Banana-Coconut Bread with Lime Glaze

A friend of mine gave me a greeting card a while back during a particularly challenging time in my life with a picture of a frazzled looking girl on the cover. Across the top, in an ironically cheerful font were the words, "Life is just so... daily."

Some days {like the ones I've been having lately}, those words ring so true that, given a different frame of mind, I might consider tattooing this phrase on a body part and making it my motto.

I'm sure you've had the days I'm talking about. No matter how much you get done, you still have a million things to do, each task more daunting that the last. Everyone and their mother needs you to help them with something, but somehow they are nowhere to be found when the tables are turned. If it were humanly possible to run away from yourself, you'd do it.

Nothing in particular is wrong, but things just don't seem to be going right.

You know... "daily".

I do not consider myself a "Negative Nelly", but when I get in a funk it can be so hard not to let myself slide right into Pout-ville and take up residence.

While a little vacation might just do the trick, most of us can't just pack an overnight bag and jet off to Bora Bora. {Sadly.}

Instead, I rolled up my sleeves {proverbial ones of course, it's too flippin' hot for real ones around here} and distracted myself with a baking project.{Because what's one more "thing to do" added onto the list?}

Know what this is? It's a delicious mix of comfort food and tropical vacation all rolled into one: Banana-Coconut Bread with Lime Glaze.

One bite and you're rocking in a hammock with Jimmy Buffet playing in the background. For a split second, you put your problems on pause and trade reality for relaxation.

Ok, so it's not an all expense paid trip to the tropics... but it'll do for now.

So if you're feeling that things are getting a little too "daily" for your taste, change things up immediately and take a bite of sanity... or banana bread. Either way, you'll be happy you did.

Banana-Coconut Bread with Lime Glaze
Adapted from Worth Tasting: A Culinary Tour Through the Architecture of the Palm Beaches

2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup {1/2 stick} butter
2 eggs
3 ripe bananas, mashed
1/4 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons dark rum {Optional, I didn't add this to mine because I drank it all had none}
1/2 cup flaked sweetened coconut + 1 tablespoons
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
1 teapoon lime zest
2-3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray a 5x9 inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer {or with a hand mixer}, cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add in banana, yogurt, and vanilla extract {and rum if using}. Beat until smooth.

Add flour mixture and stir until just absorbed. Gently fold in flaked coconut.

Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Allow bread to cool for about 15-20 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on wire rack.

Mix together confectioners sugar, lime zest, and lime juice in a small bowl until it reaches a pourable consistency. Drizzle over top of slightly warm bread.