A contented life is made up many things, some large and some small.
For most of us, these tiny things are those which fill our daily lives, making our routines less monotonous, and adding salt to an otherwise normal and boring life.
These things don’t necessarily have to be expensive or unattainable, but usually bring us pleasure because of their consistent simplicity.
They bring us joy in small amounts, but are constant reminders of life’s blessings, a reason to celebrate and gather together, toasting to another day, month or year well-lived and loved.
It’s knowing that our lives count due to these seemingly insignificant happenings, and that our entire experience is the sum of a zillion tiny events and things, all of which make a difference.
Sometimes, it’s turning on the radio in the morning and hearing your favorite song on air. Other times, it’s the smell of fresh morning dew, greeting you in your face as you throw open your door. It could also be the fact that you have a good hair day, and everyone tells you how much you’re glowing. Or it could be the long-distance phone call with your good friend late at night, making home feel less far away.
Or perhaps, it could just be something as simple as a fresh loaf of banana bread on your table, still warm from the oven, waiting to be devoured..
A fresh loaf of delicious banana bread
It’s sitting there very temptingly, cooling from the heat of the oven.. seducing my senses..
Cooling on the table & tempting my taste buds..
Like so many good things in life, banana bread is simple, comforting, easily attainable, and is packed with love..
Joyful simplicity
Sometimes it really doesn’t take much for me to be happy…
Homemade banana bread…what else do I need to be happy?
A delicious loaf of homemade banana bread, and a kitchen swirling with the sweet aroma of bananas is all is takes to make my night.. Let’s dig in, shall we?
Dig in and share the goodness with me!
BANANA BREAD (Makes 1 medium loaf)
- Adapted from Juan’s Aunty Miriam’s recipe
Ingredients:
1) 1 large banana (or 2 small bananas)
2) 1 small espresso cup of vegetable cooking oil
3) 1 cup of sugar
4) 1 egg
5) 2 cups of self-raising flour
Steps:
1) Pre-heat oven at 170 deg celcius
2) Peel and cut banana into small pieces
3) In a blender, blend banana pieces, oil, sugar and egg
4) Pour blended banana mixture into a mixing bowl
5) Sift in self-raising flour
6) Mix well to get homogenous batter (note if batter is too thick, add a little milk; if too liquid, add a bit more flour)
7) Grease and flour a baking mould (the size of a bread loaf)
8) Pour batter into mould
8) Bake in pre-heated oven at 170 deg cel for 40 – 50 minutes (or until a toothpick comes out clean when poked in the middle)
9) Allow banana bread to cool for 10 minutes before removing it from mould
Cut banana into small pieces:
Blend banana, oil, sugar and egg in a blender:
Until you get a smooth mixture and pour into mixing bowl:
Sift in self-raising flour:
Mix well to get homogeneous batter:
Grease and flour a baking mould:
Pour batter into mould:
Fresh out of the oven!
My banana bread never looks so lovely
! Yummy.
Hi Kelly!
Thank you! I had it for breakfast this morning and am gonna eat another piece of it the moment I get home!
I always use my over-ripe bananas to make banana bread… this is a nice and simple recipe, will def. give it a shot next time!
Hi!
Yep, over-ripe bananas are great for making banana bread/pound cakes! This was a new recipe that my bf’s aunty taught me and it turned out pretty well for the first try! Plus using the blender makes it so much faster and easier!
Hope you get to try this recipe soon!
Felicia, you are such a beautiful person! I really really loved reading your intro. You’re absolutely right. Those tiny, insignificant things in our daily lives are not meaningless. In the business of life, I overlook and don’t even recognize their presence..but when I take a moment to stop and smell the roses, I realize how blessed I am to be able to enjoy a pb&j sandwich, to talk to my parents who are in Korea, to come home to a dog whose tail wags so hard his butt looks like it’s going to separate from the rest of his body…I have a lot to be thankful for.
And this banana bread looks delicious! A great way to use up overripe bananas!!
Min!
thank you for your beautiful comment! I’m glad this post made you think and appreciate all the small things you have in life. Sometimes I need a reminder every now and then that things are good, that even when I think life is sucky and you have alot to complain about, it’s still worth taking a seat and being glad for the good things that I do have (even if they may be little).
Try making the banana bread!! it’s great for breakfast/tea/supper whatever you wish!!
btw, your parents are in Korea, which means you moved to the US not too long ago? or were you born in the US? (just curious!!)
Yes yes! I’m def going to bake this soon!
I was born in Korea and moved to the States when I was 10. They recently went back to Korea after my brother graduated from college.
Felicia, not only is this post lovely, the pictorial instructions for the recipe rock! I love it when I can follow the pictures because let’s get real–some recipes require a degree in chemistry! hee hee! I love banana food. I call it comfort food. I have copied your recipe and plan to make it during this holiday! The Daughter is coming home for the holidays and I’m pulling out the old recipe box! This one will be part of it! Hugs!
Bella!
Thank you for your lovely comment!! Haha, I totally get what you mean – I understand pictures better than words (at least in recipes!) so sometimes I get turned off by a tough-sounding recipe which actually may not be that difficult (especially with step-by-step pictures provided!)
Banana food – first time I’ve heard of this general term, but I think I’m going to start using this term too! You’re right, banana is probably among one of my favorite fruits – for its usefulness whether ripe of overripe, its wonderful taste and smell, and because it’s so versatile, you can use it with practically anything!
Hope the Daughter likes banana bread and all the other yummy foods you’re going to whip up for the holidays!!
Happy holidays Bella!!
hugs from Buenos Aires!!
I love the central message of this post – enjoy the little things in life. I think many people would benefit from your advice, Felicia. If we remember all the little things that make life worth living, we could stop worrying about those few seemingly giant issues that keep us down in the dumps. And a loaf of banana bread never hurt! Yum!
Have a lovely weekend!
Jess! glad the message of the post resonated with you
Sometimes I need to take my own advice and be grateful & appreciate the everyday blessings I have! 
that’s why I need to write it down – it helps me remember!
Hope you have a wonderful weekend too Jess! you deserve it! hope the weather’s not too harsh on New Jersey!!
hugs
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