My Insignificant Life

Life Saving Patrol, c. 1893. Edward Moran. Oil on canvas.

Banana Bread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting 🍌

Ingredients:

For the Cake:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

• 2 large eggs

• 1 cup sour cream

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2-3 bananas)

For the Frosting:

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 3 cups powdered sugar

• 1-2 tablespoons milk (as needed for consistency)

Instructions:

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9x13-inch baking pan.

2. Prepare Cake Batter:

• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

• Beat in eggs, one at a time, followed by the sour cream and vanilla extract.

• In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.

• Fold in the mashed bananas until evenly incorporated.

3. Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely.

4. Make Frosting:

• Beat together the cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy.

• Add the vanilla extract and mix well. Gradually add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating until smooth. Add milk as needed to achieve a spreadable consistency.

BEST EVER STRAWBERRY CAKE

INGREDIENTS:

FOR THE CAKE:

- 1 box white cake mix

- 3 tablespoons plain flour

- 1 (3 oz) box strawberry gelatin

- 1/2 cup water

- 3/4 cup canola oil

- 2 cups fresh or frozen pureed strawberries (divided: one cup for cake & one cup for icing)

- 4 eggs

FOR THE CREAM CHEESE ICING:

- 1 stick butter, softened

- 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened

- 1 cup frozen or fresh pureed strawberries

- 3 cups powdered sugar

DIRECTIONS:

1. PREHEAT THE OVEN:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13-inch baking pan, ensuring it’s well-prepared for the batter.

2. PREPARE THE CAKE BATTER:

In a large mixing bowl, combine the white cake mix, plain flour, strawberry gelatin, and water. Stir until just combined.

3. ADD OIL AND EGGS:

Add the canola oil and then beat in the eggs, one at a time, making sure to mix well between each addition.

4. INCORPORATE THE STRAWBERRIES:

Fold in one cup of the pureed strawberries. Beat the mixture for about 2 minutes until smooth and fully incorporated.

5. BAKE THE CAKE:

Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Bake for approximately 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool completely before icing.

6. MAKE THE CREAM CHEESE ICING:

In a mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, cream cheese, the remaining cup of pureed strawberries, and powdered sugar. Beat with a mixer until the icing is creamy and smooth.

7. ICE THE CAKE:

Once the cake has cooled, evenly spread the cream cheese icing over the top. For a decorative touch, garnish with a fresh strawberry or drizzle with additional pureed strawberries.

8. SERVE:

Flintlock Pistol from London, England dated to 1685 on display at the Royal Armouries in London, England

This ornately decorated pistol was made for King James VII/II of Scotland, England and Ireland by Andrew Dolop during the King's short three year reign. It is engraved with the cipher of James, IR, Iacobus Rex. James worked to modernise the English and Scottish armies especially in the technology used. Flintlock weapons were introduced as well as new uniforms and organisation updating the army into a unified British force. This set them up to fight in the not only in the upcoming wars of the 18th century but also in deposing him during the Glorious Revolution. Further reforms in the early 18th century established the British army as a major force in European and colonial conflicts.

Taking care of one’s mental hygiene is a social courtesy. For the energies of negative thoughts decay one’s joy and spoil the energies of everyone around us. The mind is riddled with social pores. So whichever energy has built up in our minds will seep out into whatever social space we enter.People are like a forest, we breathe the same energy as those adjacent to us. When we enter the same space…