Stealing Athena

The book Stealing Athena by Karen Essex is a fascinating work of historical fiction about the Elgin Marbles.  The story goes back and forth between ancient Greece, when the marbles were being created, to the turn of the 1800s when Thomas Elgin brought them to the British Museum.  Both stories are told from the point of view of the "woman behind the man"; Elgin's 21 year old pregnant wife who accompanied him to the Acropolis and Aspasia, mistress of Pericles, who oversaw the building of the Parthenon. Historical and spicy!

Who doesn't love warm banana bread, just out of the oven.  One great tip I have for you: every time a banana is on it's way out, I throw it in the freezer.  When a few accumulate, I throw them in a bowl in the microwave for 1 min.  Then peel them and you have gooey bananas all ready to make banana bread!

 Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

1 c sugar

½ c butter, softened (1 stick)

3 very ripe bananas, mashed

2 eggs, well beaten

1 ¼ c. cake flour

½ tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

½ c. walnuts (optional)

½ c. chocolate chips (optional)

2 greased 9x5x3 loaf pans, or 1 9x9 sq. pan, or muffin tin

Mix dry ingredients together in one bowl.  Mix wet in another.  Combine and bake at 350 degrees for 50 min.for loaves, 20 min for muffins, 35 for 9x9 pan.