I hate making returns. There’s almost always some sort of “complication” that makes returning items an absolute nightmare. My solution? Never buy anything ever again. At least that’s the mindset I’m having today.

Some of my favorite memories from working at a grocery store where when customers would try to return items. First of all, returning food to a grocery store is acceptable under very few circumstances. Let’s review them here.

1. If you bought more non-perishable items than you needed and they are sealed, ready to be sold again. Ex. I bought 5 jars of curry paste and I only needed 3, I can return the two un-used since I will not be needing them anymore and they can be resold.
2. If you tried something new, like a sauce, and it was absolutely disgusting and you couldn’t possibly use it in any other way. (ex. a $12 jar of “superfood, organic, sugar-free” BBQ sauce which tastes nothing like BBQ sauce and has no fate other than your trash. A complete waste of money and all-in-all a bad product.
3. If the item is perishable and went bad (through no fault of your own) the next day. Ex. lettuce that wilts the day after you bought it, clearly they did not handle this food well in store or they didn’t take it off the shelves at the appropriate time.

That being said, many people do not follow my made-up rules of return. People will return things claiming that they “went bad” AFTER their 2012 sell by date. I’ve also gotten returns from another store WITH the other grocer’s name on the product. Many a disgusting return of soggy produce that was clearly the result of the customer not using it quickly enough. Almost empty bottles of wine. Returned chicken that is HOT after sitting in the car for an entire day… The list goes on and on.

Oh wait! One more example, bananas that are brown.

These poor consumers. Don’t they know that bananas are one thing that you NEVER have to return?! Once those bananas “go bad”, thank your lucky stars because you now have the makings of a delicious banana bread! Like the one found below…

This bread is only sweetened by your non-returned bananas. I was also able to make it just as yummy using almond pulp from my almond milk, which means I get to repurpose two things. yessssssss.

Turmeric Pecan Banana Bread

4 bananas
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 c. coconut oil
1 1/2 c. almond flour
1/2 c. potato starch
2 tsp. turmeric
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. sea salt

1/4 c. chopped raw pecans

1. Preheat oven to 350 and grease your loaf pan.
2. In a bowl, mash bananas.
3. Add eggs, vanilla, and coconut oil. Mix well.
4. In another bowl mix flour, starch, spices, baking powder, soda, and salt.
5. Combine dry to wet and mix until just combined (don’t over mix).
6. Pour batter into pan and sprinkle pecans on top.
7. Bake for 50-60 mins.