Thursday, September 16, 2010

Pilgrim Food: Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Banana Bread

We all have that inner voice that drives us. Whether you are led by your faith in a higher being, your political and philosophical ideals, or the almighty dollar, we are all pulled somewhere. Sometimes that pull leads you on a physical journey to find more understanding about the thing that compels you. I have been on such a physical journey to find enlightenment – to Graceland. Of course, it wasn’t my journey. I was eleven, and I was forced to go on a family vacation.

Yes, I can admit it now – my family was one of the original blue-suede-shoes-set that traveled to the hallowed city of Memphis for the first anniversary of the death of its most famous son, Elvis Presley. I understand that now you can tour the inside of the mansion – see the Jungle Room, the pool, everything. Not then. We waited for over three hours in the hot August sun just to walk around gravestones of the Presley family and then walk back down the driveway.

People were fainting left and right (I’m not sure if it was the heat or they were overcome with grief – I always hoped it was the heat). At eleven years old, I can remember thinking that if this many people were falling over, then why were we still standing in line? But stood in line, we did. I think this was probably my mother’s favorite family vacation of all time.

While we were there, you would think that we could have tried some of the great cuisine of the city, but, no. It was nothing but fast food, although we did get some barbeque – from a chain restaurant. That’s the family I grew up with – not a culinary adventurer in the bunch. Except me.

I’m not sure where I got it, but I have become quite the foodie. I even started a gourmet cooking club a few years ago. I don’t have any formal training, but that hasn’t stopped me from exploring the food that excites me. Of course, all of that is easier when you have a disposable income.

We’ve been hit pretty hard by the economic downturn. It has meant giving up our favorite foodie haunts: cutting edge restaurants, the gourmet food store. Shoot, even a trip to the regular market gets a little hairy from time to time. But I try to live by the old adage: When life hand you lemons, make limoncello. (You can make lemonade if you want - but if things are that bad, I’d rather be liquored up.) That’s where Inexpensive Eating was born.

I really began my blog as a way to fill the hours while my kitchen and bath design business was in the dumps (there are only so many revisions you can make to the same bathroom drawing before you start to go insane). Having no money for exotic (or even non-seasonal) ingredients means that getting creative is the only way I have to cook. Turns out, that it’s a blast! My creativity (and my foodie soul) is re-energized by coming up with original recipes. The fact that other people seem to like them too is just icing on the cake.

In honor of this new pilgrimage that I have begun, I thought I should come up with something that connects the memories of my youth with the path I’m on now. As ashamed as I am to admit it, one of the things I adored from my childhood (and still eat occasionally) is a peanut butter and banana sandwich. And can there be another food that more embodies the Elvis Presley experience? Personally, I can’t think of peanut butter without thinking of chocolate. And chocolate goes great with bananas too!

So as a means of making this flavor combination more appealing to a wider set (at least those who live outside of the rural south), I decided to roll them all together into a dessert. It hits every comfort food button that is installed in my body. It really has become one of my new favorites. I hope it is yours as well.

I also hope that you find the thing that sets you on the path to begin your pilgrimage – even if it does lead you to Graceland (or Dollywood, or the Liberace museum…)

This isn't our pilgrimage, but it sure looks familiar. Thanks to Mona over at Itawamba Connections - it's her traveling grandmother, Beck, standing at the gates of Graceland in the late 70's..  
Recipe: Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Banana Bread

22 comments:

  1. The Banana Bread sounds amazing!!

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  2. Yay Dollywood! I love PB and banana, but adding choco chips, now that's just downright sinful. Yum.

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  3. Its an unbeatable combo, banana, PB and chocolate. Loved the story too! Cheers, Michelle

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  4. Scott - Now this is something I can make here in NH. The kitchen in our summer condo is the size of an efficiency at The Holiday Inn....no, better make that the size of the closet. The pantry has almost nothing in the way of supplies, but I do have ALL the ingredients in your recipe. I love bananas and peanut butter on whole wheat toast. Eat it almost every morning..now add chocolate, Yippeeeee!!!

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  5. Thank you for sharing your life. I look forward to reading more. I will be posting my project food buzz entry tomorrow. Check it out and let me know what you think.
    Ashlee
    www.ashandlewplus2.com

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  6. You have a wonderful way of writing that I really enjoy reading. I look forward to following your meteoric rise on PFB!

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  7. Oh my goodness I SO wish I could eat that! (I'm allergic to bananas) It sounds amazing. What a fantastic recipe. :)

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  8. Hi Scott! Well I love that you made that trip.... because your post made me laugh and smile - I can imagine at age 11, people fainting around you must have been a (weird) sight to behold. Well, at least your mother loved the trip... you know how the saying goes "When mama is happy, everyone is happy".....although it didn't sound like such a happy trip for you.... oh well... toss out the saying and turn up Elvis.... as your recipe looks great! - Have a super day and I hope we both end up in round 2!! - Megan

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  9. Yep, we traveled way off the Las Vegas strip to visit the Liberace museum. It did not disappoint. Another one of our favourite pilgrimages: Wall Drug, North Dakota. Aw yeah.

    Totally putting this recipe in my recipe book for later (or whenever I feel like I need to make an homage to The King).

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  10. This banana bread sounds so good! I've never had banana bread with peanut butter--I'm sure it would be a pleasant surprise to serve to unsuspecting guests! Just like you, I turned out to be the only food lover/cook in the family and everyone wonders where I get it from! I loved the story about Graceland--you have a great writing style.

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  11. I just had peanut butter and banana on a bagel..No shame in a good ole pb&b! This bread sounds like a winner in my book! :) Your story made me think of all the "fun" adventures my dad used to take us on when I was a kid.. gotta love forced family fun haha

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  12. I literally laughed out loud at your limoncello joke, just by the way! Great entry! The recipe sounds delicious,a dn great story! Thumbs up for the Dollywood mention, my family lives right by it(I live in France doing study abroad).

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  13. What a great post! This looks really good! YUM! I just posted a peanut butter chocolate chip cookie recipe, you should check it out..looks like we were on the same wavelength with this ;-)

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  14. Great post. We cook on a permanent budget so we're on the same wave-length I think! It's much more fun isn't it because it forces you to think about how to combine what's in your fridge and your cupboards. Good luck in Project Food Blog. :)

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  15. How can you go wrong with peanut butter, chocolate and bananas?? This bread looks fantastic!

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  16. All the food groups in one dish. Fruit, starch, protein and iron from the chocolate. Fabulous!

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  17. Looks amazing!! I just gave you a vote! You can check out my post here: http://tinyurl.com/2ec2hlq Thanks and Good luck!!

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  18. I'm dying at your Graceland story. What awesome writing! You've got my vote.

    I hope you'll check out my entry too! Good luck!
    http://www.foodbuzz.com/project_food_blog/challenges/1/view/299

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  19. glad to have discovered your blog! i'm not the biggest elvis fan, but i have been to graceland twice!

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  20. I made banana bread the other day, now I'm kicking myself for not adding peanut butter and chocolate chips. Can't wait to see what's next, you've got our vote!

    Lick My Spoon

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  21. Imagine me giving the 11-year-old you a cold glass of water while standing in line. That Elvis "vacation" is the kind you never get over! Glad you're saving on the money for a therapist by working it out on your blog. Which I love, by the way! Best of luck in the competition. I look forward to reading what you cook up for Challenge #2!

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  22. I love your new and improved banana bread, can't wait to try it. You got my vote, and good luck!

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