BREAKING NEWS: GOOD PEOPLE DO EXIST.
Last Thursday, apparently I lost my wallet. I did not know I lost my wallet. In fact, if I hadn’t received the email from the police department the following afternoon, I probably would not have noticed until I was late for an important meeting and could not find my wallet anywhere.
But I did not know. So the email was all like, Surprise! We gotz yer wallet! Come an’ get it. Humdiddlydum, Police Guys.
And I was all: ……….Oh.
So after somehow muddling on my boots and feeling pretty nervous, I mucked down to the police station where they had my wallet. It’s actually a simple process–thankfully for my mental well-being–and the first thought I had when I got my wallet and opened it up was, Thank GOD, good people DO exist!
Everything was still in it, exactly as I’d left it. The police had taken out my cash and ID to put in a little plastic baggy ostentatiously labeled “EVIDENCE,” but aside from that, all was well with the world. Or at least with my wallet. I almost kissed the police officer in happiness, but I hurried away before I could give in to the impulse and be arrested for unmeditated assault.
Before I left, I asked where and when they had found it, and the officer told me it had been around one of the streets near Trader Joe’s. Somebody had turned it in about 5 minutes after I passed that spot the night before.
I thought back.
The last place I could remember pulling out my wallet to use was at TJ’s, when I decided to stop by to grab groceries after a nighttime gym run. It was almost closing time, so I was the second-to-last customer in line for the express lane.
It’s moments like these that make me glad I like to interact with strangers, because I remember his face pretty clearly, and I definitely would not have if I’d kept my earbuds in. I had been chatting with the woman in front of me about those snacks they pile up to tempt you in front of the cash registers–you know, the extra-yummy ones they’re hoping you’ll snag up as an impulse buy. She was telling me about how she’d given in many-a-time before and had been…disappointed. We both eyed the chocolate candy bark warily as she finished up her purchase, said goodbye, and left.
Then came the conversation with the cashier. He was a tall, skinny guy around my age who looked cheerful for someone running the closing shift. I told him it had started raining outside and we discussed the pain of traveling through downpours–I was walking home and he was biking all the way back that night. I think we must have chatted for a considerable while as we struggled to cram every last grocery into my bag. As I threw the bag over my shoulder, he added: “I heard you talking about the candy bark earlier. It’s really good. You should get it next time, you know.”
I told him I would, thanked him, said goodbye, and left.
Somewhere along the way, my wallet grew legs, sprang out of my bag, and opened the door to an unexpectedly serendipitous encounter.
I recalled all these events as I walked out of the police station on Friday afternoon, and on a sudden impulse I steered toward Target, which is located across the street from TJ’s. I bought a Thank You card (the sweet older woman who worked at the cashier nearly melted when she heard my story), scribbled a message into it, sealed it up, and brought it over to one of the TJ’s cashiers, where one of the girls I recognized by sight was working. I explained to her what had happened and how I thought my cashier the night before might have returned my wallet–and that even on the off chance he hadn’t, I wanted to know if I could leave a thank you card for him anyway. I showed her my receipt from the night before and the name of the cashier printed at the bottom. Then I grabbed a pack of chocolate candy bark off the shelf as she went to find the manager, and I told them that I wanted to give him the box to go with the card, too.
The two of them standing there–the manager and the cashier–completely supportive and not at all weirded out by what probably seemed like a very strange request: the whole situation felt like a miracle in miniature. It reassured me that human goodness and hope do exist, in tiny nooks and unnoticed crannies. They told me he wasn’t working that day, but that they would set it aside for him and give it to him when he came in. As I thanked them and turned to leave, I think I saw them exchanging two of the most genuine smiles I have seen in a very long time.
I have no way of knowing what anyone else thinks of the whole thing, if they were laughing about it afterward, or even if the anonymous cashier will get the small thank-you. I decided at the last minute, however, to include a postscript in my card with my email address, with a note that he could get in touch in case I’d gotten the wrong person and he wanted to let me know, so I could continue my search.
We feel good about doing good deeds for others–that’s a fact–but it’s not often we are in a position to do a good deed for the do-gooders in this world. Whoever did this small act of kindness for me saved me a world of trouble. More importantly, however, this individual reminded me that my trust in the goodness of people has not been misplaced, and that it should not take a holiday season for us to remember that.
So to the do-gooder still wandering around out there, acknowledged (if I got it right) or unacknowledged (as the case may be): here is the little corner of the web where I say, Thank you!
Thank you for the wallet.
Thank you for the consideration.
And thank you for helping share the breaking news this December: Good people really do exist.
PS So do deceptively ugly-looking caramelized banana upside-down rum cakes, in case you were actually wondering about this recipe. Damn good, rum-soaked, caramelized goodness. That’s all I can say.
Love and gratitude,
Caramelized Banana Upside-Down Rum Cake for #SundaySupper
It's not much of a looker, but everyone who tried this cake swooned over it! With a gooey brown sugar caramelized banana glaze and a warm, rum-soaked banana cake base, this cake tops all! *Note: The following recipe will yield one 9-inch springform cake AND enough batter for 6 muffins. You can also use the leftover batter to make another mini banana cake loaf!
Ingredients
For the caramelized bananas:
- 1/2 cup butter or margarine
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon Kahlua or other rum
- 2 medium bananas, sliced diagonally
For the banana cake [adapted from Something Swanky|http://www.somethingswanky.com/banana-crumble-cake-hope-cake/?utm_source=feedly&utm_reader=feedly&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=banana-crumble-cake-hope-cake]:
- 3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
- 1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups white sugar
- 3 medium ripe bananas (or about 1.5 cups), mashed
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
For the rum cake soak:
- 1/4 cup butter or margarine
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/4 cup Kahlua or other rum
Instructions
For the caramelized bananas:
- In a medium pot, melt butter. Add brown sugar and cinnamon; heat over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil. Turn off heat and stir in Kahlua. Add bananas and mix in until coated.
- Lightly grease a 9-inch springform pan. Fan out soaked banana slices in a spiral, overlapping as necessary to fill all the gaps. Pour remaining sauce carefully over bananas--make sure not to pour too quickly or your bananas will float apart!
For the banana rum cake:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter, cream cheese, and white sugar until fluffy. Mix in mashed bananas.
- Add eggs and vanilla. Stir in until combined.
- Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Mix in until just incorporated--be careful not to overmix!
- Pour 2/3 batter carefully and evenly over the bananas in your 9-inch springform pan, making sure not to disturb the bananas. Reserve remaining batter for muffins or a separate mini loaf (which you can bake at 350 degrees for 15-25 minutes, until toothpick inserted in center comes out mostly clean).
- Bake in preheated oven for 45-60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in center (but not to the bottom) of the cake comes out with moist crumbs clinging it to it.
For the rum cake soak:
- 10 minutes before your cake finishes baking, prepare your rum soak.
- In a medium saucepan, combine butter, water, and sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in rum.
For the assembly:
- Right as your cake comes out of the oven, use a toothpick to poke holes all over the top (which will turn into the bottom once you flip it). Brush the rum sauce all over the cake, getting as much of it to soak into the cake as you can.
- Allow the cake to cool for 10 minutes, then carefully remove your springform pan ring (if your cake is still too hot to remove in one neat piece, let it cool a bit more before removing ring). Carefully flip the cake over onto a large serving platter, so that the banana side faces up. Poke holes all over the sides and top of the cake, then brush with additional rum glaze. Keep at it! Wait for the glaze to soak into the cake before continuing to brush; it takes several coatings to use up all your sauce.
- Serve up and enjoy! Keep remaining cake refrigerated and tightly foiled.
Libations
- Big Easy Milk Punch by The Weekend Gourmet
- Blue Sparkling Star Cocktail by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Boozy Iced Spanish Coffee by Nosh My Way
- Campari Mint Spritzer by eating in instead
- Cranberry Moscow Mule by Ruffles & Truffles
- Creamy, Loaded Eggnog by La Bella Vita Cucina
- Malibu Breeze by Peanut Butter and Peppers
- Merry Berry Spritz by Amee’s Savory Dish
- Minty Lime Rum by A Mama, Baby & Shar-pei in the Kitchen
- Pomegranate Panache by Jane’s Adventures in Dinner
- Rhubarb Fool Cocktail by Food Lust People Love
- Southern Pomegranate Sparkler by Noshing With The Nolands
- Sparkling Pomegranate Berry Punch by Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch
- Vanilla Bailey’s With A Twist by Momma’s Meals
Savory and Sweet Libational Dishes
- Apple Bourbon Pulled Pork Sliders by Curious Cuisiniere
- Beerberry Pancakes by Brunch with Joy
- Beet Relish by What Smells So Good?
- Belgian Beef Stew with Belgian Ale by Cooking On The Ranch
- Brandied Triple Cheese Ball by Magnolia Days
- Champagne Chicken by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Cornish Game Hens with Sausage Red Wine Sauce over Polenta by The Texan New Yorker
- Craft Beer Jelly by Nik Snacks
- Eggnog Dutch Baby Pancakes with Cranberries by The Wimpy Vegetarian
- Hot Buttered Rum Balls by Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen
- Lentil Soup with Wine Braised Shallots by Pancake Warriors
- Red Wine Braised Short Ribs by Cooking Chat
Libational Desserts
- Amaretto Coconut Biscotti with Amaretto Salted Caramel Drizzle by Kudos Kitchen by Renee
- Amaretto Cranberry Swirled Cheesecake by The Life and Loves of Grumpy’s Honeybunch
- Baked Pears with a Warm Tequila-Citrus Espuma by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
- Bourbon Cranberry Compote by Pies and Plots
- Caramelized Banana Upside-Down Rum Cake by Wallflour Girl
- Chocolate Stout Beer Brownies by The Perfect Brownie
- Dumante Frozen Espresso Creams by Seduction in the Kitchen
- Honey Chamomile Hot Toddy Tea Cake by The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
- Kahlua Bundt Cake by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Red Wine Poached Pears with Ricotta and Balsamic Glaze by Crazy Foodie Stunts
- Rum Glazed Cookie Cream Buns by NinjaBaker
- Tiramisu Biscotti by The Redhead Baker
Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board.
Yes, there are definitely good people in this world and so glad you got your wallet back with all the contents of it. Nice cake too!
I’m so, so glad as well, Renee. Wishing you the very best for a lovely Sunday!
Oh, I love this story! There truly are good people out there…we just hear about all the bad ones. And I also love how you paid it forward…no wonder I’m such a fan of yours. You radiate what is wonderful in this world. Your cake is a gem just like you!!! xo
Thank you, Liz! You’re such a radiant presence in my life, I’m constantly awed hearing these lovely words coming from you. Have a wonderful Sunday, dearest friend!!
[…] Caramelized Banana Upside-Down Rum Cake by Wallflour Girl […]
[…] Caramelized Banana Upside-Down Rum Cake by Wallflour Girl […]
[…] Caramelized Banana Upside-Down Rum Cake by Wallflour Girl […]
[…] Caramelized Banana Upside-Down Rum Cake by Wallflour Girl […]
[…] Caramelized Banana Upside-Down Rum Cake by Wallflour Girl […]
[…] Caramelized Banana Upside-Down Rum Cake by Wallflour Girl […]
Oh what a great story!! So happy there are still good people in the world. And when I was reading this I couldn’t help but think … Wouldn’t this be a great meet-cute?? Lol! I hope the cashier gets his thank you!!
hahaha thank you, Zainab dearest <3 you always know what to say to make me laugh. I hope so, too! And hoping the snow-filled Sunday is treating you beautifully!
[…] Caramelized Banana Upside-Down Rum Cake by Wallflour Girl […]
[…] Caramelized Banana Upside-Down Rum Cake by Wallflour Girl […]
What a nice story! And what a nice person you are. Great cake, too, but the story was inspiring. Thanks.
Thank you, John–I’m one lucky gal to run into these wonderful folks.
[…] Caramelized Banana Upside-Down Rum Cake by Wallflour Girl […]
[…] Caramelized Banana Upside-Down Rum Cake by Wallflour Girl […]
This is a mouth orgasm! It looks so delish!!! Wow! Hmmm I do have to go to the store, I know what I am adding to the shopping list 🙂
hahaha that’s one way to describe it, Deanna! Doooooo it! You’ll love it 😉
Yes, good people do exist. To bad we spend a whole lot of energy on all the negative and less time exploring the positive in people.
Your cake is not ugly, it’s beautiful and I want to eat the whole thing.
That means so much, Marlene. I totally agree–the positives get overshadowed far too often. Have a lovely holiday, Marlene!
My mouth is watering thinking of this amazing dessert. Love the banana/rum combo sooooo much!!
Yes yes yes yes, me too, Tara!!
So lucky they had your wallet. Great news! Now let’s celebrate with a slice of this cake!
You know exactly how I work around here, Cindy 😉 celebrate and serve up a slice! Happy holidays!
This cake is major yum! More importantly, I’m glad you found some good people and wanted to say thank you. It’s so important to do that.
I’m a lucky kid. There are some good people out there–have a wonderful week, Laura!!
I love stories like this. I’m so glad it had such a nice outcome, and so glad you shared it with us 🙂
Thank you, Susan!! It warms my heart whenever I know I can share a story like this one. Have a lovely week!
there are just some thing that arent too super pretty but boy do they taste good! 🙂
I love doing stuff like that and how lucky that you got your wallet too! 🙂
Haha, agreed, Alice! I will not underestimate just how lucky I’ve been. Have a warm, lovely week!
Your cake screams with delightful sins, Ala! The photos are fabulously tempting…Glad they are photos and not available for consumption at the moment because you never know when they might disappear! Last and not least, thank you for the reminder that goodness does indeed exist. P.s. You could always go back and kiss that policeman! (Tee hee.)
Aw, I’m glad you think so! Goodness is amazing and it always surprises me when I find it. My policeman was a hefty middle-aged man who looked slightly gruff but was actually quite a patient gem–I think I’d rather have given him a big bear hug as thanks!
You sound like me: easy to talk to and ready to talk to strangers at any moment. So glad you’re wallet was found! And thanks for sharing this cake tooooo!
Nikki, I know we’d totally get along if we ever met in person! Thanks for your kind, lovely words–I’m just happy it all turned out all right! Celebratory cake time…
It’s true! Good people do exist and droolworthy cake does exist, too. Glad you found your wallet and you may kiss the police officer, now. Well, at least take a picture with him. 🙂
Hehe, they had so much security even in the lobby that I bet that would’ve gotten me cuffed. Anyway, he was a big gruff middle-aged man and I would have liked to give him a bear hug for all his trouble. But good people do exist, and yes–so does awesome cake!!
This is the best story Ala! Thanks for sharing such a positive experience…we don’t hear enough of these stories. And I’m sure the extra time you spent getting a thank you card will only serve to keep the goodness going.
And this cake? Oh ma lordie, this is my kind of cake!! It looks SO good.
Aw, absolutely! I’m always so happy to have these stories to share. I bet you must have a bunch as well–happy holidays, Court!!
Such a beautiful story Ala! And so glad someone saved you a whopping pain in the behind issue to sort out! The cake looks so amazing, I’m a fiend for upside down cakes. 🙂
Count me in–I’m a fiend for them, too! Wishing you tons of beautiful stories of your own, Julie–happy holidays!!
What a wonderful story! Keep ‘um coming! And and even more scrumptious cake. Bananas and rum are a fabulous combo!
Ohh, absolutely, Deb! Stories and cake–my favorite combo, have yourself a lovely week!
It’s also karma, Ala. You’re such a wonderful person that the universe saw fit to reward you for your good behaviour. I love hearing stories like this. I know that negativity sells and that’s why the only news we ever get is bad news, but we really need to hear about good deeds. We need to know that there are positive people who want to make the world a better place in whatever way they can. Like how you’re spreading cheer by making this balls to the walls amazing cake! I love the banana and of course, I loooooooooove the rum 🙂
haha I do agree, negativity sells and it’s a crying shame. Guess the best we can do is combat it at a personal level, right? I bet you’re decking out your place and spreading the cheer all the time, whether you know it or not!
[…] Caramelized Banana Upside-Down Rum Cake by Wallflour Girl […]
[…] Caramelized Banana Upside-Down Rum Cake by Wallflour Girl […]
The world does not have enough upside-down cakes, or caramelized things, so I am VERY relieved that you are remedying this 🙂
hehehe can the world EVER have enough? We do what we can 😉
Aaw, yay! I’m so glad you got your wallet back and yes, there are definitely still a lot of good people out there 🙂 Hopefully the person that returned your wallet if it wasn’t the cashier gets your note and a slice of this cake 🙂 It looks incredible!
I know! If only I’d get a message or something letting me know–but I guess I shouldn’t expect that of anyone 🙂 I’m just glad it all worked out, in perfect holiday spirit!
[…] Caramelized Banana Upside-Down Rum Cake by Wallflour Girl […]
How gorgeous!! The flavours look like they really sing too
They’re raising up a choir around here, Sarah! And just in time for the holidays, too 😉 happy holidays to you!
This is the kind of cake where I would have a slice for breakfast, another for lunch, a third for dinner, and one more for a bedtime snack. Happy thoughts… 🙂
Katie Katie Katie! ….I’m going to just pretend I haven’t done all of those things already 🙂 happy new year’s!
[…] Caramelized Banana Upside-Down Rum Cake by Wallflour Girl […]
[…] Caramelized Banana Upside-Down Rum Cake by Wallflour Girl […]
Probably making this cake tonight!
Did you ever hear back from the cashier?
[…] Caramelized Banana Upside-Down Rum Cake by Wallflour Girl […]
[…] Caramelized Banana Upside-Down Rum Cake by Wallflour Girl […]