Banana Bars

A summer day.

This is the lake I used to walk around almost every day

where I used to live.

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I thought I would be walking inside today because I thought the temperature would be near zero but when I looked at the thermometer I was pleasantly surprised to see it was a warm 21 degrees.  Relatively warm anyway. : )  It was windy and snowing too but I bundled up and had a very nice walk.

Walked around the industrial park, around town and by one of the cemeteries.  There was nobody else out and very few cars.  The crows were out though.  When I walked down by the barn where I see the horses, I saw them in the barn and when I said good morning to them, they neighed back, but stayed in the barn.

I had Ken take this picture of me out the front window when I got back home.  Wanted to show you how bundled up I am when I walk.  I must weigh an extra 10 pounds!!  : )

I walked 6.3 miles.

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 It's been snowing pretty much all day and at times it came down looking like a blizzard.  Took this out the dining room window.  The temperature has been falling and right now as I type this it is 8 degrees.  I have a feeling that I won't be walking outside tomorrow.

A nice day to enjoy being at home in a nice warm cozy house.

There were a couple of bananas sitting on the counter that were too ripe to eat.  Thought about making banana bread but didn't feel like making it and besides I'm not really that crazy about banana bread.   Looked around on line for banana cookies.  I didn't find cookies, but did find Banana Bars and so I made them and boy they were really good.

Here they are in the pan done baking, cooled and iced.

Two sit on a plate which will be my snack tonight instead of ice cream.  

I already ate one.  I had to make sure they were good enough to eat. : )

Banana Bars

Ingredients 

BARS

1 cup sugar

1 cup mashed bananas (2 medium)

1/3 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

1 cup flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

3 ounces cream cheese, softened

1/3 cup butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups powdered sugar

BARS

1.  Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease 13 x 9 x 2 inch pan.  Mix sugar, bananas, oil, and eggs. Stir in flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.  Spread in pan.

2.  Bake 25 to 300  minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. (mine were done in 22 minutes.)  Cool completely about 1 hour.

FROSTING

Mix cream cheese, butter and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until blended.  Gradually beat in powdered sugar until smooth and spreadable.

Spread cooled bars with the frosting.  Cut into 6 rows by 4 rows.

Store covered in refrigerator.

You can freeze the bars up to 2 months.

I went through my recipes today and  organized them.  I got plastic covers and put the recipes in them and then in a big binder.  The plastic will keep them clean.  I came across recipes that I thought I had lost and it was so nice finding them again.  I had to laugh at all the cake and goodie recipes I have.  

I didn't get finished, too many to do in one day but I am pleased with the progress I've made. 

Well, that's it for today.  I'll get a little reading done and then when I watch television I'll do some knitting.

A happy day to you all.
happyone : )

Spread love everywhere you go.

Let no one every come to you without

leaving happier.

~ Mother Teresa