banana bars

round two of occupational therapy month treats today. this week i decided to utilize the concoctions in my own recipe box instead of going straight to the 'net. i wanted a fairly simple recipe this week, particularly one that didn't require me to go to the grocery store. grandma bender's banana bars were the obvious answer. always a crowd pleaser and a simple procedure. 

except - i messed up. dang.

the recipe calls for a caramel-like icing to smother these bars. after making the icing and subsequently smothering, i remembered that while writing this recipe down my grandma said that she never uses the caramel stuff. instead she makes a simple sugar + milk combination that is just the right amount of sweet. crap. my finished product turned out fine, but i can hardly call them grandma bender's. sigh.

 ready to be transformed

 mixed ingredients

 waiting batter

 cooling cake

 boiling icing

frosted banana bars

1/2 cup butter softened

2 cups sugar

3 eggs

1 1/2 cup mashed, ripe bananas [3]

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

pinch of salt

cream butter and sugar. beat in eggs, bananas and vanilla. combine the flour, baking soda and salt. add to creamed mixture and mix.

grease 8x10 baking pan. bake at 350 degrees for twenty-five to thirty minutes.

recipe icing

6 tablespoons butter

6 tablespoons brown sugar

6 tablespoons milk

3 cups powdered sugar

bring butter, brown sugar and milk to a boil. remove from heat and add powdered sugar. beat until smooth.

grandma bender's icing

powdered sugar

splash of milk

1 teaspoon of vanilla

mix ingredients and add milk until correct consistency.