This Old Home

After a few months of waiting, couple weeks of painting the apartment from top to bottom, and several trips to the 3 different places where our belongings were stored, we're finally moved in and unpacked. There's such a sense of relief, feeling as if I have found home for the time being.

Our one bedroom, shot-gun style 1920s duplex is just up our alley. Bold in color, warm, kitchy. I can't help but think of the countless tenants over the past 90 years who have sat on the front porch playing dominos in the humid summer evenings and have baked cakes in our kitchen with the sweet smell of homemade goodness lingering. The laughter that has echoed from the high ceilings.. the lovers, the children, the women in high-heeled shoes clicking across the hardwood floors, the bachelors headed out for a night with the boys downtown, the forgotten who have passed through our doorways.. Their memories created in our home are in the air we breathe. And it's warming and inviting to know we're now apart of this house's story.

Last night I baked a version of Mark Bittman's banana bread and nibbled on it while I caught up about my grandfather's vacation over the phone. One night in the series of countless nights and conversations and baked goods in our very old, very cozy home.

Feel free to whip up your own banana bread using this version of the recipe. I opted for only all purpose flour, added blueberries instead of the coconut, sprinkled the top with a crumble of flour, sugar, cinnamon, and butter before baking. Enjoy darlings, and make it your own.