The Send Off | Banapple Bread

I'm not good at saying goodbyes.

With three kids already off to college, you might think that I would be a pro at saying goodbye... But nope, I'm a sappy mom!  I cry at the sight of  a packed suitcase in the hallway.  My voice cracks when they tell me their flight schedule.  But the worst is when I take them to the airport... ahh it's a different scenario when I tightly clasp their hands as we stand in line to check in for their flight.

"Drama-rama!" my kids tease me.  And drama-rama it was indeed when I sent my daughter off a few weeks ago.  I stood at the entrance of the security gate in silence, as she left my side to go through security.  I could feel my heart pound faster... and my lacrimal glands increase its productivity as tears welled up in my eyes.  Oh the drama.

"Mom, I'm coming back," she assures me.

Deep down inside I know she will be home again, just like my two other kids.  I also know that my home-cooked meals will be one of the driving forces that bring them all back.  Because it is here, back home, where they can enjoy all of their favorite dishes that their dorm/apartment enclaves cannot offer them.  Yes, food connects them to home.  And that's why I send them off with more food when they leave... homemade goodies which will surely have them looking forward to their next homecoming.

Mom, this banapple bread is delicious! My friend, Gerleroz, loves it... read the text from my daughter, Izzy, a few hours after she landed at LA.

I knew then that she misses home just as much as I miss her. But, at least for now, a bite of my banapple will give her a taste of home.

Banapple Bread

Ingredients

for the bread:

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 cup sugar

1tsp salt

2 large eggs

1 tsp vinegar or lemon juice

3 large bananas

1 cup milk

1/2 cup roasted peanuts

For apple crumbs

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 cup flour

1 pc apple sliced

1 stick butter

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

Directions:

Pre-heat oven at 350 F.

Grease pan with butter.

Make the apple crumbs by stirring together sugar, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg. With a pastry blender, cut butter  until mixture is course add apple slices.  Set aside in the fridge.

In a mixing bowl,  mix together flour, baking soda and baking powder.  Add in salt and sugar.

In another bowl, mash the bananas.  Pour in the milk and beat the eggs.  Add the flour mixture little by little.  Add vinegar and mix thoroughly.

Pour into a baking pan.  Add the streusel on top of the banana bread.

Bake for about 30 - 40 minutes. Let it cool.