Banana Nut Bread Blondies with Brown Butter Vanilla Frosting

Howdy!  I would say I've been busy, but really, all I've been is sick.  I've called my doctor twice in the past week and a half and have learned that this seemingly never-ending virus is typical of what's going around right now.  Anyway, I am well on the mend now and expect to feel even more improved in the next couple of days.  

I have recently tried a new recipe.  I originally got it by doing a search on the internet, trying to come up with something different to do with my over-ripened bananas.  I found a recipe called "Banana Bread Brownies with Brown Butter Frosting" at this site.  I used their recipe, but called mine "Banana Nut Bread Blondies with Brown Butter Vanilla Frosting" because I didn't want anyone to anticipate there was chocolate involved and then be disappointed to find there is not.  It's all about setting expectations!

Anyway, here's a pic of the final item.  

These are sweet, moist and just downright, sinfully delicious.  I took them to Bender's school and they got high marks from his teachers.  I have decided the vanilla in the frosting really, really compliments the banana flavor very nicely.  

You can view the recipe and some of the other photos by clicking here.  

I also, for the first time ever, made bacon in the oven.  If you've never made bacon in the oven, I have to tell you how incredibly easy it is to make it this way and then clean up afterwards.  Incredibly easy.  Proof:

If you're interested in giving this a try, line a large pan with aluminum foil.  I did one layer length-wise and then a couple of sheets going the other direction.  Lay your bacon out on the foil.  Put into a COLD oven and then turn the oven to 400 degrees.  Set your timer for about 17 minutes.  It'll take about 17-22 minutes for the magic to happen.  There was no splatter.  I'm still in awe.  Too bad I'm going to try to become a vegetarian soon.  

Otherwise, all is quiet on the home front.  Little Dog, Bad Kitties and me... just doing what we do.  Just for fun, because I don't have anything else to talk about, here's some more silly pictures.  

First, here's Bender listening very intently while I talk to him before light's out.  He and I have some very therapeutic conversations sometimes.  He's a great listener.  

Oh, the joys of having a new bone.  When he gets a new bone, he takes it in his mouth and trots throughout the house - down the hall, through the living room, then the kitchen, then the hall again.  I can't tell if he's happy about having a new bone, or if it stresses him out because he fears the kitties are going to take it if he doesn't find a good hiding spot for it.  Maybe a little of both...

Bender and I went for a walk around a little strip mall the other day and there was this statue outside of one of the sporting goods stores.  Bender wanted NO PART of this one.  The brakes went out, a couple of low "woofs" were expressed, and stopping for me to even take this picture was nearly a deal-breaker.  There was another one of a deer, but he didn't mind that one.  Whatever, Pup.

And this one makes me laugh.  Bender looks like he's been caught doing a dirty deed.  I gave him an empty cottage cheese container to "clean and he takes it in the other room so that he doesn't have to worry about me taking the container away from him.  When he sees me coming, he immediately picks the container up and prepares to dash.  I don't know why this strikes me so funny, but it does.

Alrighty, then.  I think that's it for me for now.  It's way past my "recovering from the worst cold ever" bedtime.  And besides that, I need to be well-rested for my scheduled 1-hour relaxation massage tomorrow.  Oh yeah.  You heard me right.  And it's ok to be completely jealous.  :)

"We make a living by what we get... we make a life by what we give."

~Winston Churchill