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There are a kajillion opportunities for the one shot deals, like toy drives or handing over money to a charity. But I am wondering about the regular opportunities like serving weekly or monthly in a food pantry or soup kitchen, or retirement homes and hospitals. Our local schools look for tutors to help struggling  readers once a week and the organization that delivers meals to the home-bound, regularly advertises for drivers.

A few years ago I started volunteering at our community’s food pantry and over the years, I moved into a position where I can greet the clients, hear their stories and determine if our agency is able to help with any of their financial needs. When I started doing this, I knew I would be able to help them but had no idea what they would teach me.

Volunteering in this capacity routinely shows me that my problems could always be worse, especially in comparison to the people I meet. When I meet with those in need, it serves as my regular reminder to keep my own problems in perspective. I have watched younger adults with terminal illnesses unable to work and older adults being abandoned by their family and unable to provide for themselves. I’ve watched many adults make bad choices and not know a way out of their cycle nor how to teach their own children anything different. I have watched well-intentioned people at the worst points of their life having to humble themselves and ask for food or financial assistance. Many are ashamed and embarrassed.

When my shift is over, my blessings are more obvious to me. They were there before, I just didn’t see them as easily. What about you? Do you volunteer regularly or feel compelled to? If you volunteer, what unintended benefits have you received as a result?

Toward the end of this recipe, I will fill you in on my mistake so you can guard against it in your own kitchen. To my faithful readers who checked back on Sunday for the recipe, my apologies, I hope you understand!

Banana Coconut Bread

Ingredients:

2 eggs                                                1/2 cup flaked coconut

1 cup white sugar                             1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 cup melted butter                        1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup mashed bananas                     1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon almond extract          1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (I tried cashews and they worked well)

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour             1/2 cup chopped maraschino cherries

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Combine flour, flaked coconut, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nuts, and cherries.
3. In a separate bowl, beat eggs until light and somewhat fluffy. Add sugar and melted butter and beat well. Stir in almond extract and mashed bananas.
4. Add flour mixture, stirring just enough to combine. Pour into greased loaf pan.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Let it stand for 10 minutes and remove from the pan.

The problem came about 45 minutes into baking. The bread smelled delicious, the top was golden brown and the cake tester came out clean. Or so I thought. I pulled it out of the oven, let it cool slightly, and attempted to remove it from the pan. Not only was it sticking to the bottom, despite my greasing the pan, I also noticed the middle was not firm after all. Frustrated, I put it back in the oven for the remaining 15 minutes, hoping the top would not turn a brownish black as opposed to the beautiful brown that it was at that moment.

15 minutes later it was definitely done. After letting it cool for 10 minutes, again, it still did not want to release from the pan. So, out came a large spatula and I helped it along. The results are not pretty. This would be why you see a picture of ripe bananas as opposed to the Banana Coconut Bread turned Banana Coconut Crumble.

Please tell me I am not the only one to have a fiasco like this in the kitchen! I consider myself a good cook and I had every indication that the bread was done the first time out of the oven.  At least it still tastes great!

#9 Sally at Sallyhanan’s blog will receive What Southern Women Know about Faith by Rhonda Rich

#4 Beth at Tea and Thee will receive Spilt Milk by Linda Vujnov

#2 Mindy will receive Eight Little Faces by Kate Gosselin.

The winners will be receiving an email with information on how to claim their prize.

If you are a mom, I hope you had a great Mother’s Day. This week, when you begin to feel tired or frustrated from your responsibilities, remember how important you are to your children each and every day. They can’t always express it, so this is your reminder that you are.

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