Dear Just Be: I am looking for an easy bread recipe that doesn’t require a bread machine.

I obtained this easy bread recipe from Gourmet Godmother and use this recipe all the time because you can easily change it to a pumpkin bread, banana bread or apple bread. Below is the recipe for banana bread:

1 and ¼ cups dark brown sugar
½ cup canola or vegetable oil
½ cup water
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 ripe mashed bananas (about 1 cup)
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon salt

In a medium bowl, whisk together the first five ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together all of the last four ingredients (the dry ingredients). Fold the dry ingredients into the banana mixture and mix until just combined. Spoon batter into a 9 inch loaf pan or two miniature loaf pans until pans are about 2/3 full. Bake breads about 1 hour (45-50 minutes for miniatures) in a 350 degree preheated oven. Set baked breads on cooling racks for a few minutes after removing from oven. Remove from pans and foil, and cool to room temperature if planning to package or freeze.

If you would like the instructions for the pumpkin or apple bread please contact services@justbeassistants.com and we will send the recipes your way.

Dear Just Be: I am looking for a unique way to bring my friends together.

A unique occasion to bring friends together is the Academy Awards, so throw an Oscar party.

You can put this party together in multiple ways, but below are a couple ideas:
1.) Watch the pre-Academy Awards show and the Academy Awards show and be your own commentator. Judge and comment on dresses accessories, hairdos, and maybe this year the tuxes.

2.) Do a pool on who will win in each category. The winning prize for the pool can range from a pat on the back, a bottle of wine, dinner at a fantastic restaurant, all the way to money.

3.) Make up your own Academy Award categories. Categories can be things like best outfit in 2009, best get together of 2009, best line/phrase, best hairstyle, etc. Make it as outrageous as you want. The one thing you should definitely try to include is the red carpet. Have your friends dress up. They can dress up like they are going to a formal function or like it is Halloween. Then find or get a red carpet and be out front of your place to take pictures of your friends as they arrive and comment on their outfit – like the entertainment magazines.

With whatever you decide to do, have fun but also be sure to serve great food and drink. Food and drink always add to an event! You never know, this could be an annual event.


Check out the Academy Awards this Sunday, March 7, 2010.

Dear Just Be: My microwave has food caked in it that I just can’t get off. Any tricks?

A great trick I learned for cleaning out microwaves is:

In a bowl take one part vinegar to two parts water and boil ( put in microwave on high) for two minutes. Let the bowl of water and vinegar steam in the microwave until it is cool. Then open up the microwave, take out the bowl of water and vinegar and simply wipe out your dirty microwave. Caked on food should fall and come off effortlessly.

For more tips and tricks using vinegar check out our post on February 16. Who knew vinegar had so many uses.