Black Bread, Birds and Comic Con!

Holy Web Traffic Batman.  So apparently my recent post which was loaded with emotional baggage and what I considered whinery was “Freshly Pressed” and received an insane amount of love.  Thanks to all who read and commented.  I guess I’ll try to write more like that in the future but first I really do want to finish up my Comic Con recap…I hope I don’t lose most of you with something less emotionally revealing.  There are skimpy outfits though so…?  If nothing else there’s a kickass recipe for a Chocolate Banana Bread that you’ll want to make again and again when company comes over so scroll through to the end for that.

SDCC Day 3.5 – Black Canary Rises

The morning began in Indigo Ballroom—panels here usually command a smaller line, maybe 3000 people or so, but it still requires some coordination to ensure that you get in for your desired lineup.  Saturday was Geek and Sundry which featured not only news about the Guild (season 6 is a go!) but a preview of the new show “Written by a Kid.”  Warning: adorableness follows that link along with a delightful Joss Whedon cameo.  Basically the premise is that a child gets to tell a story that is later animated and brought to life.  It’s really, really cute.

We were also treated to a Garfunkel and Oates performance.  In case you don’t know there are some amazing geeky duo musical groups out there.  These ladies (whom you might recognize) are particularly crass and hilarious.   Easily my favorite song is 29/31 which highlights the same woman’s thoughts on the dating scene at both the age 29 “time’s on my side, I’ve got my pick” and the age 31 “THERE’S NOBODY LEFT!  I’m ALL ALONE.”  In short, it’s brilliant and any woman is going get this and probably feel both amused and mildly depressed by it.

I stayed for the TV Guide panel and regretted it.  While the lineup was fantastic and I finally got to see Matt Smith in a panel, the woman who managed it was a complete and utter idiot.  Look if you put the frakking DOCTOR on your panel, he’s going to get all the questions.  If they weren’t going to go to Matt, then they were going to go to Nathan Fillion who apparently can only be eclipsed by a mad British man with a box.  Instead of cutting off fan questions when this happens and seriously pissing off your audience, just plan your panel lineup better or make sure you instruct the line handlers to stagger the questions.  I was not amused.  Not cool TV guide, not cool.  My friend from the other day, the Screwdriver of the Sonic Duo, and I ran from the room without a second glance when the panel ended in order to get to a signing at the IDW booth for the new Doctor Who/ Star Trek crossover comics.  Yes, you read that right.  A Star Trek/Doctor Who CROSSOVER.  I purchased several of the harder to get variant covers, got them signed and because we showed up first, Screwdriver and Scream (me) managed to snag the only two t-shirts given away for the event.  This was a fairly big deal because they were women’s tees.  See, at SDCC, almost 99% of giveaway shirts are Men’s Large.  Apparently only tubby men are in attendance at con.  It’s really annoying.  There are skinny geeks and girl geeks and geeks of all ages and sizes.  I know that a men’s large is safe because it’ll fit on almost anyone, but there are only so many “sleeping shirts” I need.  I really should learn how to repurpose them into something awesome like a blanket so I can make use of these things.  Anyway I was pumped to get a “Red Shirt” in a women’s medium from Her Universe.  It was still too big, but much nicer looking and fitting than any other so I was happy.

Oh and I went by the Fox booth another ten times or so.   Still no Fringe hat for me.  I saw tons of people wearing them, and quite a few had no idea what Fringe even was.  That made me so cranky because I have been in love with the show since day 1 and I wanted that hat so badly.  I finally got sick of it and vowed not to waste my time trying to get one from the Fox booth anymore.  That mostly lasted…I did try one more time the following day.

After the signing I walked the floor some more, met up with someone I know who works on The Guild and went to some of the offsite locations for panels that were open to anyone…not just sdcc badge holders.  The YouTube lounge was especially great and I went to Adrienne Curry’s panel for “SuperFan” on Stan Lee’s youtube channel and “Save the Supers!” which I was lucky enough to extra for a few months ago….  My episode isn’t up yet and I’ll probably barely be noticeable but it was a great experience and the entire cast remembered who we extras were and took time to sign things and take photos.  I was so happy they were in costume so I could blend in as a costumed member of the team in our group photo.

Before I knew it, it was time to head home to change for another night partying with the nerds.  It was fantastic.  SlamCon, NerdHQ and some pretty down and dirty dancing…most people don’t realize it but as I’ve said before geeks know how to party and all that entails.  Drinking, Dancing and Dangerous behavior.  The only downside was some creep who accosted me on the street but channeling my inner Canary, I screamed a loud string of obscenities that scared the guy off.  It was no head explosion but it sufficed.

I didn’t cosplay Black Canary again on Sunday so in honor of my new costume I present to you a Chocolate Banana Bread which like Canary, is a blackened version of something you would traditionally expect to be yellow.  Once again I find a way to jam a weak connection between my blog post and recipe.  I swear I wasn’t one of those kids who jammed puzzle pieces in when they only sort of fit…no really.  I never did that.

Cocoa-Nana Bread

Dorie Greenspan “Baking from my home to yours”

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup semisweet cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1 stick unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 ripe bananas, mashed
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped, or 1/2 cup store-bought chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350. Butter a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan and place it on an insulated baking sheet or on two regular baking sheets stacked on top of      the other. (This extra insulation will keep the bottom of the bread from over baking.)

Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, salt and baking soda.

Working with a stand mixer, preferably fitted with a paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, beat the butter at medium speed for about a minute, until softened. Add the sugars and beat for 2 minutes more. Add the eggs one at a time, beating for a minute after each      addition.  Reduce the mixer speed to low and mix in the mashed bananas. Add the dry ingredients in 3 additions, mixing only until they disappear into the batter. Still on low speed, add the buttermilk, mixing until it is incorporated.   At this point, the batter may look a little curdled — it’s okay.   Stir in the chopped chocolate. Scrape the batter into the pan.

Bake for 30 minutes. Cover the bread loosely with a foil tent to keep the top from getting too dark, and continue to bake for another 40 to 45      minutes (total baking time is between 70 to 75 minutes) or until a thin knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a rack and cool for at least 20 minutes before running a knife around the edges of the bread and unmolding. Invert and cool to room temp right side up.