it isn't dead, it's just resting

Chivalry, that is.

I definitely don't want to get into any sort of conversation about feminism (and people who know me might suggest that I usually don't want to get into any sort of conversation at all...), though I might be dancing around the topic a bit in this post. You've been warned.

My current job has quite a few physical requirements. Some days I lug around 50-pound bags of flour and sugar or carry 30-pound boxes back and forth across the facility. That said, I've been very pleasantly surprised that several of my fellow employees are always offering to help. On one hand, I'm delighted that these guys are willing to do the heavy lifting for me, but on the other hand, I stubbornly feel like since I can do these tasks (albeit slowly and with little to no grace), I should do them, tiny female frame or not.

What's a pretty petite lady to do? It depends, though it seems like I refuse the assistance more often than not. Either way, I appreciate their chivalry, and to thank a few of the guys who've been particularly kind, I decided to bake some banana bread for them. They've paused their jobs to help me with mine, so it's really the least I could do. I'd like to think that with this gift, those debts are currently paid in full.

Coconut Crumb Banana Bread
(printable recipe)
Makes 1 9x5-inch loaf or 12 mini loaves
Ingredients:

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 2 overripe bananas, mashed
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Crumb Topping:

• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup decimated crunch donuts (6 small donuts should be plenty)
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• Pinch of salt

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large bowl, using paddle attachment of a stand mixer or your hand mixer, beat together the sugar, butter, and vanilla until light and airy.
Add the egg and beat until smooth and fully incorporated.
Beat in the buttermilk and bananas.
In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon.
Slowly stir the dry ingredients into the wet until all the flour is incorporated.
Spray a 9x5-inch loaf pan with non-stick spray and pour in the batter.
Make the crumb topping by combining the powdered sugar, crumbs, cinnamon, salt, and melted butter with a fork in a small bowl.
Crumble the mixture over the batter in the pan.
Bake 60-65 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.