Week #4- Marcus (and the banana bread)

The crummy weather we've been having this spring has been unpleasant for everyone in one way or another.  But the people who probably feel the affects more than most are Chicago's homeless.  Although I couldn't tell you exactly where, I assume most try to seek out some sort of shelter when it's cold and rainy, and therefore on days like today it's a bit harder to meet someone for the Give and Bake Project.  But I didn't get up at 6:00 this morning to bake banana bread for nothing- I'm into this project and for the moment going to adopt the motto of the postal service.  Neither rain nor sleet nor... some other weather condition that I can't remember off the top of my head is going to prevent me from carrying out my mission for the week.

I was determined to find someone in need today, so I started heading toward the Loop where there tends to be the highest concentration of people at 5:00 in the evening.  While passing the Cosi on Wabash and Lake, I noticed a man who looked around the age of 30.  He seemed relatively put together- he had nice enough clothes on, a nice backpack, and just didn't fit the profile of most of the truly homeless people I come across.  Yet he had a cup and was asking people for change.  I see this every now and then- people who really don't seem like they'd be homeless but they are begging people for money.  My immediate reaction is to be a bit judgmental and skeptical, but that's what I'm trying to rid myself of by doing this project.  So before making a decision about this person, I thought it would only be fair to hear his story first.  After all, you would probably have to be in a bit of a dire situation if you are willing to stand on the sidewalk and ask complete strangers for loose change in 40 degrees and rain.

I started off by (politely) getting straight to the point- what was he planning to do with the money he collects?  He said he spends most of the money he collects either on food or train passes to get to and from work.  Well, if he has a job, then why does he need to collect change?  He explained that he has a part-time job right now detailing cars, but he works mostly for tips, and because it's been so rainy, most people haven't exactly been jumping in line to spruce up their cars.  All right, makes sense.

I didn't want to come straight out and ask this guy if he was homeless.  But I was still curious- what would put him in a situation where he has to resort to asking strangers for help?  So I instead asked him if he lived nearby.  He said that for the past three weeks he has been staying at the homeless shelter in Oak Park.  Prior to that, he made some less-than-stellar decisions that resulted in him being out of a home.  He moved in with someone and didn't think to do any research or sign anything.  He paid this person first and last months rent- really everything he had at the moment.  One day he came home to find a pink eviction notice on his door.  It turned out his roommate hadn't been paying the rent at all, but instead had been pocketing his money. 

I eventually introduced myself and learned his name was Marcus.  I told him I didn't have any money for him, but I did have some homemade banana bread.  While Marcus may not have had the typical profile of the people I aim to meet with this project, that doesn't make him any less worthy of empathy.  Who of us hasn't made bad decisions- perhaps even bad roommate decisions?  Marcus recently interviewed for a line cook position with Famous Dave's, and if he gets it, plans to start saving for a studio of his own.  I hope he lands his new gig and that it won't be long before he looks back at this (hopefully short) time in his life as a learning experience and turning point.  We all mistakes- it's what we do next and how we recover that counts the most.



Banana Bread
- 1 1/2 c flour
- 3/4 c sugar
- 1 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 egg whites (or 1/4 c liquid egg whites)
- 2 extremely ripe bananas, mashed
- 1/4 c applesauce

Stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon.  Add egg whites, bananas, and applesauce.  Stir until JUST combined.  Pour into greased loaf pans.  I use 3 mini loaves and bake on 350 for about 20 minutes. 

I tend to over-optimistically grocery shop.  I always buy a ton of fruits and vegetables and then don't eat it all in time.  At least bananas can be salvaged by baking.  But the problem is that baking can kind of negate the good intentions of buying the fruits and veggies in the first place.  As you may have noticed with the ingredients, this recipe is pretty low fat (but not low on yummy-ness) and therefore you get to skip the guilt!  I would not, however, try to take it one step further and substitute Splenda or whole-wheat flour.  Learned that the hard way. 

Another side note- I find this bread to be better after sitting in a Ziploc bag overnight.  But then again I like my baked goods more on the moist side; all a matter of personal preference really.