Double Chocolate Banana Muffins

Thanks to my mother's delicious baking and allowing me to help in the kitchen as long as I can remember, whenever I eat a banana I cannot help but think of her epic Double Chocolate Banana Muffins. A chocolate-banana muffin, often spiked with peanut butter, with dark chocolate (or peanut butter) chips. Not too sweet, with all three flavors distinguishable, they are second only to her blueberry muffins. So when the lunchroom had a big bowl of small ripe banana yesterday, I couldn't help but slip three into my bag and begin to taste the fresh-baked muffins.

I desperately emailed my mother for the recipe (how could I have forgotten to bring it?) and luckily she responded before I left school for my internet-less house. I hurriedly copied down the recipe and pulled out a bowl as soon as I got home - I had to finish before my tango class at 7:30, and it was already 6 o'clock.

The main problem: a lack of chocolate chips. I pulled out a chocolate bar and the sharpest knife I could find and began chopping. 15 minutes later, I had the requisite cup of chocolate chips.

The second but by now customary problem: the lack of measuring cups. I ended up with too much flour and had to add some more oil (the egg had been small but I feared tampering with the rising effect, so I didn't add another, anI had no more bananas).

Third hurdle: no muffin tins. I had paper cupcake liners, and flaneros - the molds for making flan, which are like cones with the top cut off. The flan molds supported the paper sides but there was space between the bottom of the liner and the narrow base of the flanera.

The result: good muffins, a bit too dense due to the lack of liquids and strangely shaped bottoms, but good nonetheless...and a sweet reminder of home. My host mother liked them, I dropped a pair off for my host grandparents, and I'm planning on subjecting them to popular opinion after lunch today. And if they aren't a hit...more for me!

Random Goings-On

Friday.
After the school's fun but limited Halloween party - limited not by a lack of will or celebration mood but by our small school and even smaller budget - I returned home for dinner, but quickly donned a dress and heels to go to the theatre! Although everyone else lived too far away to go home, eat dinner, return to go to the theatre, and then rush home before curfew, and hence no one could accompany me, I decided to go alone. The obra, Fugadas (Fugitives), starred Rosario Pardo, who also happens to play the aunt on my favorite series here, Doctor Mateo. The play was enjoyable and funny, and I was even able to move to a better seat right before the curtain went up! I arrived home right before curfew thoroughly content.
Saturday.
I spent the morning doing some homework - finishing "The Sun Also Rises", by Hemingway. Seeing as I happen to like Hemingway, I enjoyed the reading thoroughly, although this book isn't nearly as good as "For Whom the Bell Tolls".
After an afternoon of exploring the mall (my first time visiting it and hopefully my last - large clothing stores disorient me), we realized that we couldn't all stay together for dinner because we had no money. Then an idea: I invited everyone to my house for dinner! Despite having only rice and beans (and onion and garlic...and nutella for dessert), we enjoyed the time together. I had had every intention to explore the streets a bit, due to the masses of people out for Halloween, but somehow the night slipped away chatting in my living room...
Sunday.
¡Día de Todos Santos!
The second full day of the "puente", the long weekend. I went for a walk in the morning (accompanied by a book) and then to a lunch with my host mother, stopping at a store where she knew I could find an inexpensive winter jacket (a miracle: 12 euros!). We went to the house of her friend, where we ate wonderfully: grilled peppers, a lovely mushroom-garlic dish, potatoes and eggs, and a frozen chocolate dessert, and coffee, of course. I've developed quite an affinity for black coffee.
After lunch (which lasted from 2 until 5) I met up with a friend for a stroll through the streets (and ice cream, of course).
I arrived home in time for dinner and a new episode of Doctor Mateo! The program runs from 10:15 to 11:45, so I went straight to bed afterwards.
Monday.
What a luxury to wake up at 8:30, an hour later than usual, and not have to rush off to school either!
My host mother and I headed out right after breakfast for a bicycle ride through the city, taking advantage of the beautiful new bike paths. After this we met up with my host aunt, uncle, cousins, grandparents, great-aunt, and great-uncle for a lunch at "Las Palomas" a popular buffet restaurante - not my favorite, but after going to a vegetarian restaurant a few weeks ago, my grandfather got to choose the place this time.
The evening we spent at home, reading the paper, finishing homework, and I got the chance to read two books this weekend: Historia de una Escalera, a play by Buero Vallejo, and Daisy Miller, a classic by Henry James, both books left by past Americans who Carmen has hosted.
Tuesday.
A welcome return to school after a nice long weekend.
After classes, I had to go see Ágora, a film by Spanish director Alejandro Almenábar but filmed in English, for history class. However, the version here is dubbed. Regardless of my distaste for dubbing, I loved the movie. It is slightly depressing but moving, and is very much a work of art. I would definitely recommend seeing it if it is still playing in American theatres!
Wednesday.
Tonight, I'm looking forward to my second tango class!