Banana Trail Mix Bread

March 3, 2013

So, I have been doing the whole “unplugging” thing as much as I can these days. I think I have been doing pretty well (in my opinion of course—I am sure Mike would say differently). He always thinks I am “pinteresting.”

The other night my brother and his girlfriend took Mike and me to a concert of a band we are all very fond of for our birthdays. I was so sad to see an entire crowd of smart phone screens in the pitch black. Seriously? I wanted to take a picture of the band on stage as much as the next person, but I would rather experience it through my own eyeballs instead of a phone screen.

I believe it was the great comedic genius, Louie C.K., that said that if Jesus Christ himself came down from heaven to tell everybody it was the end of the world, people would whip out their phones and be all like, “Oh, I better post this to Facebook.” Instead of witnessing it with their own minds and eyes.

I just want to yell at everybody with a white glow on their faces and say, “JUST EXPERIENCE IT IN THE NOW!” There was seriously a man Shazaming a song the band we were seeing was singing. Go home. Why are you here?

I have noticed more social media lies than ever, since I have been unplugged a bit more. People only post the good shit. Wow! You are having the best time ever with your cute little baby! Oh, you met a friend for lunch and are posed smooching in front of the restaurant, you must be BFF’s! Your dog is going in for surgery but you still look so put together. (Not that the last one was me or anything).

What about the real stuff? People will rarely post the real life scenario on Facebook or any other social media site. Did you post about how your child cried for six straight hours before you got them posed in that sweet picture? Did you post about how you had nothing to talk about with said picture friend and it was super awkward? Did you post about how you cried for two hours after you took your dog in for a routine cyst removal? No, no, and no!

In case you couldn’t put it together, Mike and I are the latter example of the person/people with the dog. Mike and I took Weezer in for surgery yesterday morning. He is fine and I built myself up for nothing. But, I will tell you after being so stressed and worried all morning, looking through Instagram and Facebook did not help.

So, if you my dear, dear readers, think that I have it put together, or if any of us have it all together for that matter, based upon what you see and read here, rest assured me/we are all as human as the rest. I feel like this blog and other blogs should be a little safe space, except for the rant above clearly, for us just to enjoy food we love and stories that we all can relate to.

Since I was a bit worried and stressed about Weezer, I kept myself as busy as possible. I cleaned—well  Mike cleaned—and I cooked. I baked my newest favorite comfort dessert/breakfast food, banana trail mix bread from Cookie and Kate. I also made my Grandfather’s Cabbage Rolls, because sometimes you just need some comfort in food form to remind you that all that matters is the here and now.

Sorry, if this was ranty and heavy. I really want to thank you all for all the sweet words of concern for Weezer, it meant a lot to me and Mike…. And Weezer!!! He is totally fine and will be treated like the prince that he is for the next few days!!!

Banana Trail Mix Bread

Course Breakfast/Baking
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Author Sarcastic Cooking

Ingredients

  • 3/4 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
  • 1/2 Cup Oats
  • 1 1/2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Table Salt
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon
  • 3/4 cup Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
  • 1/3 Cup Flax Seeds
  • 1/3 Cup Chopped Dried Cranberries
  • 1/2 Cup Pecans toasted and chopped
  • 1/4 Cup Chopped Dark Chocolate
  • 1/2 Cup Virgin Coconut Oil melted
  • 1 Tablespoon Orange Zest
  • 1 cup Ripe Banana mashed
  • 1/4 Cup Honey
  • 1 Large Egg at room temperature
  • 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • 1 Tablespoon Granulated Sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch by 5-inch loaf pan with coconut oil.
  2. In a medium/large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, oats, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Stir in flax seeds and 1/2 cup shredded coconut, then mix in the dried fruit, pecans and dark chocolate.
  3. In a separate, medium mixing bowl, whisk together the coconut oil, orange zest, mashed banana, honey, egg and vanilla. If the coconut oil seizes up when mixed with the other ingredients, microwave for a few seconds until it melts again.
  4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon until just combined. Pour the batter into loaf pan and sprinkle the top with the remaining 1/4 cup coconut and sugar.
  5. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Let the bread cool in the pan ten minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling. Slice with serrated bread knife. Store at room temperature in an air-tight container for up to five days.

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  • Teri Lyn Fisher
    March 11, 2013 at 3:05 pm

    This sounds and looks amazing. Yum town.

  • Wendy
    March 10, 2013 at 11:19 am

    Looking at this delicious banana bread (I love the addition of crunchy granola!) makes me want to experience it in the now! Glad the puppy is doing well. 🙂

  • Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe
    March 8, 2013 at 12:42 pm

    Glad to hear that Weezer is doing ok, Stefanie. There is a total social media frenzy happening these days. Last weekend I went to see a movie in the theatre and the kid in front of me spent the ENTIRE time on his phone. Like, why not stay home and rent a movie? However, my biggest pet peeve is people who go out for dinner and set their phone right on the table, and then pick it up every 5 minutes to check something. So rude! I went on a date once with a guy who did that and then answered his phone when it rang. After he had been talking on his phone for several minutes (!!!), the waiter came by, tapped him on the shoulder and said “hey dude, I’m not sure if you noticed but you have a really hot girl sitting across the table from you. Better hang up before she walks out.” IT WAS AWESOME.
    This banana bread looks fantastic, by the way. Love the change up on an old standby!

    • Stefanie
      March 8, 2013 at 1:59 pm

      Thanks Amanda! OH MY GOD!!! That is the best/worst story ever!!! I hope you got that waiter’s digits!

  • Jen
    March 5, 2013 at 11:48 pm

    Fantastic blog! Can’t wait to try some of the things on here!! =)

  • julia
    March 5, 2013 at 2:32 pm

    Love this!! Cant wait to try it out!!

  • Anne @The Cooking Campaign
    March 5, 2013 at 12:55 am

    I couldn’t imagine a more comforting food than this Banana Bread!

  • Stephie @ Eat Your Heart Out
    March 4, 2013 at 8:17 pm

    I am always astounded that people even remember to take pictures of things on their phones. The reason my IG feed is pretty much only my cats or food is because those are the two things that are around me allllllllllll the time – so I think to take pics of them! But the really funny crap my cats do? I’m too busy laughing my butt off to take pictures or video.

    I can’t wait to come over Wednesday and give my favorite pug a little snuggle! Glad he’s ok. 🙂

  • Julia
    March 4, 2013 at 10:56 am

    Glad Weezer is doing OK. Saw on IG that he was getting surgery. 🙁

    Banana bread is delicious and you just took it to the next level. I will have to save this one and try it out!

  • Isabelle @ Crumb
    March 3, 2013 at 10:26 pm

    OMG, I am so with you on the smartphones at shows. It’s bad enough that at 5’5″, I usually spend most shows trying to get a glimpse of the stage through all the tall guys who insist on standing right up front, but now I have to contend with a forest of arms holding up smartphones too. Aaaargh.
    Also, I am now desperately craving banana bread. Which, given that it’s 11:30pm on a Sunday, is kind of a problem. Dang.

  • Kerry @ Snark & Pepper
    March 3, 2013 at 3:24 pm

    Just want you to know after seeing this post I was really craving banana bread and ended up ordering bread french toast at brunch today. But oh wait… I ordered it as an appetizer. Because I’m a pig.

    This looks awesome and definitely think it would make delicious french toast 🙂

  • Maggie @ A Bitchin' Kitchen
    March 3, 2013 at 3:14 pm

    So glad Weezer is ok! I saw the pic of him on IG this morning with his little leg all bandaged up. Hope he feels better soon!

    Also…I really want this bread. I’m going to have to try it the next time I have overripe bananas around!