Boxing Day Banana Bread

I feel like I've seen many Christmas decorations in my lifetime that are inscribed with the word "peace."

Are everyone else's holidays peaceful? Am I doing something wrong?

Yeah, didn't think so.

Having a peaceful holiday when working in customer service and housing two teenage brothers and a puppy in your apartment doesn't seem realistic. However, it was a fantastic Christmas with my colorful family, and there was no shortage of love and generosity.


After a refreshingly slow morning shift, I came back to my empty apartment. Casper is staying in Omaha for now since I'll be leaving for Mexico next week. I miss his endearingly obnoxious presence, but the silence was a good opportunity for some reflection. It truly is hard to believe how much can change in a year.

While curled up in the fetal position on top of my quilt (ideal thinking position), I thought about happiness.

After ringing up dozens of overpriced cookies over the past couple weeks, I would often say "Happy holidays!" when dropping change into the palms of frenzied customers.

What makes a holiday happy?

Might need to pull myself back from that one. I'm a little too sleepy to dive into definitions of happiness. But, I will say this: During the holidays, I'm happy when my brothers get along and say "thank you" to my parents after opening presents. I'm happy when I cry from laughing during a game of Apples to Apples because the Helen Keller card always wins the round, guaranteed. I'm happy to serve my family a meal that I'm proud of and to have enough leftover mashed potatoes to last me until the new year. I'm happy to spend twice as much time wrapping presents because all I have is glue and not enough cash for scotch tape. I appreciate friends and family who reach out during Christmas, even if I haven't seen them all year.

I'm happy for all of the Christmases to come, and for who and what they will bring.

Jeez, I am cheeseballin' it up today.


(Healthier) Gluten-Free Banana Bread
adapted from Joy the Baker
makes one loaf

Gotta love having a family that leaves behind ripe bananas.

If you haven't noticed, I have a newfound love for banana bread. I love quick breads in general, and eating banana bread for breakfast puts a little pep in my step when I'm walking to work at 5 AM. However, I decided if I'm going to keep devouring it like I do, I should omit the chocolate chips, etc.

But, I don't feel like I'm sacrificing anything with this!

1/2 cup sorghum flour
1/2 cup tapioca starch
1/4 cup millet flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
1 cup old fashioned oats
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
3 large bananas, mashed
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3 teaspoons grapeseed oil (or any other oil)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Whisk together flours, starch, soda, powder, salt, cinnamon, xanthan gum, oats, and brown sugar. Set aside.

Combine bananas, eggs, vanilla, and oil until smooth.

Fold wet ingredients into dry using a rubber spatula. Mix until ingredients just come together and there aren't any flour chunks hiding in the batter.

Pour into a prepared loaf pan. Bake for 45-50 minutes, until top is firm.

In other news...

Things are about to get serious up in here.