Shannon here: I’m excited about today’s guest. As an acquisitions editor, I get to make author’s dreams come true or rip the rug out from under them. I hate saying no. In Kimberly’s case, I said no. Not because it wasn’t a good story. But because it wasn’t ready. Because it was a great story, I gave her some advice on making it a great read. She thanked me and entered the book in a contest where she got more feedback.
Two years later, that book is published. Yay!!! So today, Kimberly Banet shares a yummy-sounding recipe for her grandmother’s Hummingbird Cake, plus a chance to win a print copy of her debut Contemporary Fiction title, Just Another Home. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing. Deadline July 20th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Kimberly:
The Love of Cooking
First of all, I don’t love cooking. I consider myself a master of carry-out menus. My grandma, however, loved to cook. When I was growing up during the 1970’s and 80’s, it was a tradition to visit Grandma’s house almost every Sunday. She would cook a big dinner between morning church and evening church – fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, and all the fixings. And she would also make two desserts.
My grandma was known for her cooking. She cooked for the only restaurant in her little town, and she did that for many years. But little did I realize until I was older, the biggest fan of her food was her husband, my Papa.
Whenever we dropped in on them during the week, Grandma and Papa still had a home cooked meal, although it wasn’t quite as elaborate as her Sunday dinners. One thing I noticed, though, is she had two desserts to choose from, even on weeknights. Not just once in a while. Always.
I asked Grandma once why she had two desserts every night, and she said that Papa loved her desserts so much, he liked to have two to choose from, and she loved making them for him. Some of his favorites were coconut pie, raisin pie, and strawberry pie. My personal favorite was her version of the Hummingbird Cake.
Grandma Bernice’s Hummingbird Cake
Ingredients
1 cup vegetable oil
21/4 cups flour
11/4 cups white sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
3 eggs beaten
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup mashed ripened bananas
3 oz canned crushed pineapple plus 4 tbsp of the juice from the can
Frosting
¾ cup cream cheese
4 tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven 350F
- Grease three 9 x 13-inch layer cake pans
- Stir flour, sugar, cinnamon, and baking soda in a large bowl. Add the beaten eggs, oil, pecans, bananas, pineapple with the juice and stir until well mixed.
- Divide the batter among the pans spreading evenly
- Bake in preheated oven for about 25 minutes
- Remove and let cool down
- Prepare the frosting by beating together cream cheese, butter, and vanilla, then add the sugar
- Spread half the frosting between layers, then spread the remaining over the cake. Decorate with pecans pieces if desired.
Question for Readers: What’s your favorite recipe that’s been handed down from a previous generation?
About Kimberly: Kimberly Banet holds a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University. She started writing in 2020, and in 2023 Just Another Home was a Genesis Finalist. Kimberly and her husband Jeff have been married more than thirty-six years and have two grown children, Nicole and Brandon. They live in beautiful Starlight, Indiana with their two dogs, Daisy and Winnie. Learn more & connect:
Kimberly’s Website Kimberly’s Facebook
Kimberly’s Instagram Kimberly’s Twitter
About the book – Just Another Home:
Sixteen-year-old Sam Keller has lived in foster homes and group homes most of his life and has long ago given up on the dream of a stable, forever family. Adults have always let him down, and so has God, and he has no use for either.
John and Abbie Grayson are a respected, successful couple in their fifties with two grown children. They live in their dream home in Franklin, TN, an idyllic suburb of Nashville, where John is a successful college basketball coach, and Abbie works part-time at their local church. But Abbie feels something is missing from her life and convinces John they should become foster parents.
Their worlds collide when Sam is placed in the Grayson home for a few days. Days turn into months, and Sam thrives with the Graysons and allows himself to dream of a forever family, while John and Abbie realize the teen has found his way into their hearts.
As the Graysons begin to investigate the possibility of adopting Sam, an evil agenda emerges, and a secret past is revealed. Nothing short of a miracle can save Sam from a harrowing ordeal and keep the Grayson family together.
Can’t wait for the drawing? Worried you won’t win? Get your copy now!
Come back July 12th for Lynn U. Watson!
Great interview. Author Kimberly is a wonderful writer! And her grandmother’s recipe sounds delicious!
My grandma cooked professionally too, at the VA hospital. She made wonderful desserts, especially cherry pie. But my favorite memories are savory. Her chicken and noodles were legendary. The one that was passed down is her Mac-n-cheese casserole. It was special because it included ground beef and stewed tomatoes along with longhorn cheese. This was a staple in my house for many years! Hearty, delicious comfort food.
Hummingbird cake is a favorite of many, but I’ve never made one – though I do like it. Curious about the raisin pie. Never heard of that. Since I’m always making food for gatherings and people asked about the recipes, I pubbed a cookbook called “Let’s Share a Meal.” It’s available on Amazon and includes many of my favorite recipes. That’s a cookbook I keep on my bookshelf and use weekly.
I don’t have a favorite recipe. It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
Kim, first of all, I loved Just Another Home, and am so proud of you! I don’t know that I have a “favorite” recipe that has been handed down. But, the dumplings that Grandma and my mother made, are top of my list for favorite food! There were several dishes that Grandma made, and then my mother made, and now I try to make them. I will never be able to make the pies, with the mile-high meringue, that Grandma made!
no fav
My mom’s Napoleon cake (too complicated for me lol but so delicious!).
Thank you for the recipe!
Kimberly’s post brought back memories of my grandmother’s yummy fried green tomatoes and butterscotch pie. My attempts with the tomatoes never taste like hers.
my granny Josie’s chicken and dumplings is my favorite recipe with extra black pepper
Gramma’s Date Pudding. Wonderful. Not hard to make, but we only got it on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
I have a winner! Jennifer Hibdon won the drawing. I appreciate Kimberly for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.