I don’t know what has gotten into me lately. Ever since I got back from visiting with my Mom I’ve spent more time in the kitchen then I have in the last 10 years of marriage. I guess being in the kitchen with my Mom and watching how much she enjoyed cooking and baking made me realize it’s not that bad.

I had 2 bananas left over that were too ripe to eat so I decided to make banana bread. Off to The Mace Family Cookbook I go and on page 35 Brenda (Mace) Hawkins shares her Banana Nut Bread recipe. I look over the list of ingredients…let’s see, I don’t have flour; I’m almost out of sugar; I’ll need 1 or 2 more bananas, and some pecans. I have everything else! So, off to the grocery store I go.

When you live where I live it’s not a quick trip to the grocery store. The nearest one is 16 miles one way but I decided to drive into Lawton. That’s about 65 miles round trip for me. By the time I got all the ingredients, and a few extra items for the cupboards, I am in for about $45 and about ½ tank of gas. This cooking and baking thing is fun, but expensive!

Here is Brenda’s recipe from The Mace Family Cookbook:

Banana Nut Bread

Brenda Mace

Ingredients:
  • 2 cups sifted flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • 1 teaspoon soda
  • ½ cup margarine
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 large bananas
Directions:
  1. Sift flour, soda and salt (My Mom taught me this is always the first step in any baking recipe.)
  2. Cream margarine (or butter) add sugar, eggs and vanilla.  Stir until mixed well.
  3. Add bananas.
  4. Fold in dry ingredients and pecans
  5. Put in a well-greased 9x5x3 inch loaf pan.
  6. Bake at 350 for one hour.

Test with a tooth-pick.

And as promised, I will always include either a household tip or words of wisdom from David’s Great Grandmother Alice Mae Johns Mace.

Household tip:
An inexpensive deodorizer for your car – cut both ends from a box containing a bar of bath soap and place under the front seat. This creates a long lasting fresh, clean smell.

Handmade Soap
iStock Photo
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