Hello friends – It is a rainy spring Sunday in McKinney Texas, which means it is a perfect day for baking!
Many, many years ago (before I married Roger), Joan made a cookbook for all her kids. The nostalgia through her stories make the cookbook even more special to all of us that have the pleasure of enjoying the book. I am sure there are many of you that have benefited from sitting around the kitchen with Joan and enjoying the hospitality and “rest” both she and Lad have provided over the course of the many years they have been together – 58 years at the end of May! We would love to hear from you – please comment or share a story.
This will be a new feature each Sunday – a story and a recipe. This is my go-to banana bread recipe for those over-ripe bananas sitting on the counter. – Lisa Garner
Below is the text from her cookbook, in her own words. Enjoy!
Introduction
“Feed the hungry! Help those in trouble! Then your light will shine out from the darkness and the darkness around you shall be as bright as day. And the Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy you with all good things, and keep you healthy too; and you will be a well-watered garden, like an ever flowing spring.” Isaiah 58: 10-11
Some homes just naturally draw people into them. Lad and I grew up in homes that usually contained extra people beyond the regular family members. I remember aunts and uncles, cousins and grandparents staying in our home most of my childhood. In early grade school days, my teacher often lived with us too.
With that kind of childhood, it seemed natural that we should do the same. We believe that much of the blessing we have received from God can be traced back to using “the gift of hospitality.”
It seems to me that food, though not the main ingredient, plays an important role in making our home a “haven of rest” for all who enter in. A “haven of rest” is a place where one can relax, regroup, refuel, and rest. Therefore, the food should be provided in such a way that it meets those needs.
If the atmosphere is to be peaceful, the hostess must keep things simple. There needs to be minimum preparation while the guests are there, unless the food preparation is part of the relaxation. To accomplish this, there needs to be planning. Food shopping should include those items needed for “spur of the moment” guests and activities.
I often plan cooking activities when entertaining young children. They love to get their hands in the bread dough or spoon cookies onto a cookie sheet. Our air popper is a fascinating activity for small children to “help” prepare their own snack.
Many a teenager has discussed his/her current problem while I was busy making bread or pies. My busy hands and listening ear made talking easier.
During the school years, children are constantly needing refreshments for this meeting or that. What better way for kids to learn to be responsible and to cook as well. Our kids were the envy of the neighborhood as they prepared their own refreshments for scouts, class parties, etc from their favorite recipes. Some of these are included in this book in their own handwriting.
With these thoughts in mind, I have prepared this cookbook for you to enjoy. It contains many old and new family recipes, along with bits of history about their use in our family life. It is my hope that you will find them useful for your own hospitality and building family memories.
In Christ’s Love – Joan Garner
“He is a fool who will not give what he cannot keep to gain he cannot lose.”
My Aunt Irene was a family “black sheep.” She had many problems. She developed a bone disease that resulted in the loss of her leg as a very young woman. This probably led to her drug dependency. We all considered here a little crazy be she was an excellent cook when she was feeling good. Her banana bread was the best I ever tasted. She let the bananas get nearly black before using them. Nuts could be added but it was good without them why waste the time and money to put them in?
Roger and Randy like this one the best. It has gone in many a college care package. They will eat an entire loaf when it is hot. Never waste a banana in this house!
Banana Bread
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
3 ripe bananas
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
Cream butter, add sugars and mix. Add eggs one at a time. Add mashed bananas. In medium bowl, whisk flour, soda and powder. Add to the wet ingredients and mix until incorporated. If adding nuts, hand mix prior to baking. Bake in a loaf pan at 350 degrees for about 50 mins or until toothpick inserted is clean or sides slightly pull away from the pan.
Fireside Stories 