By Inspection Monday. Went well. A few small issues — a leaky garbage disposal, old attic insulation, the water heater is seven years old. Nothing structural. Paula said this is a clean inspection. We are moving forward.
I met with my mortgage person Wednesday. Pre-approved already (I did this in January as a head start). Rate locked. Closing March 3 if all holds.
Selling the Hancock house: I will list after I close on the new one. Paula will handle it. She thinks it will go in under a week at the current spring market. She says two offers likely.
I told Liam and Nora more on Sunday. I said in about a month we will move. I showed them a photo of the new house. Liam asked if there is a basement (he wants to do LEGO in a basement). There is. Liam is satisfied. Nora asked if the butterflies we decorated will come too. I said yes every one.
Group Tuesday. I told them. Bernadette said this is a good threshold to cross. The ALS widower asked how I felt. I said 70 percent excited, 30 percent devastated, but the 30 percent is not going away unless I do this. He said that sounds right.
Clinic — a full week. Nothing remarkable. I am holding it together and moving pieces.
Saturday pancakes. Burned the first one. Liam asked if we will take the blue plate to the new house. I said yes, of course, the blue plate moves with us. He said good.
Sunday dinner at Southie. Ma made pot roast. She said it is a good strong dinner for a week of logistics. She also made a blueberry crumble. Liam ate most of it.
Food of the week: blueberry crumble. A substrate of slightly sweetened blueberries, a topping of oats, butter, brown sugar, a pinch of cinnamon, baked at 375 for 35 minutes. Best with vanilla ice cream.
Ma’s blueberry crumble set the tone for what I wanted at the end of this particular week — something baked, something warm, something that asked very little of me but gave a lot back. When I made these baked banana boats later that same week, Liam and Nora hovered at the oven door the whole time, and that felt exactly right: the pieces are moving, the house is happening, and dessert still shows up. That is enough for now.
Baked Banana Boats
Prep Time: 5 min | Cook Time: 15 min | Total Time: 20 min | Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 4 ripe bananas, unpeeled
- 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup mini marshmallows
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
- Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven. Preheat your oven to 375°F. Line a small baking sheet or baking dish with foil.
- Slice the bananas. Without peeling, cut each banana lengthwise down the center, slicing through the top peel only — do not cut all the way through the bottom peel. Gently open the banana to create a pocket.
- Fill the boats. Divide the chocolate chips and marshmallows evenly among the four banana pockets. Sprinkle each with brown sugar and cinnamon, then dot with the small pieces of butter.
- Bake. Place the filled bananas on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 12–15 minutes, until the chocolate is melted, the marshmallows are golden, and the banana is soft and fragrant.
- Serve warm. Carefully transfer to plates — the peel acts as the bowl. Serve immediately with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream if you like.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 210 | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Carbs: 40g | Fiber: 3g | Sodium: 15mg