Welcome to the first installment of “Dio Maine Cooks: Recipes and Stories from Vintage Church Cookbooks.”
Created as a way to fundraise and/or mark an anniversary, spiral-bound church cookbooks capture a moment in time, whether that moment is in the 1940s or the 1980s. The recipes they contain are tried and true favorites that have graced tables at countless Maine Episcopal church coffee hours, potlucks and progressive dinners. When the Communications Department discovered several of these cookbooks in the Diocese of Maine archives, we were inspired to share their recipes and stories.
“Offerings,” from St. George’s Episcopal Church. in York Harbor, was published in 1986 to mark the church’s 350th anniversary. Archdeacon Aaron Perkins remembers many of the recipe contributors, including the Rev. Bette Pollock, who served as associate rector of St. George’s for six years. Bette, who died in 2014, was also president of the Standing Committee and presided over the diocesan convention where the Rev. Chilton Knudsen was elected eighth bishop of Maine. “Bette was beloved in the St. George’s Community,” says Aaron. With just one banana, her Banana Nut Bread is less “banana-y” than others, but the fresh orange juice and vanilla add bright flavor notes, and we loved the tender crumb. We used almonds for the nuts, but walnuts or pecans would work beautifully as well.
Banana Nut Bread
By Bette Pollock
Adapted slightly from “Offerings” by St. George’s Episcopal Church, York Harbor, ME
2 cups flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup sugar
1/4 teas. salt
1/2 cup chopped nuts
Juice of 1 orange, or 1/2 cup orange juice
hot water
1 egg
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 ripe banana
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Whisk together dry ingredients.
Mix orange juice and hot water to make 1 cup liquid.
Add to flour mixture along with egg, oil, and vanilla. Stir to combine
Mash banana and add.
Pour batter into 1 large or 2 small loaf pans and bake for 50 minutes (smaller pans may take less time).
Cool in pan for 30 minutes; turn out onto cooling rack to cool completely.
Do you have a Maine Episcopal church cookbook you’d like to donate to the archives? Email us here!