Banana Nut Bars

Martina's Note:

As requested, a recipe for ripe bananas. This one comes from the May/June issue of Country Woman magazine, by Susan Huckaby. It placed 4th overall.

• Total Time: 37 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 22 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 36 bars

• 1 cup butter or 1 cup margarine , cubed
• ½ cup water
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup mashed ripe banana
• ½ cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup chopped pecans or ½ cup walnuts

Frosting

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese , softened
• ½ cup butter or ½ cup margarine , softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 ½ cups confectioners' sugar

Directions:

1. In a saucepan, bring butter and water to a boil.
2. Remove from heat; set aside.
3. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugars, baking soda, eggs, bananas, buttermilk, and vanilla.
4. Beat until blended.
5. Carefully add butter mixture; mix well.
6. Stir in nuts.
7. Pour into greased 15x10x1 inch baking pan.
8. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
9. Cool on a wire rack.
10. For frosting, in a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy.
11. Beat in vanilla.
12. Gradually add confectioners' sugar.
13. Spread over bars.
14. Store in fridge.