04-09-08

It never fails when I buy bananas that there are 1-2 that we just don't eat before they turn black and yucky. The customary remedy for this problem is to make a pan of banana bread, but I will admit that I have only found one recipe for banana bread over the years that I really love. That's why I was thrilled to find this recipe several years ago. It's a perfect way to use up those black bananas on your counter top in a way that is different from a traditional banana bread. The recipe is called "Marbled Banana Bars" but in texture it's closer to a moist coffee cake than a bar. I like to add chocolate chips to the chocolate batter--no set amount, just toss in whatever looks like enough to you. I especially like to use mini-chips if I have them.

Marbled Banana Bars

Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter -- softened
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas -- (3-4)
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
Powdered sugar -- if desired

Instructions:

Heat oven to 350°F. Combine sugar and margarine in large mixer bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy (1 to 2 minutes). Add bananas, egg and vanilla; continue beating, scraping bowl often, until well mixed (1 to 2 minutes). Add flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; reduce speed to low. Beat, scraping bowl often, until well mixed (1 to 2 minutes).

Drop 1 1/2 cups batter by spoonfuls into greased 13x9-inch baking pan. To remaining batter in bowl, add cocoa; beat on low speed until well mixed (30 seconds). *Add chocolate chips if using.

Drop spoonfuls of chocolate batter in pan over banana batter. Swirl chocolate batter through banana batter using knife. (DO NOT OVER-SWIRL.) Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely.

Just before serving, sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cut into bars.

Yield: 36 bars

Nutrition Facts (1 bar)

Calories: 80 Fat: 3 g Cholesterol: 5 mg Sodium: 105 mg Carbohydrates: 12 g Dietary Fiber: 1 g Protein: 1 g

I love this cake! It's quick, easy and makes a whole 13x9 pan so it's a good thing to make if you need to take a treat to a meeting or play date. That is, if you can keep from eating it all before you get it out of the house!

And because every blog post needs a photo, here is a picture of the cute wreath I bought at the thrift last week for $3.83. I was looking for something to spruce up the outside of my house until it gets warm enough for flowers, and this pink faux berry wreath is just the ticket!