Labor Day. It has so many meanings. As you well know, it's come to signify the end of summer. Actually, though, it's a day set aside to honor working people, yet I love how it's celebrated by taking a day off. It's always a day of simple pleasures, sleeping late, sunning and swimming, throwing dinner on the grill, spending time with friends and family. It's a time for relaxation. And bananas.
Bananas, you say?
Yeah, well, if you read this blog regularly you know that things rarely happen in my life as they do in mostnormal people's lives. And, as always, there's a story.
Before I start, let me just say that I am not at fault here. I did not send Hubs out to the store to get anything. That doesn't usually go well (meaning that doesn't usually happen without 72 clarification phone calls in the space of 10 minutes) so I do it very rarely, and this time I did not. However, sometimes the man wanders in there on his very own. Dammit.
He had gone in for beer. I mean it is, like burgers, a must for Labor Day and he was running low. So I do get his motivation. But what he came out with? Now there's the story.
The conversation went something like this:
Hubs: I went to the store today.
Me (checking my phone): How many calls did I miss while I was in the shower.
Hubs: None. I just went in to get some beer. I found it without calling you.
Me (under my breath): You mean without calling me 72 times.
Bananas, you say?
Yeah, well, if you read this blog regularly you know that things rarely happen in my life as they do in most
Before I start, let me just say that I am not at fault here. I did not send Hubs out to the store to get anything. That doesn't usually go well (meaning that doesn't usually happen without 72 clarification phone calls in the space of 10 minutes) so I do it very rarely, and this time I did not. However, sometimes the man wanders in there on his very own. Dammit.
He had gone in for beer. I mean it is, like burgers, a must for Labor Day and he was running low. So I do get his motivation. But what he came out with? Now there's the story.
The conversation went something like this:
Hubs: I went to the store today.
Me (checking my phone): How many calls did I miss while I was in the shower.
Hubs: None. I just went in to get some beer. I found it without calling you.
Me (under my breath): You mean without calling me 72 times.
Hubs: What?
Me (trying to look all innocent): Nothing.
Me (trying to look all innocent): Nothing.
Hubs: I brought you a present.
Me (trying, but failing, not to sound skeptical): You did?
Hubs: Yes, it's in the bowl on the counter.
Me: Is it going to sting me?
Hubs: No.
Me: Bite me? Pinch me?
Hubs: No, just look.
Me (carefully peeking over the rim): Bananas?
Hubs: Yes.
Me: Brown bananas?
Hubs: Well, yeah.
Me: Lots and lots of them?
Hubs: Yes.
Me: Why?
Hubs: Why?
Me: Yeah, like what's the thought process? Did you think "I'm gonna pick up the beer I need and while I'm here I may as well get my wife a whole shit ton of over ripe bananas? Because nothing says "I was thinking of you" like a pile of brown bananas"?
Hubs: No. They were giving them away for free.
Me (incredulous): Free? I don't think so. Don't tell me you "accidentally" stole a bunch of bananas. 'Cause if you did, next time I get mad at you, I'm turning you in . . . You're headed for the slammer.
Hubs (rolling his eyes): No, they were in front of the registers. When you paid, the checkers were even telling people to grab some bananas on the way out.
Me: But you don't like bananas.
Hub: I know, they're for you.
Me (rolling my eyes): Ummm . . . thanks?
So now I've got about 10 very over ripe bananas, time to figure out what to do with them. Preferably before they liquefy in my pretty bowl (although some would be used for smoothies anyway). I knew I was going to make my Cinnamon Nutella Banana Cookies because everyone loves those and I can mix up the batter and put it in the fridge to bake another day. I thought about making my Cinnamon Banana Bread but I had some of the ingredients and not others, and there was an apple in the fridge that I wanted to use up so I'd make a version of it. And, apparently, (yes, I made the mistake of working this through with the boys in the room) I would make it with chocolate chips instead of the cinnamon chips.
Hubs: Yes, it's in the bowl on the counter.
Me: Is it going to sting me?
Hubs: No.
Me: Bite me? Pinch me?
Hubs: No, just look.
Me (carefully peeking over the rim): Bananas?
Hubs: Yes.
Me: Brown bananas?
Hubs: Well, yeah.
Me: Lots and lots of them?
Hubs: Yes.
Me: Why?
Hubs: Why?
Me: Yeah, like what's the thought process? Did you think "I'm gonna pick up the beer I need and while I'm here I may as well get my wife a whole shit ton of over ripe bananas? Because nothing says "I was thinking of you" like a pile of brown bananas"?
Hubs: No. They were giving them away for free.
Me (incredulous): Free? I don't think so. Don't tell me you "accidentally" stole a bunch of bananas. 'Cause if you did, next time I get mad at you, I'm turning you in . . . You're headed for the slammer.
Hubs (rolling his eyes): No, they were in front of the registers. When you paid, the checkers were even telling people to grab some bananas on the way out.
Me: But you don't like bananas.
Hub: I know, they're for you.
Me (rolling my eyes): Ummm . . . thanks?
So now I've got about 10 very over ripe bananas, time to figure out what to do with them. Preferably before they liquefy in my pretty bowl (although some would be used for smoothies anyway). I knew I was going to make my Cinnamon Nutella Banana Cookies because everyone loves those and I can mix up the batter and put it in the fridge to bake another day. I thought about making my Cinnamon Banana Bread but I had some of the ingredients and not others, and there was an apple in the fridge that I wanted to use up so I'd make a version of it. And, apparently, (yes, I made the mistake of working this through with the boys in the room) I would make it with chocolate chips instead of the cinnamon chips.
Apple Cinnamon Banana Bread
To see what I used even more of the bananas in, check back in here on Monday. I have a recipe coming up that is TO DIE FOR. Hint: it's a Banana Cream Cake, my interpretation of the Banana Cream Pie in cake form (and yes, I'm aware I gave away what the recipe is, it's possible that I don't quite grasp the concept of hint giving).
Along with the baking going on in my kitchen that day, there was a bit of a revelation as well. You see, as I stood in there covered in flour, filled loaf pans in the oven, cookie batter in the mixer, bananas sauteing on the stove and a sink full of dishes, the truth finally dawned on me. Walmart wasn't giving out bananas. They were giving out (my) labor. For Labor Day.
Well played, Walmart. Well played.
Apple Cinnamon Banana Bread
©www.BakingInATornado.com
Ingredients:
3 TBSP sugar3/4 tsp cinnamon
2 TBSP butter, room temperature
1/4 cup applesauce
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
3 over ripe bananas
2 eggs, room temperature
1/2 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
1/2 cup sour cream
2 1/4 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1 apple, cored, skinned and finely chopped
3/4 cup baking chips of your choice (chocolate, toffee, cinnamon or peanut butter)
Directions:
*Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease 2 loaf pans.
*Mix together the 3 TBSP sugar and 3/4 tsp cinnamon and use this mixture to dust the loaf pans.
*Cream the butter, applesauce, brown sugar and 1 cup sugar until smooth. Break up the bananas with your hands and beat them in along with the eggs, yogurt and sour cream.
*Mix in the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Last, mix in the apple and baking chips. Spread evenly into the prepared pans.
*Bake for about one hour, or until the center springs back to the touch. Remove from oven, run a knife around the edges and allow to sit for 10 minutes before removing from the pan.
I think I will 'accidentally' show up on your doorstep, fork in hand.
ReplyDeleteVery well played, WalMart. They're sneaky, those guys. That's why I never go there! ;)
I'll leave the door open for you. Deliberately!
DeleteI try hard not to go to Wal-Mart, but you know the saying - if you are handed bananas, make banana bread. Well played, and I look forward to the other recipes. And, I'm thinking of what type of chips, because I'm not sure. My Weight Watchers mind is already wondering...hmmm, Icelandic yogurt instead of the sour cream? (not asking, just thinking out loud). Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteI often replace sour cream with Greek .yogurt, I like the tang.
DeleteTime for banana bread
ReplyDeleteYes, lots of them.
DeleteWhat a great story, and what a great recipe!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed them both, Mimi!
DeleteI just put two loaves in the oven and waiting.... my husband can't wait until breakfast.
ReplyDeleteHope he's patient. My family ate one loaf before they had even cooled off.
Delete