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U.S. Seizure of Russian-Flagged Tanker Heightens Global Tensions

The ship, currently between Iceland and the British Isles, has been accused of breaking US sanctions and shipping Iranian oil. It has historically transported Venezuelan crude oil. The United States has seized a Russian‑flagged oil tanker linked to Venezuela after a prolonged pursuit across the Atlantic, marking one of the most assertive enforcement actions under Washington’s sanctions program. The vessel, previously known as Bella‑1 and later renamed Marinera , was intercepted after evading an earlier boarding attempt near Venezuelan waters. U.S. military aircraft and naval units tracked the ship for weeks as it traveled across the Atlantic, at times shadowed by Russian naval vessels. Officials say the tanker was part of a network used to transport sanctioned Venezuelan and Russian oil. Its capture underscores Washington’s efforts to disrupt what it describes as illicit energy shipments that help sustain both governments. The operation comes at a delicate geopolitical moment, wit...

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Banana Bread with Coconut and Pecans

 

Ingredients

  • 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1½ teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter, melted
  • ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup very ripe bananas, mashed (about 3 bananas)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup shredded unsweetened coconut
  • ½ cup pecans, toasted and chopped

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder.
  3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, mix the melted butter and sugar until just combined. Beat in the eggs, bananas, and vanilla.
  4. Add the flour mixture to the bowl and mix on low speed until just combined. Do not over-mix.
  5. Gently stir in the coconut and pecans.
  6. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 50-55 minutes, until a tester inserted into the center comes out relatively clean.
  7. Let the loaf cool in the pan for about ten minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool completely.

Enjoy your banana bread warm out of the oven or toasted for breakfast the next day!






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