Banana Cake Bars!!!

Banana cake bars
These are so good! So moist, the sour cream you can't even taste.

1-1/2 c. sugar
1 c. sour cream
1/2 c. butter, softened
2 eggs
1-3/4 (3 or 4) ripe bananas, mashed
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 c. all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c. chopped walnuts (optional)

Brown Butter Frosting:
1/2 c. butter
4 c. powdered sugar
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 tbsp. milk

1. Heat oven to 375F. Grease and flour 15x10-inch jelly roll pan. For the bars, in a large bowl, beat together sugar, sour cream, butter, and eggs until creamy. Blend in bananas and vanilla extract. Add flour, baking soda, salt, and blend for 1 minute. Stir in walnuts.

2. Spread batter evenly into pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.
3. Meanwhile, for frosting, heat butter in a large saucepan over medium heat until boiling. Let the butter turn a delicate brown and remove from heat immediately.

4. Add powdered sugar, vanilla extract and milk. Whisk together until smooth (it should be thicker than a glaze but thinner than frosting). Using a spatula, spread the brown butter frosting over the warm bars (the frosting will be easier to spread while the bars are still warm).

Yield: 2 dozen large bars
From:

http://lifessimplemeasures.blogspot.com/2012/01/banana-bread-bars-with-brown-butter.html

Lemon Bars!

Lemon Bars

We also use these for our cookie tins! (scroll down on link to see containers)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) and place the oven rack in the center of the oven. Butter, or spray with a non stick vegetable spray, an 8 x 8 inch (20 x 20 cm) pan.

2 cups flour
1 cup butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
Mix thoroughly and press into 9x13 pan ungreased. Bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

Next:
Mix and beat 4 eggs, 2 cups sugar, 6 T. lemon juice and a dash of salt.
Fold in 1/4 cup flour, 1 t. baking powder.
Pour onto hot crust and bake for 25 minutes longer.
Cut squares and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

My Mississippi Mud Brownies!!!!

Mississippi Mud Brownies

4 1-oz. squares unsweetened chocolate( i use 12 T. pd cocoa, and 1/4. oil)
1 C. butter
2 C. sugar
1 C. all-purpose flour
1/8 t. salt
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 C. chopped walnuts or pecans
2 1-oz. squares unsweetened chocolate( 6 T. pd. cocoa)
1/2 C. evaporated milk
1/2 C. butter
1/2 t. vanilla extract
4 1/2 to 5 C. sifted powdered sugar
3 C. miniature marshmallows

Combine 4 sq. or 12 T. chocolate and 1 cup butter in a large saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring until chocolate and butter melt. Remove from heat. Combine 2 cups sugar, flour and salt, add to melted chocolate mixture. Add eggs and pecans, stir until blended. Spoon batter into a lightly greased and floured 13 x 9 x 2-in. pan. Bake at 350°F, 25-30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Frosting:

Combine 2 sq. or 6T. chocolate, milk and ½ cup butter in a heavy saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring often, until chocolate and butter melt. Remove from heat. Transfer to a medium bowl. Stir in vanilla. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating at low speed of an electric mixer until frosting is smooth. Sprinkle marshmallows evenly over warm brownies. Quickly pour frosting over marshmallows, spreading evenly. Let cool, and cut into bars.
about 2 dozen.

1. this is like a texas brownie but without the marshmellows!
2. these went fast at a party we just had adutlts and kids!!