I think we can all agree that this has been the most divisive election cycles in recent memory. I don’t typically talk about politics here because my goal is always to foster a sense of community and connection that transcends party affiliations, religious convictions, and ideological differences. I firmly believe that creating spaces where diverse people can connect around shared interests is one of the ways that we can foster peace and hope in the world.
But my candidate lost and her defeat has left me seeking solace in friends and homemade food. Yesterday, I had coffee with a friend, took a walk, and made a big pot of chicken soup for dinner that Scott and I ate in our pajamas while watching The Crown on Netflix.
Today, I made some banana bread. The goal here was to salvage three aging bananas, use up a bit of almond meal I had kicking around, and to fill the apartment with warmth and fragrance. May we burst our bubbles of isolation, break bread together, and remember that more unites us than divides us.
Odds and Ends Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup almond meal
- 1 cup coconut meal
- 1/2 cup wheat germ
- 1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
- 3/4 cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 large bananas mashed
- 3 eggs beaten
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans toasted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter two loaf pans.
- Whisk together the flours (you can also use a combination of ap and whole wheat flour. Just make sure that it adds up to 3 1/2 cups), baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg.
- In another bowl, cream the butter and sugar together. Add the mashed bananas, eggs, and vanilla extract.
- Stir the dry ingredients into the wet. Add the nuts, if you’re using them.
- Divide the batter between the two loaf pans and bake for 50-60 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
Well said. Thank you.
Thank you for this recipe, especially something warm and comforting! This is something fun I can make for/with my son, which is needed after a hard week. I’m also making my first batch of the season of your cranberry sauce – there will be more! My almost 4yo LOVES it so much that I have to limit his consumption so he doesn’t have any digestive side effects 😉
I get what you said about comfort foods. Funny thing is that my husband and I also watched The Crown as a diversion! We are enjoying the series so much. The banana bread sounds great. I love sneaking all sorts of odd and ends nutritional and tasty bits into otherwise traditional foods. Thanks for the recipe.
Thank you so much for all your work in creating and maintaining this amazing and very safe feeling space. It’s been a hard week for a lot of us. I actually just made pickled chard stems and thought of you. Just know you are really appreciated.
Thank you for demonstrating that you can be sad about election results without lashing out at those who disagree.
I adore your recipes, and refer people to your books and blog whenever I learn someone is dipping their toes into preserving! Thank you for all the many good recipes (canning and otherwise), stories, and inspiration.
Thank you, Marisa.
Banana bread doesn’t solve all problems but it sure helps. Would help even more if you added chocolate chips!
Amen, sister.
Nice! Always have those bananas going bad. Another good thing to do with a bad banana is add it to the regular recipe for All-Bran muffins. Works great!