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Hi Friend,
I looked at my counter this morning and there they were, four bananas well past the point of anyone in this house eating them straight. Brown spotted, soft, absolutely perfect for exactly one thing.
So banana bread is happening today. And it reminded me that I have been meaning to share this recipe with you for a while because it is the one I reach for every single time, and it does not require baking soda, which means I can actually make it without a last-minute grocery run.
Since I was already in a cooking mood, this week's email is a little food-heavy. I am not sorry about it.
FROM THE KITCHEN: Banana bread without baking soda
Here is the thing about overripe bananas, the browner and softer they get, the sweeter your bread will be. When my kids were younger they refused to touch a spotted banana. I learned to hide my excitement because I knew exactly what was coming. The natural sugars intensify as bananas ripen, which means you need less added sugar and end up with a loaf that stays moist for days.
This recipe uses baking powder instead of baking soda, which I started doing one afternoon when I ran out of both and was determined to bake anyway. Turns out I like it better this way. The loaf rises just fine, the texture is soft and dense in all the right ways, and it slices cleanly without crumbling.
A tip worth knowing: if you have more ripe bananas than you can use right now, peel them, slice in half, and freeze in a zip bag. They thaw quickly and are ready to go whenever you need them. I always have a stash.
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FROM THE KITCHEN: Broccoli salad with craisins and bacon
The 4th of July is one week away, and if you are going to a cookout, a potluck, or hosting your own backyard situation, make this salad. I have been bringing it to summer gatherings for years and it is the one that disappears first every single time.
The quick version of the dressing: whisk together half a cup of mayonnaise, two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, one tablespoon of sugar, a pinch of garlic powder, salt and pepper. Pour over the broccoli mixture and toss until everything is evenly coated. Refrigerate at least an hour before serving, it gets better as it sits.
If someone at your table is lactose intolerant, skip the optional cheddar. The salad is completely delicious without it and no one will notice it is missing.
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FROM MY TRAVEL DESK: Two days in San Diego with teens
If you are still mapping out summer travel and looking for a destination that will actually keep teenagers engaged, San Diego delivers. It is one of the most naturally teenager-friendly cities in the country: perfect weather, incredible food, beaches that do not require hours of driving, and enough variety that you are never stuck deciding between one thing and another.
I put together a two-day itinerary specifically for families traveling with teens, one that skips the obvious tourist traps and gets into the neighborhoods, the food scene, and the experiences that make people want to go back. Balboa Park, the Gaslamp Quarter, La Jolla, Coronado Island and enough flexibility built in so that the day does not feel like a march through a checklist.
If you have been thinking about San Diego, this is your starting point.
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PODCAST FOR WOMEN OVER 45: Untethered and Wanderwise
If you have not found us on the podcast yet, Heide and I are out here making a show for women who refuse to let age define their adventures. We talk travel, life after 45, doing things that scare you a little, and the kind of honest conversations that do not always make it into a blog post.
New episodes drop regularly. Find us wherever you listen:
Come find us — there is a lot waiting for you.
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LAST CALL: Prime Day ends tonight
Amazon Prime Day ends tonight at midnight — and there are still deals worth grabbing before they disappear. I have been browsing all week and pulled together the ones I would actually buy into a storefront list for you so you are not sifting through thousands of listings.
Travel gear, kitchen picks, outdoor gear, and a few things I genuinely use and recommend. If you have been waiting on something, now is the time — these prices will not come back until fall at the earliest.
(Affiliate link. I only share things genuinely worth your time.)
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What are you planning for this weekend? If you are going to a pool party and bringing the broccoli salad, hit reply and let me know how it goes. I read every one.
Until next week,
Nicky
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