To My Sister: PFB Number Four
October 10, 2010 
I mean, she's a four or five-hour plane ride away, while you have the privilege of seeing your parents and brother most evenings for dinner. You'd like her to have a taste of home in times of stress. But more importantly, she's having so much fun that you're afraid she might forget about you.
And this will simply not be tolerated!
If you love to bake, it's only natural that you'll send her something... baked. Furthermore, if you just so happen to have four of the sweetest, most aromatic ripe bananas on your fruit platter, you'll probably decide to bake her some banana bread. It's a good thing your sister enjoys banana bread more than most other foods she's tried.
This will work out perfectly, so it appears. You soon realize, however, that your sister dislikes anything to do with health. She assumes you eat only squirrel food. You recall her telling you on numerous occasions, Don't put lentils in my bread! You've never done this before, but you figure she means that you are not to add any healthy stuff to her baked goods. You vow to try your hardest, but you always like your family to be healthy and you acknowledge the struggle ahead of you.
You strap on your apron like it's true battle garb, and you grip your wooden spoon with the hope that it guides you properly. You're determined to make the best banana bread to meet your sister's lips. You're ready to set forth on your journey, but first you invite everyone reading this to come along with you. It will be fun, I promise.
Pick a sunny window and gather your ingredients:
And let's get started!
Begin with 1 1/2 cups of flour:
We're using 1 cup all-purpose and 1/2 cup whole-wheat because we want her to have some fiber in her life. But we're not going to tell her that. She won't even notice.
Here we are:
Next, add some baking soda and baking powder, one teaspoon each...
...and a pinch of salt.
Next, a touch of spice. Just the right amounts of cinnamon and nutmeg to add some liveliness and Fall flair, 1/2 teaspoon each:
This completes the dry ingredients. Gently whisk, and set aside.
Now, for the wet ingredients. Ladies and gentlemen, mash your bananas.
Scrape them into a medium-sized bowl and let them relax for a bit. You don't want to stress them out. I mean, they are the stars of the show.
In the meantime, get some butter- about 1/4 cup:
And melt it.
Add to the melted butter about 1/4 cup of good olive oil:
And two of these:
Watch it happen:
Whisk and whisk some more, then pour over the bananas you left in the medium-sized bowl.
Add to this new concoction some sugar and vanilla extract- 1/2 cup white, 1/2 cup brown, and 1 teaspoon extract:
Stir it thoroughly.
Make a well in the center of your dry ingredients, like so:
Add your wet ingredients, like so:
Then, remember that you wanted to add some chocolate chips. Your sister deserves it super much. Give her 3/4 cup of 'em.
When you're done stirring these in, and the batter has come together nicely, pour it into a greased and sugared loaf pan. It will look something like this:
Excellent work! Put it in a preheated oven!
This should be happening at 350 degrees. While you wait (it will be about 50-60 minutes), survey the scene:
I know you don't want to, but you should probably clean it up.
It's okay though, because after a while, you'll get to stare at this:
Creamy bananas, sweet milk chocolate, a touch of spice, the comfort of home.
You must wait for it to cool completely before playing with it. If you leave the house, make sure to leave a note too. Your dad and brother like to help themselves when you leave freshly-baked goodies lying around.
When the time has come, wrap your loaf in some parchment paper,
Seal it with a kiss,
Put it in a shoebox,
Add a silly note,
And send it along to the faraway land of Lexington, Kentucky.
You hope your package puts a smile on her face and a spring in her step. You hope that the warm and sweet scent meeting her nose when she opens it up will remind her of how well you two sometimes get along. You hope she remembers you then-
-just as much as she remembers you now:
I dedicate this post to you, my sis.
[Click HERE for the recipe in text format.]
P.S.- Thank you all so much for your support with my third PFB entry. It was both moving and inspirational, and I owe my advancement to you!
Reader Comments (41)
So sweet! I love your motivation and your photos are adorable! You definitely have my vote!
so sweet! I have a sister too... you inspired me to send her something sweet.
I love the light coming through your photos! Voted.
That was a really sweet post. Good luck in round 4!
Lovely post... voted!
This is the SWEETEST post! You actually brought a tear to my eye- my sister lives far from me too and I miss her every day. I hope your sis loved her banana bread! You absolutely have my vote!
that's so sweet! i can totally relate missing my sisters since i'm a few hours away from them. great photos and recipe - you've got my vote!
Very sweet...and yummy-looking ;)
Lovely tribute to your sister, and since I am a sentimental fool. You get my vote too. GREG
Well Sarah....you have done it again! What a beautifully written and photographed entry...and the banana bread looks DELICIOUS. Love the pictures of you and Sydney...seems like yesterday when they were taken....adorable little girls one day and beautiful women the next.
Now I want to fly down to Brazil and hug my sisters. This post was awesome!
This is so sweet! Lovely sentiment, gorgeous photos, and wonderful recipe.
beautiful photos!!!
This is such a well-written post... and with beautiful photos!! I LOVE the egg photos. Would definitely blow up and hang in my kitchen! I hope your sister loved the bread :)
LOVE THIS!!! totally voting for you :)
This warmed even my cold black little heart! I voted and good luck!
This was such a sweet entry--I loved it!! So cute. And your photos are just beyond stunning.
Great tutorial! I sent a little red heart your way - Good luck!
Such a sweet post! And a beautiful tutorial. Your photos are great, and who wouldn't love to find this package in their mail box? It's perfect. Thanks for sharing. I voted for you!
Good luck! Hope to see us both in round 5!!! =)
Very sweet and inspiring post! Good for you to fix your sister something healthy....your pictures are awesome!
that is so cute, actually my sister lives in lexington too, so it strikes a tender chord with me! :)
Great post! Good luck and hope to join you in the next round :)
This came out so nice Sarah. I know Syd will love her care package...you get my vote for the best sister award too!
Melt! Makes me miss my sister so much! I am going to be sending here something! Thanks for the inspiration!
Your photos are so beautiful..I love the one of the sun shining on the cracked egg - fabulous. And I nearly cried reading this - I'm glad there was a happy ending otherwise I'd have to start weeping...
Best of luck to you!
Awww...how sweet. I don't have a sister but I wish I do so I can send this to her.