Hawaiian Banana Bread and the time to listen

Over the last week or two, I’ve been emotionally stuck. I didn’t post last week; I just couldn’t. I didn’t know what I could possibly say about cooking that mattered in the face of everything else. How could I make a difference as one person in such a large country? How could my small efforts make any change in such a big issue?

Then I heard a quote on Gretchen Rubin’s “Happier” podcast that jarred me. Her sister Elizabeth started out, “It’s hard to talk about the kinds of subjects that we usually discuss given the gravity of what’s going on…”

Gretchen continued, “The things of ordinary life can seem trivial, especially at times like this, but big things co-exist with little things, and by taking care of little things and our own lives, we strengthen ourselves to take action on big things and to turn outward…and to think about other people…and to think about the right action we can take in the world.”

Even if you don’t have a church background, you’ve probably heard the story of the Good Samaritan and how Jesus used that to teach his 2^nd greatest command… “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:25-37)   The key right now is for me to love my neighbor…ANY neighbor…anyone and everyone outside of my own family.

The next question is how?

Having spent my life in Texas and Tennessee, the long-standing tradition for showing support and love in challenging times is to bring food. If you’ve had a baby, had an extended illness, or had a death in the family in the South, I’m sure you know what I mean (anyone above the Mason-Dixon line, feel free to chime in and let me know if y’all do this too!) Now I’m in known territory. It’s sharing a part of yourself and your time and taking care of a need. This “little thing” I can do.

So, here’s my favorite banana bread recipe – perfect for sharing since it makes 2 loaves. (I first found the recipe in a church cookbook in 1999 but have no idea where it originated, or I would certainly give credit.) It’s not hard. It’s not expensive. But this yummy treat and a listening ear could do a lot to begin the healing we need so badly. By all means, take measures to be safe on the COVID front, but if your area is opening up, bake this and share the 2^nd loaf with someone today!

Hawaiian Banana Bread

• 3 c flour
• 2 c sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 c vegetable oil
• 3 eggs
• 3 bananas, mashed
• 8 ounces crushed pineapple, drained (or half a 15-ounce can)
• 2 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line 2 standard loaf pans with foil, then grease the foil so the bread will release easily.

Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl and stir. Pour the oil in on one side, break each egg and add to the oil. “Whisk” the eggs with a fork till well beaten. Add remaining ingredients, stirring and scraping bottom and sides of the bowl until thoroughly mixed.

Pour evenly into the two prepared loaf pans. Bake 1 hour or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean (turning once during bake time). Cool completely before removing foil and cutting with a serrated knife. Can easily be frozen for later use as well. Once defrosted though, I’d store it in the fridge.

Just one

It’s a little like the starfish parable where the old man thought the boy throwing starfish back into the ocean couldn’t possibly make a difference in ALL the starfish that would die every day as the tide went out. The little boy, however, was only concerned with one starfish at a time. “Made a difference to that one,” he said.

We can each make a difference, too…to one person. And then another person tomorrow, and another the day after that. Begin by listening, sharing your time and baking skills…begin with just one. And keep moving forward…