And girls.

Really, anyone out there who likes to bake things.

Or eat things.

I have a confession. In all of my trials and tribulations in the kitchen, my hits and my misses, there has been one thing that is a regular disaster.

Banana bread.

The reasons are endless. One loaf comes out too brown on top. The next too brown on the bottom. The next too soupy in the middle. The next too dry.

For whatever reason, banana bread wouldn’t work for me. It became my kitchen nemesis.

So I switched to making banana muffins instead.

But a couple weeks ago, with completely brown bananas hibernating in my freezer, I pulled out my mom’s Joy of Cooking book and searched for a new recipe. I wanted to make banana bread my bitch.

In a nice way, of course.

I followed the recipe closely. Sort of. I mean, I got all the ingredients in there in a vaguely congruous order. For me, that’s progress.

I timed the baking carefully. I timed the resting in the pan carefully. I flipped the bread onto a wire rack to cool completely as directed.

But I didn’t let it cool completely before slicing into it.

Actually, Swede sliced into it first.

He’s such a rebel.

But here’s the best part: SUCCESS.

For reals. It wasn’t too brown on top. It wasn’t too brown on the bottom. It was cooked through in the middle.

In short, I am no longer feuding with banana bread.

Which is good, because I’m a peaceful person. I don’t like holding grudges or confrontations.

Especially with baked goods.

They know how to party.

While there was no encounter with a boot to be had while ringing in 2012, there were other, much tastier treats involving noodles. And cheese.

Which, if you know me, are two of my favorite food groups.

Mare made mac and cheese bites, and damn if I didn’t hoard them all the ding dong night like they were winning lottery tickets. Which they were. Winning lottery tickets for my mouth. And then, THEN, just when I thought we’d devoured them all, Mare goes and pulls out ones she’d been HIDING in the MICROWAVE.  Which she really wasn’t HIDING, she was actually just keeping them away from the CAT who likes to JUMP on COUNTERS. WHY am I CAPITALIZING random WORDS? Because eating CAT HAIR is GROSS.

Needless to say, this new discovery of a whole tray of these delicious muffin tin-shaped treats appeared at the perfect time when I’d had my fill of champagne and had changed into my expandable pants. Translation: Right around 2 am. The only right thing to do, then, obviously, was pop five of those babies in my mouth give a grand wave and say, “Happy New Year, bitches, I’m going to bed.”

Which I did.

And then last Saturday it was Book Club day (we read Tom Perotta’s The Leftovers. Collectively, there were many mixed feelings about the book, but that’s neither here nor there right now). Book Club really has nothing to do with New Year’s Eve, except that it kind of does, because I decided I’d be all awesome and whatnot and make mac and cheese bites for the gals.

And I’m so glad I did. Because they are so easy. And so delicious. And most likely, you’ll eat them, and no matter what time it is you’ll want to shove five of them in your mouth, then give a grand wave and say, “Happy New Year, bitches, I’m going to bed.”

In a good way.

Recipe pulled from Dinners for a Year and Beyond

(P.S. I totally left out the nutmeg, and I’m pretty happy about that.)

Mac and Cheese Bites 

adapted from a recipe in Food & Wine magazine November, 2007

makes about 36 bites

1 1/2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
3/4 cup milk
1 1/2 cups, packed, sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated, plus more for sprinkling on top
3 large egg yolks
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated
1/2 pound elbow macaroni, cooked and drained

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spray a 24-count, nonstick mini muffin pan with cooking spray. Set aside.

In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for about 1 minute. Whisk in the milk and bring to a boil. Cook, whisking occasionally, for about 2 -3 minutes until thickened. Add cheddar and Parmesan cheeses and stir to melt. Remove from heat and stir in egg yolks, salt and nutmeg. Stir in macaroni.

Spoon slightly rounded tablespoons of macaroni and cheese into the prepared mini muffin pan. Each cup should be filled to the top. Pack each one down gently. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese.

Bake for about 10 minutes, until golden and sizzling. Let cool for 10 – 15 minutes. Using a teaspoon, carefully loosen the mac and cheese bites and transfer to a platter to serve.

To make ahead, bake and cool mac and cheese bites. Sprinkle with a little more Parmesan cheese. Package and refrigerate. Place bites on a baking sheet and bake in preheated 400 degree oven for 5 minutes. Serve warm.

You guys.

I have so many photos from over the summer that I never shared with you.

I’m so sorry.

I hope you’ll forgive me.

But now I have plenty of time to make it up to you, since I haven’t really pulled my camera out of my bag in awhile!

Which I’m not proud of.

But whatever.

How about I make a New Year’s resolution to try harder?

Terrific!

You’re welcome.

I do this for you, you know.

What?

ANYWAY.

None of this has anything to do with the above picture, which is the chapel in one of the dorms on my alma mater’s campus. I lived in that dorm for two years, and never once set foot in this chapel.

I think that’s because they never actually held mass there.*

So I was forced to go to other chapels for mass.

When I went to mass.

Which was sometimes.

And sometimes not.

But isn’t it pretty? Let’s think about how pretty it is, rather than the fact that I never went there.

La la la….

*Complete lie. I’m just trying to make myself—and Jesus—feel better.

Swede sent me this article last week, and it struck a chord immediately. While I don’t watch half as much TV as I used to, I spend hours on a computer at work, and most evenings as well. I tried to have an Internet Sabbath of my own this past weekend; I was semi-successful.

(Full disclosure: Sunday was a complete bust when it came to staying off the Interwebs. On the plus side, I never got out of my pajamas. In my book, that is an incredibly successful day in its own right.)

It’s tricky, though, shutting off. Even just for an hour, two hours. But when I’m able to do it, I realize how valuable it is. It’s like exercise: I know that when I do it regularly I feel better and more balanced, calmer. And when I don’t do it I go haywire.

At first, this is just another thing to remember, another thing to add to my To Do list. Which sounds ridiculous, if you think about it: “#3: Turn off all electronic devices.” As if I am constantly in an airplane.

But if a reminder is what I need to force myself to slow down and shut the damn monkeys up, then so be it.

How do you turn off? How do you get your quiet time? 

Remember summer? When it wasn’t cold and blowy? And each of these slips was filled with a big ol’ boat, anxiously waiting to have a sail on the lake?

Good times.

In the meantime, I’m kind of enjoying the winter.

Call me crazy.

(CRAZY!)

(I know.)

(I can’t help it.)

(I might be part polar bear.)

(Except my snowpants are still in DC.)

(And I am still in Chicago.)

(Which might make for a very chilly winter.)

(I probably should have thought about this when I moved.)

(Sh’yeah. Dude, when I moved from DC, I was all, “Oh, whatevs! I’ll totally be in my own place by, like, June! I don’t need my snowpants right now! Or parka! Or gloves!”)

(Did you notice it’s January?)

(And I’m still living with my parents?)

(So there’s that.)

The good thing, however, is that book lists are sort of evergreen, so even though my Bookscal (like fiscal, but for words)Year ended two months ago, there’s no harm, no foul in posting this list now. Besides, if you’re anything like me, you probably like to start the new year off with some new reads.

Those looking for new books to peruse, I give you the list. (Along with my in-depth notes.) (And by in-depth I mean, well, not.)

You’re welcome.

Books Read Between November 10, 2010 and November 9, 2011

1.      Upside Down Inside Out – Monica McInerney* (An easy, fun read, well-written) (Also, Monica McInerney is becoming my new Marian Keyes.)
2.      No Way to Treat a First Lady – Christopher Buckley* (A very entertaining read, fast-paced and probably improbable, but fun nonetheless.)
3.      The Wedding Girl – Madeleine Wickham
4.      Greetings From Somewhere Else – Monica McInerney* (Good read, lovely depictions of Ireland, a follow-up to Upside Down Inside Out)
5.     The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao – Junot Diaz* (HFS this book is good, and I totally understand why it won the Pulitzer. The story is engaging and the writing is so different than anything I’ve read lately—in a good way. The writing style just totally lends itself to the story. Just read it, if you haven’t already.)
6.      Love, Rosie – Cecelia Ahern (Eh, it was okay. It took awhile to get into it, but the story ended up being semi-okay. Not anything life-changing, but an easy enough read to keep you distracted.)
7.      Innocence – Kathleen Tessaro (Meh. Pass. Overwritten, trying too hard to be thinky and prosaic in parts.)
8.     The Writing Class – Jincy Willett* (A murder-mystery, not the most intriguing or suspenseful one I’ve ever read, but she has a great humor to her writing, which I totally appreciate.)
9.      When You Are Engulfed in Flames – David Sedaris* (I bought this book three years ago, and JUST got around to reading it. LOVED the last essay in the book about his experience with quitting smoking. And trying to learn Japanese.)
10.   Virgin River – Robyn Carr. (Read for book club, a cheesy romance novel. It was okay. There could have been more sex scenes, IMHO.)
11.   American on Purpose – Craig Ferguson.* (Loved this. His writing is witty, he is brutally honest about his life, and I can’t believe he’s still alive. Also contains one of my new favorite quotes, which is something about fear being God’s way of saying, “Pay attention! This could be fun!”)
12.  The Morning Show Murders – Al Roker (Yeah, that’s right. Al. Freaking. Roker. This book was horrible. Terribly, terribly stupid, and I’m not sure the entire plot even made sense in the end. And yet, I didn’t put it down and walk away. Now who’s the stupid one?)
13.   Her Royal Spyness—Rhys Bowen* (Read this for book club, and enjoyed it. A quick, easy read, very fluffy, a “cozy” mystery.)
14.   The Gate Crasher—Madeline Wickham (Eh. It wasn’t bad. I listened to it as an audiobook. Good to have as a commuting distraction, but I’m glad I listened to it rather than actually read it. The ending left something to be desired.)
15.   What Happens in London—Julia Quinn* (Absolutely terrific romance novel. So cute, and you will be in love with love. And Russian intrigue!)
16.   A Royal Pain—Rhys Bowen (The second in this “cozy” mystery series. Seriously, I have no idea why I keep reading these.)
17. Street Gang—Michael Davies* (Audio book, the history of Sesame Street. Very interesting, though not exactly what I thought it would be. Still, I’d give it a go, especially if you have a special place in your heart for Sesame Street, like I do.)
18.   Manhunting—Jennifer Crusie* (Audiobook, and I just love Jennifer Crusie. She’s wicked with dialogue, and this is smart, funny, romance chicklit.)
19.  Don’t You Forget About Me—Jancee Dunn (Not bad. A little thin in parts, but an easy and enjoyable enough read.)
20.   On the Way to the Wedding—Julia Quinn* (Another good one. This one is from the Bridgerton family. Damn you, Cassie, for getting me hooked on Julia Quinn novels. I hate you! But I love you. But I hate you! But I love you. I shake my fist at you! Except I’m not sure why! Because I love these books!)
21.  The Duke & I—Julia Quinn* (I just love this woman. She’s simply a terrific romance writer. This is the first book in the Bridgerton series, FYI. Yes, I started out in the middle of the series. Whoops.)
22.  The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth—Alexandra Robbins (I’m really not sure if I recommend this book or not. In a way, I really liked it, and in another way, it really annoyed me. So….yeah. That’s not really helpful. But whatever.)
23.   It’s In His Kiss—Julia Quinn* (Another in the Bridgerton series. It’s like they never end. Which is AWESOME.)
24.  Any Place I Hang My Hat—Susan Isaacs* (Audiobook. Definitely a good and engaging listen while commuting.)
25.   Undead and Unfinished—MaryJanice Davidson* (It’s been a year or so since I’ve read this series, and now there are two new books out. This one, I have to say, was as per usual a quick read, but also very entertaining. If you’re looking for super easy, super fast reads, and you like snarky vampires, I highly recommend checking out this series.)
26.   Undead and Undermined—MaryJanice Davidson* (Apparently I walked into a trilogy within a series. Who knew? The details are a little fuzzy and glossed over, but a fun, quick read as the series continues.)
27.  One Fifth—Candace Bushnell (Audiobook. Normally, I find Candace Bushnell’s books to be annoying because they’re all the same—or at least they all sound/read the same to me—but I actually enjoyed this one. However, I don’t think I would have enjoyed it at all or very much if I had been reading it rather than listening to it. But I did listen to it, and it was an enjoyable, fluffy enough book to make the commute home more entertaining.)
28.   Royal Flush—Rhys Bowen (Another in the cozy mystery Royal Spyness series. Pretty good. Set in Scotland this time, which is a nice change of pace. And the romance line is progressing along nicely, I have to say.)
29.   Bossypants—Tina Fey* (A gem. Truly, truly a gem, and very smart writing. And that’s all I have to say about that. Just read it. )
30.  The Agency—Ally O’Brien* (Audiobook. Definitely a good listen, good plot and story line, just really fun. And in a British accent, too!) 
31.  The Royal Pain—MaryJanice Davidson (I think I read this one once before, but I’m still counting it. Also, I’m pretty sure whoever edited this book was on meth or something because the jumps and leaps it made were ridiculous, and there was absolutely no flow to it at all. It was so haphazard it was distracting. Also also, this book is the second in the Baranov trilogy. And by far the weakest.)
32.  The Royal Mess—MaryJanice Davidson* (In comparison to #31, this was a delightful read, and apparently both writer and editor showed up for this book. I literally read this in a single morning. Good dialogue, good sex scenes, and a smooth plot flow, though a lot of loose ends left, and Davidson says she’s not writing any more in this series, which I think is odd. Then again, probably for the best, because you can only harp on the same theme of “but it’s my royal duty!” so many times, you know? Whatever, you’ll totally know what I mean if you read the series.)

*Recommended

About this time, give or take, last year I was getting ready to go to Morocco to visit my sweet friend Turner and her Mr. Chris. I had no idea what was in store for me for those 10 days, or the months to follow, but it was, I now know, the beginning of a Big Change.

And by that, I do not mean menopause, just FYI.

In this coming year, I predict there will be more changes if for no other reason than change is inevitable and because while 2011 shifted the earth underneath me that shifting has now settled enough that I would like to make tweaks on where things landed.

So here’s to remembering the great happenings of 2011, and here’s to looking forward to what 2012 will bring.

Straw poll: What’s on your 2012 To Do list? Leave a note in the comments section, and let’s compare notes…

“Do you want to go up in the plane with us?” he asked me.

“F. No,” I said.

“You don’t?”

“Baby, I don’t like flying in big jet airliners, I have no desire to go up in a plane smaller than a puddle-jumper.”

“Fair enough.”

Part of me thinks maybe I should have gone, tackled my fear of flying or some such grand gesture toward being a more self-aware person.

And then another part of me is pretty sure that had I gone up with Swede and nephew, so too would have my lunch, all over the pilot’s lap.

Until then, Interwebers.

ZOMG! You guys, the sailing season here in Chicago is almost over, and I feel like I never even, oh, you know, TOLD you about a lot of the sailing stuff that went on this summer.

Whoops.

I should tell you about those sorts of things, shouldn’t I?

Then again, maybe I’ll save those stories for when we’re all bundled up and gathered ‘round the car defroster and in need of warm-weather dreams to get us through the cold, cold Easter.