Sour Cream-Banana Bars: From the Recipe Box

This is a great recipe to take for treats somewhere or just enjoy at home. It is easy to make and travels well. Sometimes at our house we refer to these bars as the "meltdown bars". One time I made a pan to take for church coffee hour. My mom was visiting and I was trying to decide whether to leave them in the pan and try to serve them or take them all out and put them on a pretty plate, but try to figure out how to cover them without ruining the frosting. The whole process caused me to have a major meltdown fifteen minutes before church. Mom, being the Mom she is, calmly took the serving utensil and asked me to move away while she got them on the plate. When you think of all the major issues we live with in this world on a day-to-day basis, doesn't it amaze you that Inland Empire Girl could melt down over Sour Cream-Banana Bars? My husband just smiled and shook his head that day before church. My mom got them on the plate beautifully and covered the bars with plastic wrap. I managed to pull myself together and accept the complements when church members raved about these bars. This is a great recipe and meltdowns are not always included in the making and baking!

Sour Cream-Banana Bars

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups mashed bananas ( about 3 large)

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup chopped nuts

Browned Butter Frosting (see below)

Heat oven to 375. Grease and flour jelly roll pan. 15 1/2 x 10 1/x 1inch. Mix sugar, sour cream, butter, and eggs in large mixer bowl on low speed, scraping bowl often 1 minute. Beat in bananas and vanilla on low speed 30 seconds. Beat in flour, salt and baking soda on medium speed, scraping bowl often 1 minute. Stir in nuts. Spread dough in pan. Bake until light brown, 20-25 minutes. Cool; frost with frosting below. Cut into bars. 4 dozen cookies

Browned Butter Frosting

Heat 1/4 cup butter over medium heat until delicate brown; remove from heat. Mix in 2 cups powdered sugar. Beat in 1 teaspoon vanilla and 3 tablespoons milk until smooth and of spreading consistency.