Hawaiian Nut Bread – and changing the world

If you have been reading Southern Plate for any length of time, or have a copy of my third cookbook, Sweetness, this recipe for Hawaiian Nut Bread may be familiar to you. That is because I originally posted it five years ago and told the amazing story of Miss Molcie. But some recipes are worth the extra special treatment and this is definitely one of them so I’m posting it again with photos befitting the splendor of this amazing bread. You can see that original post by clicking here.

Her granddaughter, Amanda, shared:

Molcie Dobbs is a phenomenal woman. As a twenty-two year old my grandmother had moved out of her family home and took a man’s job driving a forklift at TCI, the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company. She put in an application every afternoon until she got the job, of which she knew nothing about.

There she met my grandfather, fell in love, and started the wonderful family I belong to. Her Hawaiian Banana Nut Bread is just like her—an average old-fashioned favorite, a kind that looks just like every other one on the outside. However, once you slice it open and experience it, you notice that there is something distinctly different and special about it, and her.

Thinking about Miss Molcie and her Hawaiian Nut Bread today has me thinking about her indomitable spirit. Nothing held her down, it seemed. When unfavorable circumstances came her way, she pushed up her sleeves and got to work making the situation work out the way she felt it should. When I look around the world today, I see the need for as many of us as possible to follow her lead. It’s hard not to become cynical in today’s world, but if we want that world to improve, we can’t afford to give in to cynicism. We have to go counter to where the circumstances are attempting to lead us. Kind of the wise adult’s version of the “opposite game”.

We need to double down on showing compassion, kindness, understanding, and respect towards others, not just those who line up with our own belief system. We have to stop thinking in terms of “us” versus “them” and realize that we are all here together, focusing more on what we have in common than what divides us.

We have to be good neighbors again. We have to be good people again. We have to smile more and post kindness instead of angry tirades. We have to stop being offended and start building bridges.

Someone has to build the bridges – because bridges are needed to connect people across vast divides. And in the middle, maybe we could hand over a loaf of this delicious Hawaiian Nut Bread and tell them the story of Miss Molcie. I bet they have a similar story in their life to share. And just like that, a connection is formed and humanity rises to the surface. And that is the world that I want to live in so that is the world that I am going to put my efforts into building up today.

To make this amazing Hawaiian Nut Bread, you’ll need: flour, sugar, baking soda and salt, cinnamon, chopped pecans, shredded coconut, eggs, bananas, oil, crushed pineapple, vanilla and a little bit of coconut flavoring or extract.

• In a large bowl, whisk together dry ingredients. 
• In a separate bowl, do the same for the wet ingredients. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir with a spatula or large spoon until just moistened and combined, careful not to overmix. 
• Divide mixture evenly among two well greased pans. If your pans aren’t nonstick you may want to grease and flour them.

Bake at 350 for one hour and fifteen minutes, until lightly browned and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. 

Remove from oven and allow to cool for ten minutes before turning out of the pan to cool completely.   

Best when enjoyed with friends and loved ones 🙂 

Hawaiian Nut Bread

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Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

• 3 cups plain flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teapoon salt
• 1 heaping teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 cup shredded coconut

Wet Ingredients

• 3 whisked eggs
• 2 cups mashed bananas
• 1-1/2 cups vegetable or canola oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 to 2 tsp coconut extract to taste
• 8 oz can crushed pineapple drained

Instructions

• In large bowl, whisk together dry ingredients.
• In separate bowl, whisk together wet ingredients.
• Add wet mixture to dry mixture and stir with a spatula just until moistened.
• Pour into 2 greased and floured 5x9 inch loaf pans.
• Bake at 350 for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Cool in pans on wire rack for 10 minutes.
• Remove from pan to the wire rack and cool completely. Makes 2 loaves.

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Seek Justice, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly. 

From Micah 6:8