The Hungry Squid

A sweet treat is a beautiful thing. A post-dinner nibble, an after-hours indulgence, a mid-afternoon pick-me-up; there is never a bad time to give in to a sweet bite or two. Or 6 (*ahemM*). M's been on call a lot, doing his M thing, and so I've had some free time for quiet contemplation, reading intellectually stimulating non-fiction, learning a language or two   cooking, watching 'Supernatural', and reading a gripping detective mystery by the swedish Henning Mankell. Oh Kurt Wallander, you old dog. These sesame cookies - snaps, really - were born on Sunday evening, after a walk down to the waterfront to take some pictures and watch the seagulls languidly circling the lighthouse on Georges Island. The snaps are delightful, and delightfully easy to make, which makes them a dangerous addition to this squid's repertoire. Chewy, caramelly, nutty and crunchy all at once - these cookies hit all of the high notes, and how! I recommend them with some

A loaf of banana bread is a beautiful thing. Especially when laden with toasty bits of pecan. And even more so when the whole package is healthy. In our quest to eat cleaner (ignore the last post), M and I have been on the hunt for healthier baking recipes, because baked goods are ubiquitous in this busy Atlantic household.  Healthy recipes that are actually delicious are surprisingly hard to come by. This particular one makes use of two of our staples du jour , quinoa and Greek yogurt, which together cut the amount of fat and flour used in traditional banana bread, and make us feel a little bit better about ourselves.   The loaf is pleasantly crispy on the outside, and soft, spicy, and a tiny bit dense on the inside, a lovely combination best enjoyed with a hot coffee. Or before consuming a package of Mini Eggs. Quinoa pecan banana bread Adapted from here Ingredients - 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour - 1/2 cups sugar - 1 tsp baking sod