Did you make a New Year’s resolution and are you still keeping it? We’re already past the first quarter of the year—time flies. I set a simple goal: read 50 books by year’s end. Right now I’m well ahead of schedule.
My husband gave me a Kindle Paperwhite for Christmas, and it’s completely changed how I read. I finished book number 26 recently and already have five more lined up. I carry my Kindle everywhere and read in any spare moment.
At the moment I’m reading Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation by Bill Nye—yes, that Bill Nye. It’s different from my usual picks, but I’m hooked. Another favorite this year has been Not My Father’s Son: A Memoir by Alan Cumming. Both have been compelling and thought-provoking.
Do you have book recommendations? I’m always adding titles to my list. I’ll read almost anything—romance, sci‑fi, memoirs, biographies, young adult, mystery—if it sounds good, I’ll give it a try.
I’ve been a bookworm for as long as I can remember. I don’t quite understand kids who don’t enjoy reading, especially with the access they have now. Besides local libraries, services like OverDrive let you borrow ebooks instantly. It still amazes me that I can check out a library book from bed in seconds.
Because of that, I give books as gifts to the children in my life whenever I can. I hope one day one of those books will spark a passion for reading. Books open worlds of imagination and creativity.
Or maybe you could bribe them with cake—one slice for each book read. I’d do it. This cinnamon banana cake might be just the incentive.
This cake has everything I love: chocolate, bananas, and a cinnamon crumb. It bakes up beautifully and every bite leaves you wanting more. Trust me—make this one.
Recipe adapted from The Idea Room.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 ripe bananas, mashed
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1 dash salt
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 3 cups flour
- 2 cups vanilla Greek yogurt (I used Chobani)
- Filling:
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- 1 cup chocolate chips
Directions
- Blend butter, sugar, bananas, eggs and vanilla. Add the remaining cake ingredients and mix until combined.
- In a separate bowl, combine the filling ingredients. In a 9×13-inch baking dish, layer batter and filling twice. Bake at 350°F for about 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.