Returning ingredients, a chef drops bananas, needing bread (8,3,4)
I believe the answer is:
strapped for cash
'needing bread' is the definition.
('bread' is a slang term for money)
'returning ingredients a chef drops bananas' is the wordplay.
'returning' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'ingredients' becomes 'parts' (**).
'bananas' indicates an anagram (informal term for mad).
'parts' written backwards gives 'strap'.
'a'+'chef'+'drops'='achefdrops'
'achefdrops' with letters rearranged gives 'pedforcash'.
'strap'+'pedforcash'='STRAPPED FOR CASH'
(Other definitions for strapped for cash that I've seen before include "not rolling in it" , "as an S & M prostitute?" , "needing money" , "Hard up" , "very short of money?" .)