Why Farmers Reach for a Banana in the Summer

Why Farmers Reach for a Banana in the Summer

 

I hope you have enjoyed my writing so far - I loved starting  with chickens,  eggs & Ideas - 

July, the rooster isn't the only one up before daylight.  Welcome to summer in the Ozarks.

If you work outside or even if you don’t - We can all appreciate summer - 

Somewhere around mid-morning, your shirt is soaked, your hat has sweat stains, and you're wondering whose bright idea it was to work outside in July….Well, I have no options - I love my job! 

Around our farm, you'll usually find a cold bottle of water nearby. And if you look around the kitchen counter, chances are you'll spot a bunch of bananas waiting for whoever heads out the door next.

Now, bananas aren't magic…. But they have earned their reputation over the years.

A banana is packed with potassium, a mineral that helps your muscles, nerves, and heart do their jobs. It also contains a little magnesium, another mineral that helps support healthy muscles and normal nerve function. After hours of sweating in the summer heat, your body has worked hard, and while nothing replaces drinking plenty of water, adding healthy foods like bananas can help support what your body needs.

One thing bananas can't do is instantly stop a leg cramp. That's one of those stories that's been passed around for years. Your body needs time to absorb those nutrients, so the best plan is to stay hydrated and eat well before your muscles decide to complain….Ask me how I know!

I suppose that's the funny thing about farm life. We spend thousands of dollars on tractors, mowers, chainsaws, and equipment, yet sometimes one of the handiest things we can grab before heading outside costs less than a dollar.

A bottle of water.

A banana.

Maybe a peanut butter sandwich if it's going to be a long morning.

I've come to appreciate the simple things that have stood the test of time. We don't always need the latest gadget or newest health craze. Sometimes good food, common sense, and knowing when to sit down in the shade for a spell will take you a long way.

Bananas certainly aren't fancy, but they are useful. Their natural sugars and carbohydrates give the body an easy source of energy—handy when you're mowing, working in the garden, hauling feed, or simply trying to make it through a long summer afternoon.

They also bring along potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and a little magnesium. Potassium helps our muscles and nerves do their jobs, while vitamin B6 helps the body turn food into usable energy.

Maybe that's why the humble banana has earned a permanent spot on kitchen counters and in lunch boxes. It's inexpensive, comes in its own wrapper, and requires absolutely no cooking—which, in July, might be its best quality of all.

The rooster has known that for years. He gets his work done early, finds a shady spot when the day gets hot, and never seems too proud to take a break.

There's probably a lesson in that for the rest of us.

I have included two recipes -  First one is very easy and more cake like - and the second is my tried and true and oh so very old - handed down recipe - 

Easy Banana Bread - more cake-like 

Ingredients

1 box yellow cake mix
2 large eggs
4 ripe bananas

Optional: Chocolate chips or chopped walnuts

Directions

Mash the bananas well in a large bowl. Add the eggs and stir together with a fork for about 5 minutes, until well combined.

Gradually sprinkle in the yellow cake mix, gently folding and stirring until everything is thoroughly mixed. Fold in chocolate chips or walnuts, if desired.

Pour the batter into greased muffin tins or a standard-size loaf pan.

Bake at 350°F.

For muffins, bake approximately 35 minutes. For a standard loaf, bake for approximately 60 minutes.

Baking times may vary slightly, so check for doneness before removing from the oven.

Mom's Banana Bread

Ingredients

1 cup white sugar
½ cup shortening, butter, lard, oil, or a combination
For a lighter option, replace the ½ cup fat with applesauce.
2 eggs
3 ripe bananas
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
1¾ cups flour

Optional: Chocolate chips, raisins, or chopped walnuts

Directions

In a large bowl, mash the bananas and combine with the sugar, eggs, vanilla, and your choice of shortening, butter, lard, oil, or applesauce.

In a separate bowl, mix the baking soda and baking powder into the flour. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture and stir until combined.

Fold in chocolate chips, raisins, or walnuts, if desired.

Pour into a greased standard loaf pan or divide between six large muffin cups.

Bake at 350°F until done and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

This recipe makes one loaf or six large muffins.