Happy Endings

The other morning, I woke up and ended up sending my husband to work without any sweets. It's not that he needs them ... more that it's a nice thing to have when starting out a work week. So after sending him on his way with apologies, I looked around and my gaze landed on a couple of bananas that really wanted to be used. A little plotting and digging through the pantry and a recipe was born minutes later.

This recipe is actually fairly healthy for a dessert and can even stand in as a frantic breakfast if the need arises. Packed with fruit, some whole grains and nuts, it provides a lot of nutrition for a dessert.

As always, I encourage you to share your recipe ideas and comments. You can always post comments in the discussion board using the forms provided in the articles or email me directly at . Enjoy!

Busy Banana Bars

  • 1 c. all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
  • 1/2 c. oatmeal
  • 1/8 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 c. canola oil
  • 1 c. packed brown sugar
  • 2 large bananas, peeled and mashed
  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 c. chopped walnuts
  • 1/2 c. chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.

In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the flours, oatmeal and salt. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the canola oil, brown sugar, bananas, extract and egg. Beat until well blended. Add the flour mixture and mix until a batter forms.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Sprinkle with the walnuts and chocolate chips.

Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes. Cool completely before cutting into bars.

  • Yields: 3 dozen
  • Preparation Time: 45 minutes