Monkey Bars

Directions

1. 1
   Preheat oven to 350°.
2. 2
   Combine raisins and apple juice in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at HIGH 1 minute. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour and next 3 ingredients in a bowl; stir with a whisk. Combine brown sugar and butter in a large bowl, and beat with a mixer at medium speed until blended. Add banana and next 3 ingredients, beating well. Add flour mixture, beating just until combined. Stir in raisin mixture and walnuts.
3. 3
   Spread batter in an 8-inch square metal baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, and cut into bars.
4. 4
   Kitchen Classroom: Ripe Bananas When selecting bananas, the only way to tell how ripe they are is by the color of the peel. The skin of a perfectly ripe banana will be yellow and slightly speckled with brown spots. It'll be softer and sweeter than green bananas (or even slightly green ones), which are not yet ripe.
5. 5
   Young Chefs can:
6. 6
   Mash banana
7. 7
   Measure raisins and walnuts
8. 8
   Older Chefs can:
9. 9
   Stir together dry ingredients
10. 10
    Stir raisin mixture and walnuts into batter