Can you believe that it is already September 14th? This month seems to be stretching her arms wide and it is sure reminding me that September is a month full of traditions and flavors. In just a few days, the East Texas State Fair will roll into town and we will soon be enjoying the unmistakable mix of cotton candy and fried food smells in the air. And I must not leave out the delightful smell of funnel cakes and corn dogs.
Another great thing I love about September is that my desire to begin baking suddenly re-appears. Yesterday, I pulled out the mixing bowls and baked up several loaves of banana nut bread....comfort food at it's best!!! I even experimented with a chocolate-chip version. Confession time.....I'm not sure the chocolate chips won me over. They seemed to cover up the delicate balance of the bananas and the nuts. You know me...Chocolate has never been my first love!!
I actually tripled the recipe. My recipe for a triple batch included 6 cups of sugar!! Yep...you read this right...6 cups of sugar!! Is this bread fattening?? Sure it is!!
The single recipe calls for 2 cups of sugar, 2 cups of flour, 1/2 cup of butter, 2 eggs, 3 or 4 mashed up bananas. 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp vanilla and as many Pecans as your heart desires.
My family loves the taste of warm banana nut bread and I can testify that it disappears faster than the first cool front in East Texas....this means FAST!
Speaking of fleeting bread...another thing that quickly disappears is the bloom of the dragon fruit. After a little research, we found that each bloom only graces us with its presence for one single day. One day!! This is sad and it is marvelous as well. Just being able to see the beautiful bloom for even one day is so sweet. I would say this is a reminder to slow down and soak up the beauty right in front of us. Some gifts are meant to be admired in the moment aren't they? Now, we wait for the fruit which is another lesson in patience and hope.
Oh sweet September...the month that brings us the best smells, the month that you can hear the exciting sounds of carnival rides and a month to savor the little things. Little things like the aroma of homemade breads or the beauty of a one-day bloom or the humorous laughter of kids waiting in line at the fair.....it truly is the little things...
Keep your eyes focused on promises that this month holds. Listen for the whispers that September hums each day!!
BIG HUGS this early morning..
Shug..
Have fun at your fair, Shug! I always find it fascinating when I hear of a fair happening in the fall....our county fair happens in the middle of July and it's always hotter than blazes! I have often thought how much more sense it would make to hold it in autumn when the temperatures are cooler. This year's fair the temperature was near 100*F every single day. We didn't even go! Your dragon fruit plant is so pretty. Love, Andrea xoxo
ReplyDelete100 degrees is too hot to be out attending a fair. That's when I stay home. I do know that over the years, the weather has changed. I remember when I was younger in high school, we would go to the fair and wear jackets because September was a cold month... Now, people wear shorts...
DeleteI looked it up yesterday and yes, the night blooming cactus here and there are 3 types of them, are also called dragon fruit. we never knew those red things were fruit, they fell on the ground and were tossed in the trash. I had no idea that much sugar is in banana bread, for some reason I thought it had less sugar than cake.
ReplyDeleteThis is so neat...you must eat one of the fruits. I've not had it, but Sam says the fruit is delicious...
DeleteLet us treasure every moment we have and every month we're given, Shug. Have a fabulous time at the state fair! Tell Sam I'm praying for him.
ReplyDeleteAmen Martha. I will tell Sam and I know he appreciates every single prayer on his behalf.
DeleteSavor the best moments!
ReplyDeleteabsolutely! love the good moments.
DeleteThere's a disconnect in my area right now between the calendar and the forecast (which is more like mid-July than mid-September)!
ReplyDeleteI do know what you mean...We are having a much cooler September than normal.
DeleteI can't believe we are halfway through September. I'm really not ready for that.
ReplyDeleteI hate to tell you this but you are a little nutty. You should never ruin a good loaf of banana bread by adding nuts. I few chocolate chips are ok, but no nuts! :) (I hate nuts!)
LOL...I laugh Mari because I have to actually make banana bread with no nuts and then more that has the nuts. Half of my family doesn't like pecans and the other half does. We always tell them.."You have to like pecans cause this is how we make a living."
DeleteShug, your banana bread looks Yummy. I think the chocolate chips really add something. My son-in-law gifts us every Christmas with his chocolate chip banana bread, and it's the moistest bread I've ever had. Wow, you baked several loaves! That will be nice to have on those sweet September days. The Texas fair sounds fun. Thanks for sharing the one bloom you get on the dragon fruit. You're right, Shug, September brings us the best smells, colors, and baked goodies. I appreciate your dear post this Sunday morning.
ReplyDelete~Sheri
This is so sweet of your son-in-law to do each Christmas. I'm sure you look forward to the bread. I enjoy baking (not so much on cooking) so I do get excited about the smells of fresh breads and cookies baking.
DeleteI cannot even imagine how huge the Texas state Fair is!! And how is the parking? I have never been to a state fair, only the county ones. I do hope you return with photos. One day for the blooms! Makes me think of daylilies, they bloom only for a day too.
ReplyDeleteGinny..you would be amazed at how big the Texas State Fair is..and it just keeps growing. Seems like I wait all year for my daylilies to bloom and they all bloom pretty much at the same time which means I don't get to enjoy them long.
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ReplyDeleteIt's a beautiful fall day here too. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteIt is a lovely day here in central Florida as well, a little warm, but it is nice. Thanks for the smiles.
ReplyDeleteYes, the West Texas Fair was always a favorite draw. Our Beta Sigma Phi (social club) used to 'man' a lemonade stand where we squeezed and sugared hundreds (thousands?) of lemons ... soooo good!
ReplyDeleteYour nut bread sounds so tempting. It's an annual ritual in our house, too, but not until mid-November when I don't mind heating up the house. Mother's recipe sounds a lot like yours, but I add 1/2 to 3/4c. of buttermilk; that's the only time I ever taste the sour stuff. (lol)
Our fair here was last week and ended Saturday.
ReplyDeleteI love chocolate but I prefer my banana bread without chocolate chips.
That's sad that such beautiful blooms only last for one day
September also makes me think of getting out my soup recipes. I confess I like the chocolate chips in my B.Bread!
ReplyDeleteI do hope that it cools a bit for you to go to the fair. I don't like the heat either. This has been a rough week for me mentally. I might make some bread too - it is a comfort.
ReplyDeleteAt this time of year I enjoy cooking more. I don't bake cookies or cakes, but I love roast chicken, roast lamb (when the price is right), etc. I do love chocolate, but I don't have it often.
ReplyDeleteThank you for a beautiful post full of hope. I like banana bread. We haven't baked it for a while.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.