Chocolate Banana Pancakes

 I adapted this recipe from the our best bites cookbook.  You can see the original here.  I wanted it to be versatile so I could make it sans banana for those sticks in the mud, uh, those who don't want it.  I made plain, chocolate chip, and banana chocolate chip.  Very yummy!

3 cups milk
Juice of one lemon
2 eggs
2 T oil (I use avocado)
2 tsp Vanilla
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
3 tsp Baking soda
3 tsp baking powder
2 cups white flour
1 cup fresh ground whole wheat flour

Add lemon to milk and let sit for a few minutes.   With hand mixer mix in eggs, oil, and vanilla until well blended.   Then add sugar, salt, baking soda and powder,flours.   The batter will rise a bit.  :)

Slice 2-4 ripe bananas and pull out some chocolate chips if desired.  On a hot griddle pour 1/4 cup batter top with desired amount of bananas and chocolate chips.  With a spoon or the measuring cup tap each of the bananas with batter covering to prevent sticking.  When pancake begins to look dry around the edges and bubbly, flip over until it is cooked then remove from griddle.

Top with peanut butter, maple syrup, or both!  I tried mixing them and it didn't look so good, but sure tasted yummy!  That salty peanut butter gives a very yummy boost!

Black Bottom Banana Bars

A fantastic combination of banana bread and chocolate.  Who can beat that?  I have found that the easiest way to mash the bananas is with the beaters as I put them in.  I used to do it with a fork before hand, but I am a lazy cook!   Use the extremely ripe-black on the outside bananas as they give the best flavor.  Another trick is to put the bananas you don't want to throw out into the freezer and defrost them just before using.  Frozen bananas are a great treat anyway, we used them as popcicles growing up.  The easiest way I have found is to take a gallon size zip lock bag, peel the banana and put it in, you can keep adding to it as you have the stray banana that is overripe.  Then make banana bars to your heart's content!   Makes 12


Black Bottom Banana Bars

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1-1/2 cups mashed bananas, about 3 medium
1-1/2 c flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 c cocoa

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar.  Add egg and vanilla; beat until thoroughly combined.  Blend in the bananas.  Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; add to creamed mixture and mix well.  Divide batter in half.  Add cocoa to one half and spread into a greased 9/13 pan.  Spoon remaining batter on top and swirl with a knife.  Bake at 350 for 25 minutes or until the bars test done.

Fruity Breakfast Cookies

I found this recipe on the My Fitness Pal Website, it was quite yummy and low cal too--it made 22 cookies and they came out to 58 cals each.  Mmmmm!     Not bad for a breakfast on the go.

Ingredients:
3 mashed bananas
1/3 cup apple sauce
2 cups uncooked quick-cooking oats
1/4 cup skim milk
1/2 cup raisins
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp Splenda , sugar or other sweetener (I used sugar but only 2 tsps)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients in a bowl really well. Let this mixture stand for at least 5 minutes to let the oats become good and hydrated. Heap the dough by teaspoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes and let cool.  ( I couldn't help it I dove right in!)

Banana Bars with Cream Cheese frosting

This is my most favorite banana dessert.  Soo yummy.  I could eat a whole pan, well I better not...

Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 cup butter or margarine
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (3 medium, I actually used 4 and cut the butter by 1/4)
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda

Frosting
1/4 cup butter softened   (In my laziness I usually use just the 8 oz bar of cream cheese and omit the butter)
4 oz cream cheese, softened
4 cups confectioners'sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar.  Beat in eggs, bananas and vanilla.  (I usually put the whole very ripe bananas in, they mix up just fine.)  Combine the flour, and baking soda; add to creamed mixture and mix well.  Pour into a greased 15x10x1 inch baking pan.  Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until bars test done.  Cool.
For frosting cream better and cream cheese in mixing bowl.  Gradually add confectioners' sugar and vanilla; beat well.  Spread over bars.  Yield 3 dozen.
Note:  to make these gluten free replace flour with 2 1/2 cups gluten free flour mix and add 1 tsp xanthan gum.  Very yummy both ways!