Quiet Cooking

I don't think I need to tell you how much I love the busy, bustle, energy of family life, and particuarly around family mealtime. I really do. I feel blessed to have it, and I truly enjoy it - the mess, the baking, the craziness, the creativity, the laughter. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

But you know what else I enjoy? QUIET.

Yesterday, Steve arrived home from work to find us at the end of the driveway, at the ready for a hand off - the kids ready and buckled into their car seats, the car full of pajamas, a picnic dinner, and all that they would need for a playground/picnic/bedtime driving adventure with Papa. Goodbye! Goodbye! Be on your merry way, my loves {right now, please!}!

And back I went into the house to revel in it's silence. And to clean it without someone behind me 'helping'. And to cook without the flour ending up on the floor (okay, only a little). Quiet cooking? Oh, I really, really like that. Instead of madly scrambling to just 'get things made' before they end up on the floor, or interrupted to help settle a disagreement in another room...I can leisurely take my time baking and cooking, and actually thinking about what I'm doing. It even allows for a bit of creativity, and like sewing I do think, the results of that are always unique, and a little bit of a surprise.

Blueberry-Banana Cake

wet:
3 egg whites
1/2 cup canola oil
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup sour cream
1 ripe banana, mashed

dry:
1 cup unbleached white flour
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

1 cup blueberries
1 tbsp lemon zest

Combine all wet ingredients in a large bowl. In a seperate bowl, sift dry ingredients. Add dry ingredients to wet and mix until combined. Fold in the blueberries and lemon zest, being careful not to overmix. Bake in a greased 8" pan, at 350 for 30 minutes (or until a toothpick or knife inserted in center come out clean). Let cool in pan, and remove. Extra yummy with cream cheese frosting (I like to add a little blueberry juice to this).

It was yummy last night at 11pm with three dear friends gathered here for dinner, craft, laughter, and wine.  And I must say that it tasted just as yummy at 7am this morning as a breakfast surprise with my three loves, while we compared stories of last night's adventures. Ah, the Quiet and the Noise.

Comments

[Meredith]

I think there is something so sacred about quiet times, time alone, and a task to do with your hands. Cooking, crafting, even petting a dog. Just quiet and some soothing, repetitive and calming task. It nourishes your soul.

(Also, I just like my crazy loud yapping children out of my hair, to put it another way!)

Love the photos. Cheers to the wine!!

[Alison]

Aaaahhh quiet. But we do need all that noise just so that we really really feel it when the house is silent. Bliss and luxury.

[Anna]

Oh Amanda, I just love your posts.

[Beth]

I LOVE that you were waiting in the driveway!

"Hi Honey! Bye Honey!"

I have to ask - why the pajamas in the car? Did they change into their pajamas for the ride home? Did they eat their picnic in their pajamas?

I also find myself compelled to ask what kind of pjs - and have you ever sewn pjs?

Nosy, nosy!

[SOULEMAMA]

Too funny, Beth!
A playground run, the picnic, then switch into jammies and a book, and hop in the car for a nighttime drive home (aka. fall asleep!).

And yes, I make their pj's. ;)

[Jessica]

I squealed with delight when I noticed your swirled jadeite mixing bowl! I have the same one!

[Ellie]

My Babes are asleep and that quiet has settled over the house. Its the quiet of knowing I'll be able to crawl into bed with them (all in our big bed) soon - Its night-time here in Australia. Its the still quiet of knowing that tomorrow will have the noise and intenseness and laughter and energy that our house NEVER possessed before we were blessed with our beautiful little ones! And, like you - and all Mamas - the "noise" is as precious as the silence. Thanks Amanda for the little moments of your silence.

[UNIFORM Studio]

thanks for reminding me that the noise/chaos/mess is good too.

[heather]

ahh, balancing the noise with quiet. one of the secrets to happy parenting, happy family. you do it so well. thanks for the reminder. enjoy the weekend!

[Melissa]

I will definately have to try this... I don't know if it's pregnancy or what, but my morning routine begins with 'needing' my banana-blueberry smoothie. So this is gonna fit right in around here ;o)

[shari]

quiet cooking is so wonderful. this recipe looks wonderful. can't wait to try it. thank you amanda! xo

[Melissa!]

Ah, rejuventation!

[Elena]

That banana-blueberry cake sounds delicious. Thanks for the receipy though I've never understood what the cup stands for. (Swedish receipies are based on the decilitre - dl - measure). I will learn this some day! Thanks to receipies like this one ;) Have a great noisy day and future quite ones.

[Sarah]

ah the pass-off! My hubby is always happy to oblige when it's been one of those days for me too, the problem is I miss them all the second they are gone, and the house seems too quiet. I know I need that time apart and I crave it like anything until it actually happens and then I'm all twitchy cause it's too still. What's wrong with me?

[hannah]

doesnt it always seem that that silence after the rest of the family has gone is quieter than quiet? it takes me a few minutes to adjust and not startle myself. i love quiet cooking.

[Aisling]

Oh I can SO relate, I am enjoying the quiet right now, in fact, with the littles still asleep! I had 'one of those days' yesterday, and my husband informed he would be working late so I found us a way out of the house. We went to Central Market where they have live music on the patio (complete with playground & yummy food to purchse inside) Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings. I brought my knitting, the kids ran around and wore themselves out, and the aggravations of the day melted away. It was so so awesome. It might have to become a weekly thing.

[Kat]

I don't think it's a blueberry-banana cake, I think you really have INVENTED something. The picture makes it clear. It's a Giant Muffin. Like the giant cookies that are the size of a plate? It's a muffin the size of a cake.

[Dara]

Love your blog. Thanks so much for sharing.

[SOULEMAMA]

Kat - I think you're right! It's a very muffin-like cake! And actually, adapted only slightly from our muffin recipe. But sometimes a cake just feels better, no? ;)

[madmommy]

I had to laugh...my husband likes to tell people of our "system" of how well my day has gone. If we (munchkin and I) are inside the house when he gets home, no problems. At the door, a slightly stressful day. If I'm coming down the driveway holding munchkin at arms length, don't even bother asking how my day went, lol!

[Pam]

I'm going to have to try this recipe. Just this past Tuesday, I tried the blueberry banana bread recipe from 2005. It was so easy to make and oh so good. It's also oh so gone ... Thank you for inspiring, once again. The pics of your little one are precious, especially the leaning forward. You captured the moment which will bring joy to you for many years to come.

[Grace]

What a sweet story ... I love the quiet, too. Like you, I can probably appreciate those quiet moments, when they come, all the more because of the constant & exuberant busyness and noise of our home. I love the top photo. It's really beautiful!

[erin scissorhands]

this post is so great. i love the "handoff"...too funny! what a sweet husband you have.

and i really want to try your recipe! except it wont be as fun for me because it's only my husband and me and he doesn't like bananas...or half the other basic foods on the planet- which is probably one of the reasons i shudder at the thought of making dinner.

[m]

I am coveting your apron in a huge way.

[Tee tee]

I hear you sister. I also love the craziness of meal times. My little ones pushing the buttons on the food processor(making soup instead of chopping), vegetables flying, dog running for everything that falls, baby throwing things from highchair or trying to grab everything from the sling on my back. I wouldn't trade it for anything...but ahhh a little wine a little silence once in a while is a lovely treat. So good to hear your story everyday. Reminds me of all that is good in my life.

[brandie]

i didn't know you were waiting in the driveway. that totally cracks me up!! and the cake was soooo yummy :)

[Amber]

What a pretty blouse you're wearing in the top photo. It is such a peaceful picture, too. It makes me want to go bake right now!

I understand your love of the energy of family but the enjoyment of quiet, too. It's nice to balance the two.

Yummy looking cake!

[brit]

I love what you said here. I've been struggling with a friend who refuses to ever, ever leave her kids and its really effecting our time together. I struggle to convey that those few sweet hours when we are away from our babes can be so rejuvenating and so HEALTHY for us and for them. I have so much more to give my munchkins after some un interrupted conversations.

Well put.

[Dawn]

Oh my!!! I love the hand off with picnic and PJ's...never thought of that. What a wonderful idea. My favorite quiet time is at home alone getting things done in silence. Although I wouldn't be baking or cooking...I'd be sewing, cleaning and watching movies. Sounds fantastic. xoxo

[Diane]

I am following in your footsteps, Amanda ... I'm clearing the clutter from my (personal) life. Focusing on those nearest and dearest to me. Trying to find my way to revel in the chaos of family life and define/discover my own rhythm. Using/consuming less and creating more. There are days where I wish I could pick up the phone and call you and just ask you how exactly do what you do. But I know it's an inner journey ... the answers are within me not with Amanda Soule. You are an inspiration to me. Every. Single. Day. Thank you!

[Pien]

I am going to make your cake as soon as we have blueberries!
I really like your site and your childeren are "tres mignon".
Love form the french country site, Gerria

[Christina]

I love quiet cooking/baking!! With three young ones myself it is a nice break for the mommy. A PJ picnic sounds like a great idea!
And that blueberry banana cake looks really yummy, I think I might have to make it here soon.
Have a beautiful day!
~ Christina

[Diane]

P.S. My twin daughter's birthdays are a little more than a week away, and THIS year we're not getting Princess cake from the local grocery store. THIS year their Momma's going to make them Blueberry Cake w/ Cream Cheese frosting from SouleMama. Maybe I'll make Aisha's with the blueberry and Sydney (who we usually dress in pink to tell them apart) with strawberry (?). We'll see. ;)

[Jessie*Earth*Momma]

Thats spectacular! I believe I shall plan an evening like this for myself as well!

[galadriel]

I have those same Fire King mixing bowls. I love them! Cheers to quiet times and cheers to the noisy times too.

[Siri]

You described the crazy and the quiet baking times to a T! I hate to admit it but I went on a baking-with-the-boys strike for awhile because it only ended up in frustration (mine) the way they argued over who gets to do what and who gets which stepstool, and "Why didn't I get to put the vanilla in?" and...well, you know. It's getting a little better, and I'm starting to take turns, with only one at a time in the kitchen with me and they're actually being OK with it.
Love the idea of shipping them off like that for the evening with a "Don't return until bedtime" mandate and enough supplies to ensure they don't return until then! LOVE IT!

[Julie]

Love your blog...and I love to bake in a quiet kitchen too!

[earthchick]

Mmmm, sounds divine, all of it - the quiet time in the kitchen, the cake itself, and the evening with good friends. Thank you for sharing your recipe!!

[nancy]

what a treat! i too enjoy those peaceful moments to cook/bake in the quiet. as always, your words are poetic.

[jean]

cuppa joe #3 sitting here, WITHOUT that extra extra piece of sun-shiny cake. thinking i'll have to bake one and eat it all myself, since i'm the only eggy-cake eater at home this weekend. thanks for the recipe.

[Helena]

I just came across your blog a few weeks ago and stayed up late last night to read some more of your posts you are so inspirational, entertaining, funny,sincere and succinct in your writings, I can't wait for your book to be released, yippie!

[Veronica TM]

thank you for the recipe, amanda! i will have to try that.
and what you say is so true, i think you appreciate the energy of family life because you have those moments of silence to center and the other way around too.

[Nelly]

I was wondering and I hope I 'm not being indiscreet, but what does Soulepappa does for a living? Where does he gets the energy to continue his day in the playground? My hubby is always so tired after work all he wants to do is "die" in front of the tv. I 'm dreaming about throwing it.

[Kelly]

How lucky you are, to be able to create this time...just for you! This can be a challenge for us Mama's...and sometimes is easily forgotten...amongst the hustle & bustle, of daily routines! How lovely! Thank you for reminding me to take, time for myself! ;-)

[Alicia P.]

Oh, wonderful. Yes.

[Tee tee]

I forgot to mention, my two year old and myself, made your pretzels for Easter weekend lunch. The whole family sat down to a most delicious treat, with loads of mustard of course!! Thanks for the recipe-can't wait to try the banana blueberry cake!

[Teresa]

What a SWEET partnership!

[Pam]

I tried your recipe this afternoon and it was wonderfully delicious. Thank you for sharing.

[Allegra]

I made your recipe yesterday to have when some friends came over, it was a hit! Thanks!

[Julie]

Wow! Bless you. What a life. Joy, and a woman who understands what that is. Thanks.