Better-for-you Banana Bread

 

There is a grocery store near us that has bananas for 25 cents a pound on Thursdays. This is a steal compared to the 54 cents I have been paying recently! As smoothie enthusiasts, we consume a lot of bananas in a given week, so we are always looking for good deals!

Last week we went to the grocery store to get our banana deal. Both my husband and I planned to go through and get 5 pounds (the limit you can buy at once). But while we were carefully weighing our bananas to get the correct amount, we noticed some bananas that were reduced for quick sale - also 25 cents a pound, but with NO LIMIT! Since bananas freeze well, I just grabbed ALL of the clearanced bananas. (Our total purchase weighed in at about 34 pounds! I got some funny stares from fellow shoppers and the clerks, but I reassured them all that I didn't want the bananas to be thrown out, so I was rescuing them!)

It took me awhile to peel all the bananas, cut them in half, and put them in a bag for freezing. While I was doing this, I wondered... could I make a healthy banana bread with them? (By the name "banana bread", one would assume it is healthy, but usually such sweet breads are more of a dessert, high in sugar, oil, and fat.)


I searched for "healthy banana bread recipes" and I found this one, which was close to what I wanted... but I modified it to make it even MORE healthy! Here is my modified version:

Rachel's Better-for-you Banana Bread

Ingredients:

• 3 ripe bananas
• 1 Cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 Cup whole wheat flour
• 1/4 Cup local, raw honey
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• ½ C natural apple sauce
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 eggs, beaten
• ½ C nuts or raisins, optional
• sprinkle of cinnamon (we love cinnamon, so I used a generous sprinkle!)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°; grease one loaf pan. 
2. Mash bananas and set aside.
3. Combine wet ingredients. Stir in baking soda. Add flour. Just stir until combined; don't overmix.
4. Pour batter into loaf pan and bake on center oven rack for 50 mins – 60 mins (until inserted tooth pick comes out clean)
5. Let cool in pan for 5 mins; then remove from pan and cool bread on cooling rack.
6. Eat and enjoy!

The consistency of the bread is a little different than regular banana bread, but it is still very tasty!

ABCs of Loving Your Husband

In honor of Valentine's Day, I am posting this as a reminder to all of us wives how we need to cherish our husbands. I honestly cannot remember where I got it, or if I wrote it myself! (No, it's too good... I think I got it somewhere!) If you find it, please let me know where so I can credit the source. (I did change a few minor things, though...)

My husband of almost 5 years, Dan, is such a blessing to me. He is such a man of God and always tries to serve God and our family with his whole heart. No, he is not perfect, but neither am I, and he loves me anyway! I fear I often take him for granted, so I want to make every effort to encourage him and be his helpmate, as the Lord God made me to be. I challenge you to do the same and see if it doesn't revamp your relationship!

Affirm him daily

Be his biggest cheerleader

Count the blessings in our marriage

Don't criticize him (ESPECIALLY in public!)

Encourage him in every way

Fight for his reputation

Give him mind, body, and heart

Help and serve him with every opportunity

Inspire him to chase after his dreams

Just gaze at him adoringly

Kiss and cuddle with him

Love him in spite of his weaknesses

Make sure he knows he's the only one you'll ever want

Never yell or interrupt

Offer to rub his feet, shoulders, and back after a long day

Pray for him and with him daily

Quit nagging! 

Remember why I fell in love with him... and tell him why I still do! 

Stay committed and faithful to him 

Take the initiative with sex

Understand his views and opinions and let him lead

View him through God's eyes

Write him a love letter

X-amine my own heart daily

Yearn for God and His word

Zealously protect and invest in my marriage

God's mercies for every MOMent

I was desperately trying to fold the clothes that were left partially on the floor separated and folded, partially in a messy heap in the the laundry basket from yesterday, as my daughter was crawling all over them and trying to escape up the stairs. My morning had been somewhat stressful, as neither my husband nor I were sporting our best Jesus-attitudes and were short with one another. Many projects were left undone and a mess from the previous day since my daughter had refused an afternoon nap and also would not be put down without crying for the last several hours of the day. (She is teething and sometimes needs some extra love). My stomach was growling and my mental, physical, and emotional energy tanks were nearly empty.

Even though I know this is far from the worst life could be, I felt pretty desperate for God to shower His love on me to help me get through the day. I needed my Father to lavish His love on me (I John 3:1) so I could show His love to my daughter and husband.

I screamed in frustration and prayed for the Lord to give me His strength. He brought this verse to mind:

Yet I still dare to hope
      when I remember this:

The faithful love of the LORD never ends!
      His mercies never cease. 

Great is his faithfulness;
      his mercies begin afresh each morning. 

Lamentations 3:21-23

How beautiful a scripture! His mercies begin afresh each morning. Even if I had a difficult and sleepless night, even if I was cross with my daughter or husband, even if I have too many things to do, I can dare to hope that His mercies are never ending and his love never ends. I can pray for His help to get me through the day.

But one thing bothered me about this verse... it came to my mind before 9:00 in the morning. I'd gotten off to a rough start. I still had a long way to go before his mercies could begin afresh in me in the morning again, and I needed it sooner than that!

I concluded that if the faithful love of the Lord never ends (meaning it is always happening), then his mercies can begin afresh each moment!

Therefore, I decided to make my own "new morning." Though I cannot actually reset the sun and cause the day to start over, I can, with God's help, change my attitude and my heart to focus again on Him. Some days, this will be an almost constant "time-out with God", but I think he welcomes that. Just as I welcome my daughter into my arms when she needs my love the most, our Heavenly Father welcomes us when we run to Him.

So start your morning afresh when you need to: Take advantage of your children's nap times and bask in the presence of your Heavenly Father through prayer, Bible reading, or listening to inspirational music. (The chores will be there when you are done, but your attitude will be better to take care of them). Put the kids in a safe place and take a quick shower in the middle of the day to refocus your mind and heart. Go for a walk to the playground and let the kids play while you chat with God. Take some time in another room to be alone with God after you pop in a Veggie Tales DVD for the kids. Pray with your children, asking forgiveness aloud for your bad attitude and requesting that the Lord fill you with his Spirit.

You will not regret seeking your Heavenly Father moment by moment. It's the only way we can be the mothers He has called us to be. I will leave you with my own version of the scripture, reminding you to seek God regularly as you fulfill the high calling of motherhood.

Yet I still dare to hope
      when I remember this:

The faithful love of the LORD never ends!
      His mercies never cease. 

Great is his faithfulness;
      his mercies begin afresh each MOMent.