There is something about bananas and caramel together I love. The top layer is like a yummy cream cheese frosting over a nutty oatmeal cookie base. Hope you enjoy it.
Shelly's Banana Caramel Cream Cheese Bars
1/4 cup Raw Almonds, ground
1/2 cup Steel Cut Oatmeal
1/4 cup Soy Flour (7 g. of protein per 1/4 cup)
2 scoops of Vanilla Protein Powder
1/4 teaspoon Baking Soda
dash of Salt
1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
3 Tablespoon Sugar Free Torani Syrup (I used SF Caramel)
2 Tablespoons Almond Butter
1 Egg, beaten
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1/3 cup Nuts, chopped (I used Pecans & Walnuts)
3 oz. Cream Cheese
1 Banana, mashed
2 Tablespoons Sugar Free Caramel Sauce (I used Smucker's)
Preheat oven to 350. Mash banana and mix into cream cheese set aside. In a mini food processor whiz almonds, 1/4 cup of the oats, soy flour, 1 scoop of the protein powder, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt till fine. Add Torani syrup and whiz again. In a separate dish beat egg, vanilla and almond butter together. Combine both. Add additional scoop of protein, the other 1/4 cup of oats and nuts. Spread the oatmeal batter into a parchment paper lined Pyrex dish (8x7). Spread banana cream cheese over oat base.
Drizzle caramel over top and swirl with a spoon. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.
Allow to cool and cut into bars. Keep refrigerated.
Highlights of the day:
* Got some lovely emails regarding my "H is for..." post. It's so cool to have people in your life that just "get it." Thank you!
* Went on a walk then for coffee where I lusted after a hottie. No, I didn't get the digits. I get no play in Cali. NY guys would have got my number. They don't let opportunities pass them by. Well... most NY guys ;) with one MAJOR exception.
* After coffee I went to Costco to buy a few things and ate lunch at the "Costco Buffet" I'm such a cheap date. I love it. One of the samples was of a yummy Angus Beef Burger stuffed with Blue Cheese I'm going to try to duplicate. I bought "The Bucket List" which I never did see in the theater. Sounds like sometime this weekend popcorn and a good cry will be on the agenda.
Listening to: "Oldest Story In The World" The Plimsouls (Best Break-up Song Ever)