Fresh Start Friday... and Banana Bread!

Fresh Start Friday... and Banana Bread!

This was one of those weeks with a couple of rocky days in it. Nothing catastrophic, but a little tension from work, not a ton of sleep, etc. etc. etc. Today though is Fresh start Friday. 

I woke up extra early this morning around 4AM and was able to spend some real quality time with my husband before he had to leave for work. Since by the time we are both home in the evening we are too pooped to hardly even talk, it was nice to spend time together while the day was still young and we were fresh. 

After he left for work, I still had plenty of time to enjoy the sunrise. 

With more than two hours left before I had to be at work, I decided Friday mornings should be for Banana Bread. I whipped up a batch of banana bread batter (recipe at the end of this blog) and popped it in the oven to bake. 

Feeling almost high off the goodness of a fresh morning, I knew I still needed to have a thought that would carry me through the day though. Sunrises are beautiful, but by midday, the sun is old again.

I read this morning in 1Samuel 24 about the time during which King Saul was seeking the life of David. Saul went into a cave and was sleeping when David came upon him and had the opportunity (and even the support of those with him) to kill King Saul. He chose to spare him though. He chose mercy. In the end of the story we know that David becomes King and is known as one of the greatest kings in history. I wonder if this would still be true had he chosen to take Saul's life in his own hands rather than giving it to God? Today I want to choose mercy for my friends, but also mercy for my adversaries and let God be God. This is my thought for today that will carry me though my troubling moments. 

And.... then it was time to eat some banana bread! Recipe to follow. Recipe can also be found at http://www.thirtyhandmadedays.com/2012/06/banana_bread_recipe/

Chocolate Chip Sour Cream Banana Bread

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 50 mins

Total time: 1 hour

Serves: 1 big loaf

Ingredients

• 1 c. sugar
• 1/4 c. butter, melted
• 2 eggs (I only had one egg, so I added 1 tbsp of ground flaxseed and 2-1/5 tbsp of water as well)
• 1 c. ripe bananas (2-3 bananas)
• 1/2 c. sour cream
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 1/2 c. flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 – 1 c. chocolate chips (I replaced chocolate chips with chopped of Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bars)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray loaf pan with cooking spray. Beat together sugar and melted butter. Add eggs, banana, sour cream and vanilla. Blend well. Add dry ingredients to wet mixture. Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes.