Welcome to the Jungle!

I have been such a busy little bee Dee, lately!  Let's see, last week consisted of repainting my front door.  It hasn't been painted since we had the house built, 15 years ago!  I am totally in love with the new color.  It went from Forrest Green to Behr's Spice.  How appropriate, right?  I know!  After I put three coats on the front door in three days, I repainted our porch railing, Ultra Pure White.  Natalie was really bugging me to let her help with the front door but I wasn't willing to risk that.  However, the railing wasn't as big of a deal so I handed her her brush and we got busy painting.  After a while, she got up and said she was going to go plant some flowers for a while.  A little while later, she returned.  I was still painting the railing and she said, "Damn if I ever ask to paint again!"  I was shocked to hear it come out of her little mouth and I couldn't resist the belly laugh that followed. Her little hands must have been so tired.

She has a dragonfly friend!

Monkey Bars

Yields 16 servings

1/2 cup raisins
1 1/2 tablespoons dark rum or apple juice
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup mashed ripe banana
3 tablespoons low-fat buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large egg whites
1/3 cup chopped walnuts
Cooking spray
1 tablespoon powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350°.

Combine the raisins and rum in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at high for 1 minute, and set aside. Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour and the next 3 ingredients (flour through salt) in a bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Set aside.

Combine brown sugar and butter in a large bowl, and beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add banana and next 3 ingredients (banana through egg whites), beating well. Add the flour mixture, beating just until combined. Stir in raisin mixture and walnuts.

Spread the batter into an 8-inch square baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until golden. Cool the bars completely on a wire rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Source: myrecipes.com

I wish you could smell these! I wish you could eat these!  No, scratch that last part, I want them!

~ Enjoy!