Just a normal Thursday

My little boy is growing up so fast. Too fast.



The other day I found some more "sambuco" or elderberry flowers. They are everywhere by the country road but unfortunately too high for me to reach. However I did manage to reach a few clusters which were plenty enough for a big batch of cordial. I love this stuff, my mom used to make it every summer.
It is wonderfully refreshing!


These are the Danish butter cookies that Benjamin can't get enough of. They sell them at LIDL in San Salvo where we get our "big" groceries every week. LIDL is a German chain and it is the No.1 grocery store in Italy. They have all the yummy German stuff, chocolates, cheeses, everything. And of course the delicious 39 cents fresh baguette...ohh....it is always warm when I pick it up, they bake it right there at the store....it is my little treat I look forward to every week. :)


Bettina, our landlady sent over some home-grown fresh Romaine lettuce and peas. Scott goes over to the barber shop every Thursday and she always sends some fresh produce home with him. I really appreciate it!!


I finally realized that having absolutely no (positive) experience in gardening or growing (or even keeping alive) plants is probably a strong sign that i shouldn't try to grown stuff from seeds. I should probably leave it to those who actually know what they are doing. I think all my seedlings are dead...time to scrap them.
From now on I'm buying the already grown plants and try to re-plant them in the bigger pots.
This pot of thyme looks (and smells) pretty amazing.


I am always cautious when I open Benjamin's school bag after school. I never know what I'm going to find in there... This time it was a totally mushed up banana. Everything in the bag was covered with sticky banana pulp. Great. I cleaned it all up and was about to toss the ripe banana... but then set it aside to make a gluten-free banana bread out of it. It turned out so delicious.
When we lived in America I tossed stuff all the time. There was such an abundance of stuff, food, cheap clothes etc that it was impossible to keep everything. Stuff kept coming in, so the old stuff had to go. Stuff was always flowing in and flowing out. (I didnt toss everything, they mostly went to the thrift store, or charity shop, but I did toss lots of food :(

I wanna share my Banana Bread recipe. It is sooo simple and easy to make. Works every time.

Gluten-Free Banana Bread 

1 1/2 cup gluten-free flour (or regular for regular banana bread)

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1 large egg

1-2 bananas, mashed

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup oil (or apple sauce)

Bake it in a preheated 375 degree oven for about 20-25 minutes

or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. 

Buon appetito!