What's in a name?

I'm a sucker for horoscopes or personality quizzes of any kind. Are you? Since I decided to become a Psychology major in undergrad, against my parent's wishes of becoming a Business major, my love of character quizzes only makes more sense.  This hobby has evolved over time and a recent habit of mine is taking the BuzzFeed quizzes, which my friends and I send each other every Friday. While totally silly, these will make you laugh. Promise.

The other day, one of my favorite blogs featured a post about the meaning of a name.  I immediately lit-up and clicked on the link.  I know my name is German, stemming from my full-name Kristina; however, I didn't know what my name really meant. At last! A chance to see if I was living up to the name my parents chose 30 years ago. After submitting it, I read through the results grasping for any characteristic which remotely resembled me. Some of the conclusions were laughable, "She is a seductive and glamorous woman." HA! I don't think those words have ever been uttered together before. While other aspects were spot on, "She is torn between her concern for others´ needs...her memory is excellent... she will prove herself to be a remarkable hostess...[and she is] understanding, communicative, pleasant and friendly in her interactions with others." Even though this quiz is probably a bunch of BS, I enjoyed being reminded of the characteristics which I sometimes love and/or hate about myself. Here's the quiz, if you would like to take it.  

One of my personality traits that was validated by the quiz is I have a freaky accurate memory -- particularly with faces and names.  This proves to be helpful in my career (graduate school admissions) and with new friends or acquaintances. It's also helpful because this is not one of my husband's strengths.  Picture this: we'll be walking down the street and about to pass one of our neighbors we've met a few times.  I'll give him a quick heads up and whisper his/her name right before we pass them.  We make a good pair. Opposites attract, yes?

Also, I have many recipes stored somewhere in my brain. My favorite: the banana bread recipe from A Homemade Life. I find myself making this bread whenever I am anxious, nervous or in need of a pick-me-up. It might be because I'm concerned about someone close to me (see personality test results) or thinking about something personal. When I make this recipe, those bad feelings melt away and all is right in the world because I have banana bread. I have the recipe almost memorized, but, I still like to take the book out and turn to the dog-eared page for banana bread.  The book's binding is almost permanently cracked at this page and I love it.

I recommend trying this recipe because while it's a comfort food, the crystallized ginger gives it a fresh and spicy flavor which I hadn't experienced in baked goods before.  The dough is springy and with every bite you'll almost always find a pocket of melted chocolate or spicy ginger. These ingredients compliment banana bread oh so well. Special note -- this bread is best warm. You must try a slice shortly after it comes out of the oven. The next day, try toasting it and adding butter for breakfast or whipped cream for dessert. You can't go wrong. 

Banana Bread with Chocolate and Crystallized Ginger (from A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg)

6 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup finely chopped crystallized ginger
2 large eggs*
3 large ripe bananas, mashed
1/4 cup well-stirred whole-milk plain yogurt (not low or nonfat)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

*You'll notice I have three eggs in the picture below.  My memory failed me and I used three instead of two.  I didn't notice a difference. 

1. Set a rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 350F. Grease a 9- by 5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray or butter.

2. Melt the butter and set aside to cool slightly.

3. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Add the chocolate chips and crystallized ginger and whisk well to combine. Set aside.

4. In a medium bowl, lightly beat the eggs with a fork. Add the mashed banana, yogurt, melted butter, and vanilla and stir to mix well. Pour the banana mixture into the dry ingredients, and stir gently with a rubber spatula, scraping down the sides as needed, until just combined. Do not overmix. The batter with be thick and somewhat lumpy, just make sure all the flour has been incorporated. Scrape the batter into the loaf pan and smooth the top.

5. Bake into the loaf is a deep shade of golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 50 minutes to an hour. If the loaf seems to be browning too quickly, tent with foil.

6. Cool the loaf in the pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Then tip out onto the rack, and let it cool completely before slicing. Or, if you're like me, steal a quick slice first. The loaf freezes well wrapped in plastic wrap and again in foil to protect from freezer burn.