Hola Familia! How is everybody? Not gonna lie, we are kind of desperate to be set free so we can get in the car and just drive and not come back for a few days. The babies figured out something was up, finally. They’re not very bothered by it though. Anna wanted to go to the park yesterday and when I said they weren’t open just yet, she said very enthusiastically, WHY BECAUSE CORONA? And then she wiggled her butt.
Philip is slowly getting back into the work routine. Fau has actually been pretty chill. I got lucky. I think this whole process has been good for him in the same way that it has been good for me; we both got a chance to take a vacation from a life that was just overwhelming. Can I tell you a secret? As much as we want to get back to work, I’m sort of feeling this anxiety about things going back to the way they were. So much driving and traveling and working and it was all so FAST. How do I make sense of the fact that my 3 kids are so much happier now? They’re more relaxed. More self-confident. I have a much clearer idea of who they are. What their needs are. I know the world doesn’t work this way. We have to send them out to the wolves to figure it out for themselves. Or do we? That’s the question that keeps me up at night. Philip and I aren’t in our 20’s. This is when we pack up and go and live the dream. Crazy? Maybe. But a girl can dream that she takes her kids to the French country side and they become fluent in a matter of weeks, making them trilingual. And all she does is go to the open-air markets and infuse her Mexican ingredients (that she occasionally gets shipped from Mexico) with traditional French recipes. And she teaches this to anyone that will listen. And her and her kids breathe fresh air, eat clean food and make friends with all the locals. And her and her man, that occasionally takes off to supervise a production, cook all weekend. He finds the best wines and smokes his cigars in the evenings. And they live happily ever after. Maybe? Just Maybe.
I’ll keep visualizing and don’t you worry; no matter where I end up, I’ll keep writing and take you on the journey. As promised, here is the info on my beginner Yoga class with one of my first teachers, Jano Galindo.
As promised, a recipe for the easiest and most delicious banana bread ever!
Makes 1 dozen muffins, I always use organic ingredients where available
Turbinado sugar for sprinkling
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350F. Line 12 muffin tins with liners. Save half of a banana to slice thinly to top muffins. I like to slice on a diagonal for a more elongated look. Look for the least ripe half to make the slices and use that. Mash remaining 3 ½ bananas in a medium bowl. Stir in melted butter, eggs, sugar and vanilla until well blended. Sift flour and remaining ingredients over banana mixture and mix using a rubber spatula until well combined. Divide mixture among muffin liners. Top each with a banana slice and push banana slice gently into the batter. Sprinkle heavily with Turbinado sugar and bake until knife inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean, about 40 minutes.
Philip is slowly getting back into the work routine. Fau has actually been pretty chill. I got lucky. I think this whole process has been good for him in the same way that it has been good for me; we both got a chance to take a vacation from a life that was just overwhelming. Can I tell you a secret? As much as we want to get back to work, I’m sort of feeling this anxiety about things going back to the way they were. So much driving and traveling and working and it was all so FAST. How do I make sense of the fact that my 3 kids are so much happier now? They’re more relaxed. More self-confident. I have a much clearer idea of who they are. What their needs are. I know the world doesn’t work this way. We have to send them out to the wolves to figure it out for themselves. Or do we? That’s the question that keeps me up at night. Philip and I aren’t in our 20’s. This is when we pack up and go and live the dream. Crazy? Maybe. But a girl can dream that she takes her kids to the French country side and they become fluent in a matter of weeks, making them trilingual. And all she does is go to the open-air markets and infuse her Mexican ingredients (that she occasionally gets shipped from Mexico) with traditional French recipes. And she teaches this to anyone that will listen. And her and her kids breathe fresh air, eat clean food and make friends with all the locals. And her and her man, that occasionally takes off to supervise a production, cook all weekend. He finds the best wines and smokes his cigars in the evenings. And they live happily ever after. Maybe? Just Maybe.
I’ll keep visualizing and don’t you worry; no matter where I end up, I’ll keep writing and take you on the journey. As promised, here is the info on my beginner Yoga class with one of my first teachers, Jano Galindo.
As promised, a recipe for the easiest and most delicious banana bread ever!
Easy Banana Bread Muffins…
Makes 1 dozen muffins, I always use organic ingredients where available
- 4 very ripe bananas
- 2 whole eggs, beaten to blend
- 1 stick melted unsalted butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
Turbinado sugar for sprinkling
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350F. Line 12 muffin tins with liners. Save half of a banana to slice thinly to top muffins. I like to slice on a diagonal for a more elongated look. Look for the least ripe half to make the slices and use that. Mash remaining 3 ½ bananas in a medium bowl. Stir in melted butter, eggs, sugar and vanilla until well blended. Sift flour and remaining ingredients over banana mixture and mix using a rubber spatula until well combined. Divide mixture among muffin liners. Top each with a banana slice and push banana slice gently into the batter. Sprinkle heavily with Turbinado sugar and bake until knife inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean, about 40 minutes.