That wouldn’t “cut out”.
When the percolator comes out… it also means dessert will be served. The majority of the time it’s “slice ‘n bake” cookies but occasionally I get a wild hair and fix up something a little more…. ummm, involved.
Last night it was Frosted Banana Bars.
When we were 14, Erika and I both worked as servers. Is that even legal? We rode our bikes to get there. Anyway, it was a little cafe in our small town which was tucked inside a much larger town. It was called the Herb Garden Tea Room. Unfortunately it only survived for about 5 years. It was in Anchorage, KY, a tiny little neighborhood town tucked inside Louisville, KY. So, for several years every Saturday and all summer long I spent my time at the Herb Garden. We had a fairly angry chef named Bo, who I eventually got used to. Occassionally he’d drop the “f-bomb” in a sentence that was directed towards me, at first I would feel the tears well up and my throat would tighten, it only took a few weeks and I could just cut my eyes at him and think, “Oh please, I know your not ticked off because they don’t want mayo and you put mayo on there because you didn’t read the order right!”. I wasn’t too fond of him but I loved all the other employees, all 4 of them. The Herb Garden was only opened for lunch and they had a WONDERFUL menu. Sandwiches, soups, salads, desserts…. oh, and of course, they had at least 100 different teas to choose from, which we served in beautiful tea pots. If I had to place my order right now, I’d have a Ginger Peach iced tea, a cucumber & dill sandwich with pasta on the side, and I’d have a hard time deciding between Granny’s Chocolate Cake & Frosted Banana Bars.
Sometimes I hope no one will eat our bananas so they will overripen and I’ll be forced to make these delicious little gems. They melt in your mouth. The bar is similar in consistency to banana bread, but not quite as dense, and it is smothered in a cream cheese frosting. I can guarantee this recipe. If you don’t like it, call me and I’ll come pick it up from your house.
The recipe makes a LOAD. You use the same “jelly roll” pan you use for the Texas Sheet Cake and mine has a handy little cover… if you’re going to go buy one… make sure it has a cover! The bars are thin, bake really quick and your whole house will smell delightful.
Once again, I very selflessly tested the bars before I served them to our small group. If you ever come to my house to eat and a small part of what I serve is missing, you can go ahead and thank me for testing it for you. 🙂
I posted a printable version of the recipe: HERE. Bookmark it, print it off, save it… you’ll want to make it! I PROMISE. I’m off to have some now!
Emily
May 19, 2009 at 12:15 pmI just noticed the faucet in your fab kitchen. Where did you get it? Do you like it? I’ve been looking for something similar. Thanks!
Amanda
May 19, 2009 at 12:19 pmThat is so wierd…I have had “percolator” on my mind all day…b/c I am having a coffee get-together for a good size crowd Thursday and was thinking I needed one but I am scraed I won’t know how to make the coffee in it, is it hard?…I think I will make the bars as part of my menu and don’t worry about the Jigglers – they nevr work out for me either and the kids love the fun of making them/eating them regardless, right?!
Margo Sexton
May 19, 2009 at 12:57 pmi think the trick to the jigglers is where you live. I grew up in Chicago and every christmas eve we would have them. After they were made we set the sheet pans out in the garage for almost 24 hours. It was the perfect cooler. I live in birmingham, AL now and all my friends laugh about how our garage was an extra fridge/cooler for stuff. With your parents now living up in Illinois I have always wanted to ask how they ended up there and how you ended up at Auburn since I am always answering that question myself! thank always for your fun blog!
erika
May 19, 2009 at 1:37 pm"TELL THEM SHOVE THAT F-IN' CUCUMBER DILL SANDWICH UP THEIR A**, IT COMES ON SOURDOUGH, NOT PUMPERNICKEL!"
Does that sound familiar? And make your blood pressure rise?
And you worked in the kitchen because you didn't like the stress of serving after one summer… funny.
Now I want some rotten bananas.
Love you,
mommasis & the baby
andi
May 19, 2009 at 1:40 pmHEEEEHEEE! I wonder if metal cutters would work better??????????
LOVE a percolator and the sounds it makes, the smells it makes, it just yells: Fun times!
Poor Raiger, life can be just so hard! Thanks for keepin’ it real. 🙂
Anonymous
May 19, 2009 at 1:47 pmJust curious if you have ever tried previously frozen over-ripe bananas for this recipe. I have a bunch in my freezer and this recipe sounds so yummy that I don’t think I have the patience to make for bananas to brown…
Ashley
May 19, 2009 at 2:00 pmGreat post!! Maybe next time you can get the Jello Jigglers to work, because they looked FUN! Hope your small group went well 🙂
the sweet life with olives
May 19, 2009 at 2:09 pmwell at least the jigglers make you flawed like the rest of us! kidding… but seriously, most moms have been there… excited kids, frustrated kids, disappointed kids, sugared up kids eating junk from the counter. been there and done that and it almost always ends in tears! i think i actually did something similar yesterday that involved a cake that turned out after much hard work and mess to be well, inedible at best! i plowed the kids with popsicles to try and make up for lost efforts, needless to say the ‘storm’ passed quickly. better luck next time. here’s to mondays!
Surrounded By Boys
May 19, 2009 at 2:38 pmI always wondered why you call that sweet little girl “The Raiger!” The pictures are great!
Susie Mae
May 19, 2009 at 4:37 pmWhat a yummy post! I don’t think I’ve ever been able to make successful jello jigglers, they get eaten before they can be cut out.
Allison aka HaselBride
May 19, 2009 at 4:39 pmLove love love your real life take on things. Sometimes fun projects just don’t end up being fun! I’m excited to try this recipe – I have overripe bananas just waiting for this one. Can’t wait!
julie
May 19, 2009 at 4:48 pmyumm-O!! i woudl like to lick that cream cheese icing from my screen {kind of like morgan and her jello}
Katherine
May 19, 2009 at 4:54 pmyou’re from anchorage? i live in louisville and my mom is from anchorage! small world.
The Cribb Family
May 19, 2009 at 5:45 pmI don't remember how I cam across your blog, but I love it. Your family is precious. I love your faith in the Lord, our God. It is so inspiring to read about the lives of other Christians in their daily stuggles & joys. It has been refreshing. It is my new obcession. You and many others are part of my daily devotion. I love the Jell-O posting today. Especially having your daughter slurp it off the counter…that sounds just like me. Have a wonderful day. I pray that the Lord continues to bless you and your family.
In Christ –
Jill G. Cribb
Susan
May 19, 2009 at 5:53 pmOh how I wish my jelly roll pan had a cover! I did not even know they could come with covers and that, I bet, is a HUGE life saver. I’m definitely missing out . . .
Becky Brodbeck
May 19, 2009 at 6:27 pmLOL! I love you and all your honest adventures-Thanks for sharing the melted jello post:-) I have totally messed up jigglers before…and I wish you still were close enough to bike to the tea room b/c then you could bike right over to my house too!
Shireen
May 19, 2009 at 8:05 pmSave us some!!! 😉
Oh, that sweet, pitiful little Raiger crying face. 🙁 It just cracks me up to think that you stopped to take a picture of her in crying mode! 🙂
Amanda @ Serenity Now
May 19, 2009 at 8:31 pmCool recipe!! Love the picture of her slurping up the Jell-O…funny! 🙂
Mandy
May 20, 2009 at 4:19 amSounds good….I love the jello idea…a little scared to try it…can’t wait until I am done teaching in the mornings for the summer and I can attempt to make some of these thigns with Kendall Gail and Charles Patrick! I am going to sift back through your blog and capture some recipes to make…Hope you are well…Your kids are precious! Have a good one…Mandy
Mandi
May 20, 2009 at 4:31 amI just recently found your blog and love it! Your honesty is refreshing,and as a mom of 2 small ones myself, I relate so well to what you write about. I have tried the jigglers too, with very similar results 🙂 Thanks for the banana bar recipe. When we lived in Knoxville there was a wonderful tearoom we used to frequent that served banana bread sandwiches with cream cheese in the middle, and they were to.die.for! I’ll have to try this one now. Thanks!
heather
May 20, 2009 at 5:47 amGreetings from Louisville. I don’t remember the Herb Garden Tea Room, but I love Anchorage…such a quaint area.
I’m sure the Jello-jigglers tasted good even though they fell apart! ha!
Brittny
May 20, 2009 at 5:51 amI’ve NEVER been able to get jello jigglers to work! sorry it was a disaster!
Shauna
May 20, 2009 at 6:51 amThis makes me think of the professor who works across the hall from me. If you ever ask him how he is doing, he will answer “percolatin’ well” EVERY time. I get to hear this exchange anytime someone comes to his office… and I smile to myself each time.
Erin
May 20, 2009 at 7:00 amPoor Raiger! How sad she looks! I loved the Herb Garden! I remember Anchorage so well…we had some good times. I really want to make the bars but I need some brown nannas! Have fun this weekend!
XO
Cous
JMW
May 20, 2009 at 7:40 amI so admire how you engage your children in the cooking activities. I need to do more of this now that my daughter is 4 (little guys is 2, not quite ready yet). Also, I spent two summers during college working at a country club in Anchorage. Small world!
Katherine
May 20, 2009 at 8:33 amHi! I really love your blog! I was reading through some of your old posts and was wondering how those “huggable hangers” worked out. I am thinking about doing some closet reorganization this summer 🙂
Carrie Robles
May 20, 2009 at 8:39 amI absolutely love your blog. I just stumbled upon it one day and find myself each morning wondering what your wonderful family is up to today 🙂 I love the story about the jigglers..I too have had a disaster with them.
Also love the house…my grandparents live in Dothan so I enjoy seeing what you are exploring back “home.” I wish I were back there! Keep up the great work. Thanks again for allowing me to peek into your wonderful family.
megan
May 20, 2009 at 9:27 amToo funny; slupping the jello off the counter and the jello melt-down, of Paige, not the actual jello. 🙂
Thanks for another recipe!
Christie
May 20, 2009 at 1:16 pmThose banana bars look really, really good! I will have to give them a try!
Even though the Jigglers didn’t work out, you still got some great pictures of your kids! I am sure they enjoyed slurping jello off the counter — they don’t get to do that every day!
Katie
May 20, 2009 at 1:44 pmHmmm…I think I have rotten…err…ripe bananas that would perfect for this! Can’t wait to go home and try it 🙂
Tegan
May 20, 2009 at 5:35 pmHey Darby! I haven’t left a comment in a while, but I still read daily! I just use my blackberry all the time and it’s too hard to leave a comment! I just wanted to tell you that I made your fudge pie this past weekend and it was awesome!!! I have my friends turned on to it as well. Super easy and soooo good! I still love your family and love hearing about every detail!!
Caroline
May 20, 2009 at 5:57 pmI made the Banana Bars today!! I haven’t tasted the finished product yet but the batter was delicious. Julianna liked helping me mash the bananas…. I happened to have exactly 3 borderline overripe/rotten bananas. They were perfect!
My favorite part was that I had everything I needed to make this recipe already at home!!!!
Rebecca
May 20, 2009 at 8:57 pmWe live in Louisville! Like 10 minutes from Anchorage in JTown!!! Crazy! And your Jello disaster sound like my “lets melt your broken crayons in a 400 degree oven” disaster! 🙂
brianna!
May 20, 2009 at 11:01 pmAW, the idea for the JELLO Jigglers was great!! Sorry it didn’t work out as you planned ..that’s always a bummer!
I’ve randomly came across your blog a view times really enjoy reading it! You have such beautiful children! God bless yall : )
Jess
May 21, 2009 at 8:42 amgreat recipe for the banana bars…after reading your post i looked over and saw some ripe bananas! minus one egg, wrong pan and without the frosting…the recipe is still wonderful! and all gone already! -jess
Jessica {lovely jubbly london}
May 21, 2009 at 9:21 amoh, I’m going to have to try the banana cake! looks divine!
The Harris Family
May 21, 2009 at 11:24 amJust catching up on your posts! Girl I’m drooling at the summmer recipes! I can’t wait to get my house in order (just moved) to make some of these prizes! Also the post on the size tag! Perfect! Thanks! 😉
gertrude
May 21, 2009 at 12:43 pmThank you so much for your lovely blog. I find myself saving it for my “mommy needs a few minutes to herself” treat. We have four kids: a boy, two girls who are close in age (like yours) and a baby who might be almost the same age as John Martin so I get a big chuckle over the similarities in our day to day (especially the bit about hold your hair out of the way while you slurp the jello… been there with syrup and ice cream more than once). Its great to find someone who sees the humor in the chaos and is thankful for the ride.
Sarah's Fab Day
May 22, 2009 at 11:20 pmI have some ripe bananas on the counter as we speak. My boys (5 & 3) love to help me in the kitchen and usually we make banana bread with a crumble topping, it's to-die. But I'm thinking the frosted banana bars would be perfect for the Memorial Day weekend. Thanks for the recipe.
The 5 Bickies
May 29, 2009 at 1:08 pmMade the frosted banana bars and my entire family LOVES them, just as you said.
They are for a church fundraiser tomorrow night so they each got a taste. I’m sure they will be the first to dig in tomorrow.
Thanks for sharing such a great recipe!
Jacquelyn
June 16, 2009 at 10:23 amDarby, I still can't remember how I found your blog, but I live in Pewee Valley, Ky., just down the road from Anchorage. So excited to see it mentioned on the blog!
Haley
October 5, 2009 at 8:58 amI made the banana bars this weekend. Very easy, very delicious.
Kelly
December 24, 2009 at 1:40 amI just made these and the frosting alone is so yummy. Thanks for sharing…I only wish I had the right size pan. Where did you find this with a lid?
Jennifer
April 16, 2010 at 6:39 pmSeriously, I will never make banana bread again!!!! These banana bars rocked our Friday night. My 3 little ladies, age 5, 8, 10 and (one 42 year old husband 🙂 devoured these! Thanks for the recipe. ~Jennifer
Christine
May 11, 2011 at 8:42 pmJust made the heavenly bars! They are so delicious they don’t even need the delicious frosting! And to be nice, my husband will share them at the office tomorrow! Thanks for your fun blog 🙂
Brenda
January 18, 2012 at 2:04 amOMG! Thank you for sharing this recipe! I was looking for something to make tonight and these hit the spot. Delish!