Banana Bars with Melt-in-your-Mouth Frosting

A couple days ago, I had a craving for banana bars. Every recipe I found was full of sugar so I did a little adapting and came up with a great recipe for dense banana bars.

Start by blending your softened butter with a cup of applesauce.

I used natural applesauce so it was about 100 calories per cup. 

 

Next, mix in your sugar, vanilla, sour cream, baking soda, and baking powder.

Don't worry if it bubbles a bit, that's just the baking soda mixing with the fruit.

After that, mix in the egg and mashed bananas. 2 large ones, or 3 medium ones should be about right. 

Lastly, mix in your 2 cups of flour and spread evenly into a jellyroll pan.

Bake for 25 minutes and 350 degrees. When they're still warm cover with the frosting. 

Enjoy your delicious banana bars :)


Banana Bars

1/4 c. softened butter
1 c. applesauce
1/3 c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 egg
1 c. mashed banana
1/4 c. sour cream
2 c. flour

Preheat the oven to 350 and grease your 15x10 jellyroll pan. Blend softened butter and applesauce. Mix in the sugar, sour cream, vanilla, baking powder, soda, and salt, scraping down the sides. Next, blend the egg and bananas into the batter. Mix in the flour one cup at a time and pour the batter into the greased jellyroll pan. Bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.


Melt-in-your-Mouth Frosting

1/4 c. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
3 tbsp. milk (almond milk works well too)
2 c. powdered sugar

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan. Bring it to a boil over medium heat and leave on the burner until it turns to a nice brown color and starts to smell really nice. There will be little flecks of brown in it and that is the stage you should remove it from the burner and start mixing in the other ingredients. Whisk in the vanilla and milk. Whisk the sugar in cup by cup. Immediately pour the frosting on the bars and spread out evenly.

Winter Party Ideas

I'm not sure how the rest of you feel, but this winter (specifically February) seems to be d.r.a.g.g.i.n.g. on.

How fun would it be to pass the time with a party devoted to winter activities and fun foods?

The ideas below will help you create your own winter party with friends:

The Comfort Food:



Mini Grilled Cheese Sandwiches



Mini Spinach Dip Bread Bowls



Mac and Cheese Bites



Drinks:



Coffee or Hot Chocolate with a Donut Side



Hot Chocolate Bar Mix Ins



Strawberry Champagne Punch

Activities:



Make a snowman or three :)  (no source found)



Grab those Snowshoes!


Let me tell you- I am ready for a winter party like this!! :)

Healthy Eating in 2013 - Post 2

A couple weeks ago I posted about eating healthier this year by adding new products into your kitchen. 

This second post is about products I like to substitute in cooking and preparing meals. 

The first two products are grains. I am sure you have heard of the new gluten-free products and diets that have come out in the last few years and maybe you've been wondering if these diets have any merit.