Class-Related Baking

I spent most of today in the kitchen. You may recall that I've been teaching a practicum class this semester. This class was totally my idea and I was able to hand-select a small group (N=10) of undergraduate (n=6) and graduate (n=4) students. My research assistant served as a TA. The entire class was focused around my research topic and we conducted field work that was a mix between necessary and helpful for my research agenda. The students were great and we've really grown as a group.

Tomorrow is the last class. Everyone will be handing in their portfolios and we'll share our experiences of the semester and our ideas for the future. Several of the students met on Friday to audiotape some of the poems from one of my studies. My friend and colleague (who has been volunteering with the class) is putting it together as a photostory. We'll preview that as a group.

Several times during the semester I baked for some of the community events. Mostly breads - pumpkin bread, banana chocolate bread - and other times I brought in muffins from a local bakery. I promised them I'd bake them all something for tomorrow.

I recently found this website and enjoy both the receipes and the restaurant posts (most take place in my home town). Today I baked Beer Cupcakes (substituted Beamish for Guiness) and Peanut Butter Banana Bread. The cupcakes were as easy to make as promised and I think they look pretty good.



I decided against the optional peanuts outside of the banana bread, so it doesn't look quite like the photo but it too was fairly easy and rose A LOT in the oven. I'll have to wait for tomorrow for the tasting.



Two of my students (undergraduate) and my assistant will be graduating next week. We'll have lots to celebrate and feel proud of but it will be a little bittersweet.