Banana Split Dessert

Geeez....what a way to start off the week. I have been so busy today that I didn't even think I was going to get any time to hop on here at all and that would be a real bummer.

I managed though to squeeze in enough time to post this but I'll have to catch up with all my favorite blogs later. I would love to get some extra time to sit down and change my blog's background again too. I'm feeling the need for a spring theme or summer better yet. Bring on the SUMMERTIME!

As for the recipe I'm sharing today, well it was passed on to me from an Aunt a good many years ago. The original calls for eggs and I just can't do the raw egg thing so I have changed it around a bit.

For all of you dieters out there~ I don't see why you couldn't cut some fat and calories out by using some lower fat or fat free ingredients in this and then add a little will-power to the portion end of it. :o)

Banana Split Dessert

2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1/2 cup sugar

1 stick butter, melted

16 oz. cream cheese, softened

3 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

3 bananas, sliced in circles

20 oz. crushed pineapple, drained well

8 oz. Cool Whip

6 oz. maraschino cherries, drained

chopped nuts, optional

Heat oven to 350°.

Melt butter and mix it with the 1/2 cup sugar and graham cracker crumbs.

Press crumb mixture into the bottom of a 13X9 baking dish.

Bake for 15 minutes at the 350°.

Remove from oven and let cool.

In a large bowl, cream together the cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla.

Spread over top of the crumb layer.

Place the banana slices on top of the cream cheese layer. *see note below*

Put the pineapple on top of the banana layer.

Spread Cool Whip over top.

Sprinkle with the chopped nuts and place cherries on top.

Refrigerate and ENJOY!

**To keep my bananas from turning brown so quickly I placed them in a lemon juice/water mixture for a few minutes and then drained them before placing them in the dessert.**

If you are wondering why one end of this dessert is minus the nuts it's because I have one little guy who doesn't like nuts so to keep him happy I leave one end plain.

Well it's almost dinnertime so I better get to the kitchen. I'm making a few *new* recipes today so if they pass my family's taste test then I'll share them with you later this week.

Till next time,