I've been noticing five black bananas on the bottom shelf of our refrigerator. I know Deb has a big day today. We're having our own small Thanksgiving Dinner this afternoon. She'll be baking apple pies to take to Troy and Missy's tomorrow for a bigger version of a family Thanksgiving. I made my mom's cranberry jello yesterday. I'll be making ham rolls today!
Recently, on a visit to see my brother-in-law, Dick, I asked to go through Beverly's recipe box. I was hunting for a recipe for the Mac&Cheese Cassarole that my mom used to make. I was DELIGHTED when I found a letter from my mom to Bev explaining how she used to make it! While shuffling through the recipes, I also found my mom's recipe for banana nut bread.
So, upon arising this morning, I began the process. I'm definitely NOT the baker in our family! But I followed mom's directions to the 'T' and put three loaves in the oven. It took me well over an hour to prepare and suggested a baking time of one hour [but she noted to check it in 45 minutes].
Now it's time for a little sidebar:
Debbie is an amazing baker! Her pies are literally ‘Blue Ribbon Award Winning’ – according to the Canfield Fair! 😚
At this time of year she – like so many of you – makes cookies. Her pecan tassies, peanut-butter-cup, lady-fingers and Snicker-doodles are such a treat! And, of course, throughout the year she frequently makes batches of chocolate-chip cookies [using her Grandma Whippo’s recipe]; they are the best anywhere!
Pretty much anything sweet that comes out of her oven is worth waiting for!
Except her banana nut bread!
I’ve told her through the years that it hasn’t been baked long enough. You can’t spread butter on it because it crumbles all up! It’s good tasting but frustrating to eat!
Now, on top of all this, is the realization I’ve come to that my mom severely overcooked her meat! She was a great cook, but her hamburgers were crispy! When my brother-in-law, Dick, became part of our family, he teased her constantly! He had been a butcher for Tobin Meats [in Rochester, NY] for seventeen years – and Dick knew meat! He tried to convince her – but it was too late for her to change.
Interesting note: Just a few weeks ago, Debbie accidentally over-baked her banana nut bread. She was upset, until we sliced and ate it. She commented that she accidentally got it to come out “just like your mom’s”! We had a good laugh about that!
So, early this morning found me mashing bananas and adding mom’s ingredients to a large bowl. When I saw this huge bowl of over-ripe bananas, flour, eggs, sugar, and other sticky goodies, I decided the best way to mix it was to wash my hands and do it by hand. For fifteen minutes I squeezed and mixed and squeezed some more – until it looked right to me. Then I poured it into three bread-pans and placed it into the 350 degree oven!
Having set my timer for 45 minutes – I retired to my study to work on Rylie’s Bible!
When the timer went off, I went to the kitchen to check the nut-bread. It looked amazing! But I just wasn’t sure? I have a baking specialist in the house, so I cracked the bedroom door to find Deb just getting up. I asked her to check it for me.
Oh my! The house smelled SO GOOD! She noticed right away and started firing questions at me. She seemed pleased that I did this to make her day easier! Using a toothpick, she told me to give it ten more minutes – even though the edges were getting brown.
I did, however, take the small loaf out to cool on the racks.
Ten minutes later, I pulled them out and set them aside to cool! They turned out beautiful – and delicious!
Deb has already stated that I am now the official banana-nut-bread maker in the Haire household! I guess that’s a compliment?
Another sidebar:
Sundays were a big day in my growing-up home! We had a set schedule that included Sunday School, Morning Worship – and then later in the day Youth Group and the Evening Worship Service.
We always had a huge Sunday dinner upon returning from church. My mom had the gift of hospitality, so she often invited people to come to our house for dinner!
Her spiritual history was heavily influenced by the Scottish Reformed Church [Think: Eric Liddell and the movie: “Chariots of Fire”].
Being a strict Sabbatarian, she did as much of her meal preparation on Saturday evening as was possible. I recall EVERY SATURDAY EVENING seeing a pot of peeled and cut potatoes covered in water and sitting in the sink!
Our house was always busy on Sunday mornings as four had to use one bathroom, so breakfast had to be simple and involve no work! Consequently, every Sunday morning my mom would set a fresh loaf of banana nut bread on the kitchen table along with a soft stick of butter and a stack of small plates [often paper]. It was her version of a do-it-yourself breakfast – and we all loved it!
So, I guess you could say that banana nut bread had a significant place in my upbringing. To have made it this morning using one of my mom’s original pans and also her recipe has made my morning kind of SPECIAL!
She shaped my life more than any other person! So many things I do today are because of her teaching or example! Her modeling of:
· a dedicated prayer life
· a love for missionary work
· meticulous planning
· a love for the Bible
· a commitment to the church
· a high priority for her family
· a systematic approach to any job
formed me powerfully to be the man I am today!
It’s been forty-four years ago that she went to Heaven! I occasionally feel badly because I don’t consciously think of her every day anymore. But when I do, I am fully aware that – outside of Debbie – no one has impacted me more than she did!
I love you, Mom. I wish you were here to have a slice of my banana nut bread with me!
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