Banana Bread, Lemon Coke, & Cooking?

So I've got these bananas that are about to go bad. I HAD to do something with them since I am not eating them as quickly as I thought I would. So what do I decide to do? Oh yes, you know it! Make Banana Nut Bread - my absolute favorite food (ok, that's a lie) in the world. But it is my favorite bread to make. So off I went to the Tesco to buy supplies - i.e. EVERYTHING because we have nothing here. Spent about $200 (sorry Dad - a girl's got to eat though!) & found everything BUT shortening. Now, shortening is an essential ingredient when it comes to bread making. Basically it is a solid cooking oil (thanks to Mom for telling me this at 7am Owensboro time - yes, I called her that early in the morning). The Welsh have no such thing as shortening. So off I go back to the Village, down-trodden and all because I can't make my bread. Alas, mom calls - use lard! Well, the Spar in the Village does not have lard. OK, how about buttermilk (my suggestion). Which means I need lemon juice ... hmmm ... can't find lemon juice. But, right as I am about to give up, what od I spy? A plastic lemon filled with lemon juice! Woohoo! I'm set. So I have made my banana bread - the batter was YUMMY, raw eggs and all! The bread, however, is a little burnt thanks to the funky oven temperatures. Oh well, I am sure it will still be good. It's just cooling now.

Next task - make Lemon Coke. Now you ask, what in the world? Well, it's a European beverage, very popular in France. Coke bottles it - just adds a touch of lemon & it is divine. Well, I bought some coke. I've got lemon juice! I miss them together AND ... yeah, no difference. Guess I have to go back to France for my lemon coke. Or I should just stop drinking coke all together because I have had quite a few while here.

So I've cooked and I've cleaned & it's been an adventure. Next will be dinner ... hmmm, I'm making chicken with green beans, new potatoes, & maybe asparagus. We'll see what happens with that one ... new update later on that one. Will try to post a picture of the bread later so you can see how it turned out. And I do have some pics of the place, so I'll have to figure out how to put those on the computer as well & upload them.