Spring Time-Banana Split Brownies-Jelly Bean Bracelets!!

Spring is a time for planning, turning over winter’s soil, and getting ready for a new harvest. We have been through a challenging wintertime so let’s be gentle and take things slowly. “Simple Joys are Holy” is a story of St Francis of Assisi.
Simple Joys are Holy…
If you want your dream to be
Build them slow and surely.
Small beginnings,
Greater ends,
Heartfelt work grows purely
If you want to set life free,
Take your time, go slowly.
Do few things, but do them well.
Simple Joys are Holy.
Day by Day, You’ll grow too
Knowing Heaven’s glory!

May your gardens and your life reflect renewal and new hope for a fresh new season of abundance!

JELLY BEAN BRACELETS:

Use up those left over Jelly Beans from the Easter Baskets.
This is a great activity for kids! And so easy, and of course tasty.
So start with some jelly beans. Jelly Belly is the best because they slide on the string more easily, and because there is a wider variety of colors {and flavors!}.
Get you a little bit o' stretchy string.
And a big blunt sewing needle. Yes, it gets REAL sticky! But no worries, it washes right off!
Punch the bean with the needle. I found it's easiest to put the needle on the table, and punch the bean against it, using the table for leverage. Otherwise, you get sore fingers.
Then thread the beans onto the string & tie off.

BANANA SPLIT BROWNIES:

Banana Split Brownies are very easy to make and they are an incredibly delicious treat!
INGREDIENTS;
Brownies
Bananas
Strawberries
A really good bar of Milk Chocolate
Long toothpicks

To start, make up your brownies however you’d like. Whether you want to bake your brownies from scratch or use a box, it works either way.
Let your brownies cool for about an hour, and then cut them into small squares, about 1 inch each. Holding your toothpick, place half of a strawberry on first, then a slice of banana, then a brownie square. It is really that easy.
When you have all your brownies and layers on the toothpicks, you’re ready for the topping.
To make your delicious drizzle, take your milk chocolate bar and melt it in the microwave. (This is the hardest part.) Make sure to only microwave it in 30 second intervals and then use a fork to mash/mix your chocolate in between each 30 second interval. Keep microwaving the chocolate at 30 second intervals until it is completely melted. It’s very easy to burn chocolate.
Arrange your desserts on a platter so you can easily drizzle the chocolate over them. This next part is what restaurants sometimes do to make your plate look even more appetizing!! And, it also makes this dessert over-the-top incredible!!
Dip a fork in the melted chocolate and then fling the chocolate over the brownie kabobs. Do this repeatedly until you have a nice, thin covering over all the desserts. You will not believe how incredibly delicious these are compared to how easy they are to make!

Here is another version of Banana Split Brownies!
INGREDIENTS;
1(21-oz.) package brownie mix, or your favorite brownie recipe
2(8-oz.) packages cream cheese, softened
2/3 C. sugar
1 (8-oz.) can crushed pineapple or pineapple tidbits, well-drained and pressed between paper towels to remove excess liquid
3 bananas, sliced
1 pint strawberries, sliced
1/2 C. chopped nuts
1 oz. semisweet chocolate
1 T. butter or margarine
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 375° F. Mix brownies according to package directions. Pour brownie mix into a 13-by-9-by-2-inch pan. Bake 15-20 minutes or until set. Cool to room temperature.
Mix cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Spread over brownie layer. Top with fruit and nuts. Melt chocolate and butter together, stirring until smooth (may substitute chocolate syrup). Drizzle over brownies. Chill. Cut into squares.