BANANA BARS WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
Moist, rich banana bars with a truly
delicious cream cheese frosting – just like the real thing! I almost always have a crate of bananas at home because we like to feed the birds and the Jeoffroy Tamarin monkeys and the squirrels, prehistoric-looking lizards, olingoes and opossums. Lately the pair of monkeys that visit us have two babies. The other day the little ones were climbing off the mommy monkey and exploring on the big branches of the tree across from our driveway. They are incredibly cute and I love watching them. The parents know us well and trust us around their babies; very sweet. It's natural with all that fruit around, I get the urge to bake with it. Bananas are not very low in carbs, so unless one bakes with them and spreads the carbs more kindly, they tend to be a bit too high in carbs for those with blood sugar issues. For those who must be lower in carbs, it's possible to freeze bananas in slices and then just grab a slice or two for that sweetness after dinner; 1 g of carbs per serving. Also another treat is to sweeten peanut butter, place some in a mini muffin pan, a slice of banana and some more peanut butter; freeze. Place pan in warm water to loosen the treats. If you like chocolate, dip in molten dark chocolate and freeze. Another idea is to bake with banana and just have one or two servings. This banana bar recipe is a very nice treat and the cream cheese frosting is lovely.
Jesus Lizard: * They are part of the Iguana Family.
* They have the nickname “Jesus Christ Lizard” because when fleeing from
a predator, they are very fast and can even run on top of the water.* Basilisks actually have large hind feet with flaps of skin between each toe. The fact that they move quickly across the water, aided by their web-like feet, gives them the appearance of “walking on water”.
* Smaller basilisks can run about 10-20 meters on the water without sinking. Young basilisks can usually run farther than older ones.
* Like most reptiles, basilisks are active during the day.
Olingo
Opossum
Despite their rat-like appearance, opossums are not
related to rats at all. Opossums
are marsupials, or pouched mammals. Marsupials carry young in a
pouch on the abdomen of the female. Relatives include the koala
and kangaroo. The opossum holds the distinction of being North
America’s only marsupial! They are mostly nocturnal as are the olingoes.
Back to the recipe:
3 eggs
1 cup mashed banana (250
mL)
Liquid sweetener to equal 1 cup sugar (250 mL)
1/4 cup allulose (60 mL)
1/3 cup
olive oil (75 mL)
1/2 tsp
vanilla extract (2 mL)
1 3/4 cups Gluten-Free Bake Mix 2 (425 mL)
1 tsp baking powder
(5 mL)
1/2 tsp
baking soda (2 mL)
1/2 tsp
cinnamon (2 mL)
1/4 tsp salt (1 mL)
Cream Cheese
Frosting:
8 oz regular cream cheese
(250 g)
6 tbsp butter, softened (90
mL)
Liquid sweetener to equal 1/2
cup sugar (125 mL)
6 tbsp heavy cream (90 mL)
1/4 cup allulose (60 mL)
Preheat
oven to 350°F
(180°C).
In food processor, process eggs, banana, liquid
sweetener, allulose, olive oil and vanilla
extract. In medium bowl, combine Gluten-Free Bake Mix 2, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
Add dry ingredients to egg mixture and process 1
minute. Pour batter into 7 x 11-inch glass baking dish, sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Spread batter evenly. Bake 25 to 30
minutes, or until evenly brown on top and knife inserted comes out clean. Spread with Cream Cheese Frosting when cool.
Cream Cheese
Frosting: In food processor, process cream cheese. Add butter; process. Add liquid sweetener, cream and allulose; process.
Yield: 24 servings
1 bar/with
frosting
71.7/140.5
calories
1.8/2.9
g protein
5.5/12.5
g fat
3.5/3.9
g carbs