The Parable of the Banana Bread by Patty Buechler A parable is a short story that is used to teach a lesson and open our eyes to deeper insights. Modern day parables have this same foundational idea. They are stories with meaning that are easy to understand. For the past 30 years we have been family campers at Outlaw Ranch family camp each summer. It’s our home sweet home away from home. At family camp each year we slow down and experience the gifts of each day with family and friends who have become family. Meaningful moments and traditions happen in this place. When Matt, the Director of Outlaw Ranch, called me and asked if I would be interested in helping the kitchen staff this summer I said, “Yes”. I immediately packed my bags in preparation to head off to camp. I have always been an early packer. At our training meeting, Matt talked about the importance of the dining hall. He said, “It is a critical point of the camp experience. Our families need to be cared for, listened to and fed.” Food and relationships around the table are so important. Food feels like home. When I arrived, I was asked to help with the baking. This is a high calling. You see, I have always appreciated and watched with admiration at the bakers at camp through the years. I wondered if I was qualified for such a prestigious role. As a baker in training, I learned the tools of the trade, the importance of safety precautions in the kitchen, and the whereabouts of recipes and supplies. I love the baking corner with the big bins of flour, sugar, oats, and more importantly, the massive mixer. After a quick lesson in how that big machine operates, the baking corner was officially my new workspace. At our meeting around the table, I was assigned the task of making banana bread. I can bake pies, cookies and I have mastered the art of Gram’s Kringles. However, in all my years I have never made a successful loaf of banana bread. Nick, my son-inlaw, is the Master of the banana bread in our family. My attempts always sink in the middle and end up with a terrible texture. I typically blame humidity and keep a safe distance from baking banana bread. Without the excuse of humidity in the beautiful Black Hills and since I tell my kids, “Confidence is Key”, I fearlessly said yes to the banana bread challenge.
FIRE STARTERS
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