magazine cover 1916

St. Nicholas

Any chance you remembered to put out a shoe last night? 

Today is the feast day of St. Nicholas. The figure of Santa Claus comes from St. Nick, who in turn comes from the real-life St. Nicholas, a fourth-century bishop from Myra, in what is now Turkey. In many parts of the world, today is the day that children get gifts -- on the evening of December 5th, they might put out shoes and get small gifts like fruit, coins, or toys. 

Perhaps this might be a good baking day to get a jump start for the holiday season.

Banana Bread

makes 3 loaves

Ingredients:

• 7 large or 9 small bananas over ripe ones and use food processor to blend smooth
• 6 eggs
• 1-1/2 cups melted butter or margarine (using a combination of butter and margarine works the best
• 1-1/2 cups white sugar
• 1-1/2 cups brown sugar
• 1-3/4 cups white flour
• 1-3/4 cups whole-wheat flour
• 3 tsp. baking soda
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 3 TB. Cinnamon
• 2-3 cups chopped nuts

Directions:

• In processor add blended bananas, eggs one at a time, cinnamon, melted butter and margarine and sugars-mix well
• In a large bowl add flours, baking soda and salt
• Add creamed banana mixture to flour mixture and mix well
• Stir in chopped nuts
• Divide among three greased loaf pans
• Bake @ 325 about an hour-check at 55 minutes

Makes a moist flavorful bread-the secret to the flavor is using whole wheat flour

 "Smile, breathe and go slowly." 

by Thich Nhat Hanh