I recently read an article called "The Love Experiment", by Catherine Newman in Whole Living magazine which tasks readers to simply ask their loved ones, "Please tell me how I can love you better." This is something as complicated as it seems simple. Brace yourselves, you are about to see the way you love in a whole new light. What if instead of trying to anticipate what our family and friends need from us, we just ask (and really listen)? Taking the guesswork out of caring for others may just be the start of simplifying our relationships and reducing the anxiety that we stack on ourselves as we bend over backward trying to keep others happy. Maybe we aren't making them happy at all. I challenge you all to see how applying this concept to your own lives can bring you a calming sense of warmth, like a steaming hot cup of tea on a chilly day. Just add a pinch of sugar, a dash of love and see how it warms your soul. We really do get what we give in life.
And to go with your love tea, here is my apple banana bread recipe I've promised:
Mmmm mmm good Apple Banana Bread
Ingredients:
For the apples:
2 T butter (salted or unsalted)
3 T packed golden brown sugar
2 gala apples, peeled, cored,and cut into 1/2 in pieces
1/2 t ground nutmeg
1 t pure vanilla extract
For the banana bread:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 t baking soda
1/2 t ground cinnamon
1/4 t ground nutmeg
1/2 t kosher salt
8 T (1 stick) butter
3 T applesauce
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1/3 cup fresh orange or tangelo juice
1 t pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups (2-3) very ripe mashed bananas
Prep:
Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350 degrees. Lightly spray with oil and flour a 1 1/2 quart loaf pan.
To make the apples:
Preheat a medium skillet over med-high heat. Add butter and brown sugar and heat until simmering. Add the apples and nutmeg and saute' until golden and tender (about 5 minutes). remove from heat and stir vanilla. Set aside to cool.
To make the banana bread:
In a medium bowl, whisk together dry ingredients, except the sugar (flours, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt), set aside.
In a large mixing bowl (or bowl of a countertop mixer) cream butter and sugar until lightly fluffy (about 1 to 2 minutes). Add the egg, mix well and scrape down the sides of the bowl.
In a small bowl, combine the orange juice and vanilla.
Add 1/3 of the flour mixture to the butter mixture at a time alternating between the orange juice mix, mixing well and scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition. Stir in mashed bananas and applesauce until combined, then stir in the apples.
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for 55-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove and let cool for 20 minutes before unmolding onto a metal rack to cool further.
*Best when served slightly warm. The bread keeps nicely wrapped in plastic wrap a t room temperature for up to 3 days. May be frozen wrapped in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil for up to 3 weeks. defrost (still wrapped at room temperature.
Now that you have the recipe for yummy-ness, let me know your thoughts on it and how you serve it to your family.
