Made by You Monday -- Jamaican Banana Bread

I've spent a fair amount of time looking for the perfect banana bread recipe. Many I find, are too dry, while others are almost mushy they are so moist. I want a bread that slices nicely and needs nothing added to it. When I found this recipe in Cooking Light many years ago, I began adapting it. I really like the mixture of flavors here. I hope you do to!

Jamaican Banana Bread
(One medium size ripe banana yields about 1/2 cup)

2 T. butter, softened
2 T. tub style cream cheese, softened (I used Honey Nut in this loaf, because it was what I had)
1 c. demerara sugar
1 large egg
2 c. all-purpose unbleached flour
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
1/8 t. salt
1 c. banana, ripe; mashed
1/2 c. skim milk
1/4 t. rum extract
2 t. lime juice, fresh or bottled
1 t. vanilla extract
1/4 c. pecans, chopped
1/4 c. coconut flakes

Topping:
1/4 c. demerara or brown sugar
2 t. butter
2 t. lime juice
1/8 t. rum extract
2 T. pecans, chopped
2 T. coconut flakes

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat a loaf pan with cooking spray. Beat butter and cream cheese until smooth; add 1 cup sugar, beating well. Add egg; beat well. Combine flour through salt in a separate bowl. In another bowl, combine bananas through vanilla; stir. Add flour mixture to creamed mixture, alternating with banana mixture. Mix well after each addition. Stir in pecans and coconut flakes. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 60 mins. (mine was done in just over 50 -- so keep an eye on it!). Let cool slightly on wire rack. Combine brown sugar, butter, lime juice and rum in saucepan; bring to a simmer. Cook 1 min.; stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in pecans and coconut flakes; spoon over loaf.
About 16 slices.

link up at Made by You Monday

March Joy Dare #2

"Enter the password: 'Thank you!" . . . Thank Him. Worship Him!

--Psalm 100:4

March 5th -- 3 gifts found

1. a cardinal in my cherry tree

2. time to quilt

3. compassion from my children

March 6th -- a gift bent, a gift broken, a gift beautiful

1. my parents

2. my sister

3. my friends

March 7th -- 3 gifts in the kitchen

1. orange cranberry muffins

2. English breakfast tea

3. Mango/peach Pork Tenderloin

March 8th -- 3 gifts loud

1. my dog waking me at 6:15

2. my son playing his bass

3. my daughter telling me about her day

March 9th -- 3 gifts carved

1. time with my son, even though we're sick

2. an unexpected post written

3. a nap

March 10th -- 3 gifts in Christ

1. grafted in

2. grace

3. salvation

March 11th -- 3 gifts read

1. Mark 6

2. notes from friends in my 50 album

3. Morning & Evening by Charles Spurgeon

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a holy experience, one thousand gifts, Facebook, #joydare, #onethousandgifts

Norman Rockwell Drop-out -- A Repost

(this was originally posted 12/26/09)


The holidays are always an interesting time. Other people talk about their family traditions and speak in nostalgic driven phrasing. I feel as if I am a Hallmark/Norman Rockwell drop-out! We had traditions growing up and they seemed very important at the time, but as the family has shrunk and dysfunction has separated us, those traditions seem kind of hollow now.


My mother-in-law died shortly after my husband and I married. It was sudden and tragic. Three months after that, my father-in-law's mother died. The matriarchal mantle fell on me and I was completely unprepared to handle it. Sure I could do the cooking, baking, cleaning and decorating. I just couldn't handle organizing people I hardly knew, let alone telling my husband, father-in-law and brother-in-law that if they wanted holiday meals, they would have to come to my house! Thus began 20+ years of wondering what we would do for each major holiday. I tried doing nothing. I tried being Martha Stewart. I tried forcing my husband to tell his family what to do. I tried not caring. I gave birth to 2 children, had a breakdown and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Not that the holidays should be held responsible for any of that!


This year I tried something new. I emailed my husband, father-in-law and brother-in-law and pointed out this recurring theme. I ASKED them what they wanted and TOLD them what I was willing to do. Quickly it became apparent that food was not as important to them as I would have thought. We agreed to all meet at "Pop's" house around noon. I brought ham and rolls, green bean casserole, pumpkin bread and mincemeat cookies. I told the rest of them to bring what they wanted. We sat down to eat at 12:30 without brother-in-law and his family. They came in while we were eating and joined in. I don't know if they were offended, but they were nearly an hour late, so I didn't really care.


We swapped presents, nibbled, chatted, cleaned up and everyone headed home by 4 pm. My children were basically content; my house was straight enough when I got home; and I had very few leftovers. My kids went off to dog sit and my dear husband and I sat down and watched our home team get slaughtered. I think I may have just experienced Christmas nirvana (except for that football part!).

Red Writing Hood -- It Might Just Save Your Life

The day they married it was hot and sunny. The Power of Love by Huey Lewis was the number one song. She remembered because it was one of his favorites. Looking back now it was comforting in a way. She couldn’t have known it then, but there was a bit of prophecy in that song. As she listened to the song on the radio now, it made her think. There’s a line in the song -- 

It's strong and it's sudden and it's cruel sometimes 

But it might just save your life. 

She certainly believed it (he) had saved her life.

When they’d met she didn’t even know her life was in danger. But then no one could have known. Looking at her then, she seemed to have everything together. Good grades, good friends, lots of extra-curricular activities. She wasn’t unattractive. Petite with thick, dark hair, and a big smile, she didn’t think much of herself and tended to be a little bit aloof – snobbish, he’d told her.

He wasn’t what she thought she wanted in a husband. She’d dreamed of wealth and glamour. He was more hiking and comfort, but he’d won her over in time. No one was more surprised than she was.

Now looking back and listening to that song again, she realized what a gift he had been. Without him, she might have lived in a box and never lifted the lid to see what she was missing. Without him she might have stayed a victim her entire life. Without him it might have been a very short life.

link up at Red Writing Hood

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

for more moments visit SouleMama

Thankful Thursday #10

"I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude 

for all that God has given me . . . "

Romans 12:3a

"And cultivate thankfulness . . . "

Colossians 3:15b

   Deep gratitude that has led me to cultivate thankfulness. That is where I come to you from today. 

   Tuesday was my 50th birthday. As I told a friend, it's very hard to think of myself as 50, when in my head I'm still 28. I don't know why, but I quit aging at 28.

   But I didn't really, and I am so grateful, because of all that I have experienced and learned in those years! Some of the lessons have painful and hard, and others have been exhilarating and joyous. I would not trade any of them, because each has brought me closer to God. 

   This Thankful Thursday finds me reveling in appreciation, gratitude, and thankfulness for all the people God has brought into my life to teach me about Him. Gratitude for all the people who took time on Tuesday (and other days) to message, call, text, write, or see me, and bless me by sharing their appreciation of me. 

   In my gratitude, I want to share 3 scriptures that have become my guiding lights over the years. I can explain why each one means so much to me, but I would rather let you listen and find what God wants you to garner from His word.

“See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven."

Matthew 18:10

"Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else . . ."

Galatians 6:4

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time."

I Peter 5:6

Blessings!

link up at Women Taking a Stand

diary of 5

I am seeing... blue skies and mourning doves

I am hearing... Morning Has Broken by Cat Stevens

I am smelling... my lime sherbert candle

I tasted... English breakfast tea

I am feeling... content

link up at Diary of 5