They say you should do things that bring you joy on a full moon. Today I dug out our old banana bread recipe. It's a family favorite and a warm treat while we wait for Hurricane Idalia's arrival.
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Full moon rituals have become a positive and enriching addition to my life. It's my metaphorical reset button, a day/s in which I intentionally let go of negative energies and focus on creating positive ones. With each cycle, I edit and personalize my ritual. The key components of a ritual are:
Cleanse your space both physically and spiritually
Release energy that does not serve you
Invite new positive energy into your space
Set intentions for the next cycle
In this post, I want to focus on how we invite positive energy into your space. Here are some ideas:
Dance to music that brings you joy
Sing songs tied to positive memories
Recall happy memories and share them with your loved ones
Do an activity that makes you and/or your family laugh
Bake or cook foods that bring you joy
Here in Central Florida, we are in the midst of preparing for a hurricane. It got me thinking "What can I do in preparation for a storm that brings me joy?" The answer: bake the bananas that are about to go bad. It will be a welcomed treat while we hunker down to receive the storm and it is tied to a happy memory.
~ The Memory ~
At the start of my freshman year of high school, my classmates and I were tasked to teach our classmates something we did well. A classmate of mine brought his mother's banana bread recipe and taught us how to make it. That day we had a blast baking; we made a mess, the class got to know each other a little better, and it set the tone for some of the best years of my life. We were each given a copy of the recipe to take home and I still have it to this day.
The recipe isn't all that remarkable, but every time I use it it reminds me of that day. This recipe is beyond basic. No artificial flavoring and no exotic ingredients, making it ideal to customize by adding your own personal touch such as cinnamon, almond extract, or chocolate chips.
~ Recipe ~
Ingredients
1 c. of sugar
1/3 c. of margarine or butter, softened
2 eggs
1-1/2 c. of mashed ripe bananas (3 to 4 bananas)
1/3 c. water
1-2/3 c. of all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp of baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
***Optional ingredients to customize the recipe:
1/2 tsp of Almond extract (my favorite add-on)
1/2 tsp of Vanilla extract
1 tsp of ground cinnamon
1/2 c. of walnuts
1/2 c. of chocolate chips (fan favorite)
Directions
Heat oven to 350 F
Line a loaf pan with parchment paper
Mix softened butter and sugar in a bowl
Stir in eggs until well blended (make sure the butter is at room temp. it will cook the eggs if it's too hot)
Mash bananas, mix with water, and add it to the bowl
Stir in the remaining ingredients (sifting is recommended)
Add optional ingredients
Bake for 45 - 50 mins (To check for doneness, insert a knife. It should come out clean when done)
Remove the loaf from the pan and cool for five minutes before enjoying
The photo above shows the original recipe my classmate gave me back in 2001. It is an absolute miracle it has stayed with me throughout all these years. In part, I wrote this piece to preserve the recipe in the event I inevitably lose it. If you want to save this for a later date, don't forget to pin it :)
Happy Full Moon,
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~ Pin for Later ~
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