This morning I woke up to find this little guy hanging out in the kitchen.
I actually took this picture yesterday, because he kept coming back. It was -6F when I woke up and yes the window was open. My apartment is an oven!
With the sunshine, it felt like a summer day. Then I checked the weather… Oh dear. However, that didn’t stop me from having a fabulous morning!
With a cup of coffee and the best green monster I’ve had in a long time, I started my next creation to bribe my class into liking me.
Apparently, I’ve got bananas on the brain. I made Banana Chip Cookies from 101 Cookbooks. The only changes I made were omitting the walnuts and using brown sugar instead of natural cane sugar.
Think of your favorite chocolate chip cookies… now add banana chips and make them *slightly* healthier.
Okay who am I kidding, they’re pretty fatty 🙂 I got 37 cookies from this recipe (even though the recipe says it yields 24).
Here’s the estimated nutrition info:
Pretty darn good! The banana chips add a nice crunch that makes them way more exciting than regular chocolate chip cookies. Plus since it’s a class on Modern Latin America… bananas are very fitting…Do you know what the “Banana Republic” is? And I’m not talking about the store!
I hope my class likes them!
While my cookie dough chilled in the fridge (I actually baked them in the afternoon), I chilled outside with Rhoda. Remember last time? This time it was colder so I wore an extra long sleeve shirt. 10F when I left and 15F when I got home! Burr! We did the same route. For some reason it felt a lot tougher this time, but just as lovely!
Arctic Tundra? No, just Upstate NY…
This is my favorite stretch of the run:
Sadly my camera died halfway through the run! Rhoda‘s camera was there to save the day!
Frozen falls!
Ithaca really is gorgeous!
Great pics, Rhoda!
Now I’m off to read since I’ve slacked off all weekend! Hope you all have had a great weekend! Have a great night!
Foodologie 
Squirrel is too cute! I can’t believe you can leave your window open, though; brrr! It’s been so cold these past two days, props to you for actually running in it.
Those cookies look awesome. Banana makes everything better, and I’m definitely digging the wheat germ I spy 😉
Beautiful pictures. Good luck with the reading!
Baaah, these pictures are great! You’re making me miss home! It has always been my dream to own an Ithaca is Gorges shirt and I don’t know why I still haven’t gotten one every time I go there.
The cookies look great, and it’s good to see you’re communing with nature…or it’s encroaching upon you? 😉
Beautiful photos… how can freezing cold weather make a person so miserable and happy at the same time?
I can’t believe you woke up to a squirrel in your window… definitely makes for the cutest picture, ever!
Those look SO FREAKIN’ good!! I sense a recreation in my future 🙂
WOW those look wonderful! pretty pics!
Oh my gosh, those cookies look great! And gorgeous pics, too. 🙂
Mmmmm…love, love, love 101 Cookbooks. She’s a genius!
That squirrel is SO CUTE!!! I want to adopt him!!
Oh my word I would freak out if I saw a squirrel in my place! Beautiful pictures and your cookies look delish!
Awww that squirrel is so cute!! We have some in the backyard of our office too and they’re so adorable.
Hehe LOVE your baked goods.. the muffins and the cookies look fabulous!
I’m so jealous that you’re living in such a gorgeous place!
This will sound silly, but I’m actually scared of squirrels. I think I would be terrified to find one in my apartment!
The cookies sound delicious — I like bananas and chocolate, but I never thought of adding banana chips to cookies.
I won’t lie, that squirell in my place would freak me out 😮 Actually, I feed them in my backyard (feeders) I just don’t want them in or near the house.
Way to add the banana chips to your cookies, I’m sure they will be a huge hit. Ithaca is BEAUTIFUL for sure!
I might be making those cookies this weekend….YUM!