?Banana Fana. . . ?. . . Frosted Banana Bars

Remember “The Name Game”. . . . . here is the quick version, using the name “Katie”. . . . .

Katie, Katie, bo-batie,
Banana-fana fo-fatie
Fee-fy-mo-matie
Katie!

Well, speaking of bananas.  The bars are delicious and you will LOVE the frosting!!!  I seem to have a real issue with throwing away over-ripe bananas and we all know there is like a two-day window where a banana is actually fit to eat.  This is a great way to use those bananas and I figure the guilt from eating the treat balances with the guilt I avoid from throwing away the bananas!  That makes sense, right?  We shouldn’t have guilt from eating a delicious treat anyway.
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1-1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 medium)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
Dash salt
FROSTING:
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
4 cups confectioners’ sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, bananas and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into creamed mixture just until blended.
Transfer to a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack.
For frosting, in a small bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add confectioners’ sugar and vanilla; beat until smooth. Frost bars.

I have subscribed to Taste of Home magazine for as long as I can remember.  This recipe was in my Taste of Home magazine in 1994.