Banana Oat Bars - Easy and Gluten Free - Cooking With Angie

I do not know how I came about this recipe but when I was flipping through a stack of the single recipes laying in a pile I seen this recipe for Banana oat bars, but there was not a name for this recipe, just the recipe. So, I named it what it seems it should be, Banana oat bars.

And since the doctor told me to drop 20 pounds, again, I figured I need to eat somewhat healthier ...... add "the smushed face here," I decided to try these late last night when I was dying for something sweet. 

I did not have the three regular size bananas called in the recipe BUT I did have two huge bananas and they worked out just fine. 

You`ll need :

3 medium mash bananas (I used two huge bananas)

1/3 cup applesauce (I used my home canned applesauce)

2 cups of oats (I used Quaker quick oats)

1/4 cup of almond milk (I use blue diamond)

1/2 cup raisins (optional, I used them)

1 teaspoon vanilla flavor

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Agave Nectar

How to make :

Preheat over to 350°

Spray a 9 x 11 baking pan with Pam.

In a large bowl add all the ingredients and spread in baking pan.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. (17 minutes was good for me)

Remove and cut into bars.

Over each serving drizzle agave nectar and enjoy!

This is not just gluten free but no sugar added and also vegan!  I must say, its very different and SOOOO good!

I was thinking and some sliced almonds would be nice added too.

By Andria Perry

Photos by Andria Perry

Old fashion Banana Pudding - Cooking With Angie

Banana pudding is one dessert that all Southern woman should know how to make! I learned to make this simple but powerful pudding when I was in my teens.

Over the years I have added my own touch to the recipe, omitting eggs is one, I don`t really need them so to me its wasting to add them. I have also discovered banana flavoring, not necessary but it adds a little punch. Although I made this one with straight vanilla flavor instead of mixing both.

You will need :

2 ripe bananas 

1 small bag of vanilla wafers 

1 1/2 cups of milk

2/3 cups of sugar

2 heaping tablespoons of flour

1 tablespoon vanilla flavor 

Or 1 teaspoon vanilla flavor and 1 teaspoon banana extract

First :

In a medium size bowl later the bottom with vanilla wafers, then top with  sliced banana rings, then add another layer of vanilla wafer and another later of bananas, reserve vanilla wafers for the top. Set this aside.

In a large stainless steel cooking pot add the sugar and flour and the vanilla flavor.

Slowly add a little milk at a time, stirring to make sure the flour does not lump.

Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly so it will not stick to the bottom, as the milk begins to boil it will thicken. Cook till its of medium thickness.

Remove from heat.

Pour the hot pudding over the layered bananas and vanilla wafers.

Top with the reserved vanilla wafers.  (I poured the crumb in also:)

Refrigerate for around and hour. 

I have learned that banana pudding is a welcomed dessert after just about any meal and in the hot summer time it has been known to be a meal all by itself. I have not found a pudding that beats a banana pudding as pleasing a crowd of people.

By Andria Perry

Photo By Andria Perry

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