog. The whole family had to interview before he would be allowed to become part of our lives. At four months at barely twenty pounds, I was able to hold him in my arms. He had a slight limp from an injury to his right rear leg that occurred before the Lake County warden brought him to Orphans of the Storm. That limp never stopped him from living the excitement he felt for everything. Life was his great adventure and he ran along with a gait that was uniquely his own.

One of his earliest adventures, when still just a pup, was to dash out onto the golf course in Wisconsin and rescue a man's ball off of the green! Alert and pretty clever he was. Eventually, just from observation, he learned to open doors and would let himself out of the house, to go off on a great adventure roaming the neighborhood, leaving the house open behind him! Sometimes he visited the homes of well-meaning strangers, never worrying that he might not be welcome, or might have created an hysterical panic at home. It was impossible to convince the police. The first snowfall of the season was a guarantee that nature would call. And whatever the adventure, always Harley came back with a smile.

This past week no gourmet treat would entice Harley to eat. He yearned only to be outside, close his eyes and lie in the grass. Last night I held him in my arms just as I had done many years ago when we drove home from the shelter.

It was a difficult good bye but one just bursting with years of memories.

Thanks to each one of you for being part of our memories in an adventure with a wonderful being.

Love,

Lynn

You are always in our hearts Harley, you will be missed dearly. xo, JL